Product Description

The scalability, performance and Emmy Award-winning workflow of Final Cut Pro 5 make it the first choice of professional video editors everywhere.

Features:

• The first choice for multicamera and native HDV editing.Make videos and movies in any format with Final Cut Pro 5, a major upgrade to Apple's award-winning video editing application. It features powerful new multicamera editing, native HDV support, precision editing tools, scalable real-time effects processing, advanced real-time color correction and image manipulation filters and audio control surface support.
• Edit anything.Whatever video format you choose, Final Cut Pro 5 is up to the task. Edit everything from DV and SD to DVCPRO HD and fully uncompressed 10-bit high-definition video. Or work with new formats like native HDV (long-GOP MPEG2) and 50Mbps IMX. Capture and output video accurately using professional decks, or go tapeless with new Panasonic P2 media support.
• Wait for nothing.From precision editing tools to its amazing real-time multistream effects architecture, Final Cut Pro 5 is built for speed with new support for real-time effects on fully uncompressed HD video. Use Dynamic RT to maximize real-time performance by automatically adjusting video quality and frame-rate during playback. Simultaneously view and cut from multiple sources in real time using powerful new multicamera editing tools that support up to 128 cameras.
• Work together.Deep integration with Apple's Motion, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro and Shake lets editors seamlessly move from one creative task to the next. And when Final Cut Pro 5 is paired with Xsan, you can capture once, save time and share media with multiple editors.

Features

• This upgrade is for purchasers of previous versions of Apple Final Cut Pro
• RT Extreme with Dynamic RT -- editors have access to real-time effects processing that scales with their systems, from DV to fully uncompressed HD
• Multiple, scalable format support -- new in Final Cut Pro 5 is supprot for IMX, Panasonic P2, and Native HDV. Final Cut Pro editors can work natively with a variety of DV, SD, and HD formats
• Final Cut Pro's suite of editing tools allow editors to work with speed and precision on both single- and multi-camera projects
• Multicamera editing lets editors simultaneously view and cut from multiple sources in real time, in DV, SD, and HD. Up to 128 sources can be grouped together into multiclips with simultaneous playback of up to 16 at a time

Product Description

Intuit QuickBooks 2005 Premier - Complete Product - Financial Management - 1 User(s) Complete Product - Standard - PCQuickBooks Premier 2005 includes all the features of Basic and Pro 2005 plus business planning tools to help you meet more specialized needs.Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theIntuit 284469 - QUICKBOOKS 2005 PREMIER WIN - and all other Intuit Software - Misc ... Read more

Features

• More easily apply payments, such as overpayments, underpayments, credits and refunds.
• More easily merge QuickBooks data into Microsoft Word [2000, 2002 or 2003] letters and envelopes for quick, professional mailings to customers, vendors or employees.
• Create a forecast of income and expenses for the year ahead, based on your existing QuickBooks data with the click of a button.
• Build a professional, accurate business plan more easily than ever.
• Track inventory assemblies and finished goods.

Product Description

Business Plan Pro 2005 Premier Edition ... Read more

Features

• 2 expert business and marketing planning books included
• Business-planning software with helpful collaboration tools
• 400+ sample plans; expert instructions and examples at every step
• Easily exports to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF
• Built-in Plan Review ensures bullet-proof financials

Product Description

Access 2003, Upgrade ... Read more

Features

• Drag controls onto your Access form to create a Microsoft PivotTable or PivotChart view, or a spreadsheet
• Supports a variety of data formats, including Extensible Markup Language ( XML ), OLE, Open Database Connectivity ( ODBC ), and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services
• Access data from multiple databases in forms, reports, and data access pages, linking tables from other Access databases, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, ODBC data sources, Microsoft SQL Server databases & other sources
• Stored Procedure Designer creates & modifies procedures stored in SQL Server
• Quickly find tables, queries, forms or reports that depend on a particular database object

Reviews (4)

Save your money
Attempted to upgrade from 97 to 2003... bad move... none of my access 97 programs work now... in fact I, I brought home a 2003 access database from work to see if it was an incampatibility problem between the two versions... nope... the upgrade just didn't work.....had to purchase a full version to set things right... save your money on this product...

Keep Access 2000
This software is not worth upgrading.I think Access 2000 is the best database and 2002 is good if you want to use Data Access Pages.Access 2003 has a lot of bugs.I'm having trouble with basic formulas.This is very frustrating.

Be careful, especially if you don't have time to trouble shoot software changes.

Re : Internet Activation Policy
To the previous reviewer regarding Internet Activation Policy.
I can tell you that I recently purchased Office 2003 Pro, and I was allowed to activate the product twice.It is stated in the licensing policy that the product may be installed once on a permanent computer, and once more on a portable computer (ie: notebook, tablet etc.).This is exactly what I did.If the second computer was not portable, I don't think they would know this, and therefore you could actually install twice.

Hope this helps.

Internet Activation License policy?
Does this product only work on the first computer you install it on because of internet activation like the Access 2002 upgrade did? I have 2 computers at home and one is a test PC that gets reimaged a lot. I need my software installed on both and I don't like Internet activation that Microsoft had on Access 2002.

If they have it I won't buy so please post a review and let me know. ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Money 2005 Deluxe.This software includes all of the basic functions of Microsoft Money Standard, including the ability to download financial statements, automatic account balance, checkbook balance and more. You can also use the additional features, including credit center, debt reduction planner, tax estimator and financial events modeler to get a more in-depth picture of your financial health. Achieve all of your financial goals and manage your money like never before. FeaturesBalance your checkbook, pay bills online, download financial statements and moreVisit the Credit Center to view a summary of debts, learn about credit card management and more Make tax season easier by preparing year round with the Tax Estimator tools to estimate taxes, find hidden deductions, estimate capital gains and more Download banking, credit card and other financial information to make balancing accounts even easier Track your investments using the portfolio tools Achieve your financial goals with the debt reduction planner ... Read more

Features

• Get help with credit and debt; simplify taxes
• Personal finance software with award-winning Portfolio Manager
• Automatically consolidates online financial information
• Essential tools for improving credit and organizing taxes
• Stay up-to-date on accounts and transactions

Reviews (56)

waste of money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with almost every negative review on this board. In comparison with 2004 edition, this one is just plain HORRIBLE. It looks prettier (kind of), but that's as far as it goes. I've been using MS Money since 2000, and I've enjoyed every upgrade; they've all been quite satisfactory save this monstrous creation. I haven't just used Money only, I've tried out Quicken 3 times, once back 4 years ago, another a year ago, and a week ago. It's too inflexible & the graphs stink.

Every time I do an internet update, it duplicates every account with some generic name (I track 3 checkings, 4 savings, 2 credit cards, 1 cash on hand, & 2 loans). I am NOT going to rename all the accounts again & redo every transaction with all the splits.

As far as MS Money 2005 goes:
I tried to do an update with CapitalOne, and it failed time after time. It also took flipping forever to do any of the updates! I wish I could have let the default setting NOT update news articles. I'm here to balance my checkbook, track settings, & budget, forecast, I don't care about news. I would love to elaborate further, but the arteries in my forhead would explode from my frustration.

Because I couldn't even get the program to KIND OF work, I wish I could give it ZERO stars. I refuse to spend countless hours (more) to try to get this piece of crud working; pen & paper IS BETTER than this program. Back to 2004 I go (until they release a HUGE compilative fix for all this poo).

Works fine for me, better then quicken
I read some of the reviews, and almost didn't by the 2005 but was looking for 2004.Bought 2005 (out of 2004) followed directions and it works like a chirm.

Not Ready For Beta Testing
Imagine if Microsoft Word crashed every time a period or capital letter was used or when opening saved documents some of the paragraphs appeared twice.Such is the state of affairs of Microsoft Money 2005.I have been using Microsoft Money since 1996; while it was never perfect, it basically did what it promised.I have also used the portfolio manager on the MSN website which is a subset of the Money program with a similar interface. Others have written about problems downloading bank and credit card statements; this review will focus on the portfolio manager.

The portfolio manager is the part of Money that keeps track of investment accounts. It is not unusual for multiple income families to own quite complicated investment portfolios including 401Ks, IRAs and college savings accounts.Something went very wrong in the fall of 2004 when Microsoft upgraded their software to Money 2005.Gone is the ability to analyze a single account or groups of accounts; you are forced to analyze your entire portfolio. When entering new equity transactions, Money used to allow you to simply enter the trading symbol and it would quickly find the name of the company and other information, now you must follow a wizard and enter the information by hand.Previously, you could enter a back dated transaction and it would guess a price using the closing price for the day (this is very useful for watch accounts); now you must manually enter the information.

The worse part has been the removal of the associated cash accounts.I never really appreciated the separate cash accounts until Microsoft removed them.For those unfamiliar with software, here is the basic concept.Say you own an account with a discount broker like Fidelity or Vanguard that holds six mutual funds.Associated with that account is a cash account in which you add and remove cash, collect dividends and conduct other transactions into and out of the account.When you sell a mutual fund, the proceeds are put into the cash account; similarly, cash is taken from the account when you buy shares of an investment.Prior versions of Money created a distinct cash account associated with a specific investment account.You could open the account, view the transaction history and correct any errors.In Money 2005, when you create a new account it simply asks for the initial cash balance.Money then automatically mismanages this account by recording dividends twice and mishandling sales proceeds.Furthermore, money will not allow you to record interest dividends, contributions or redemptions.There is no way to view the history at all; Money simply gives you the current value in a little box.When errors occur, the fix from Microsoft is to simply change the amount in the little box to the correct value.If you access the cash account too often it begins to create multiple cash accounts labeled #2, #3 leading to cash account nightmare.

Microsoft did an upgrade to the software this weekend (May 20, 2005).They have added more features and unfortunately more bugs; I have not noticed anything that has been fixed.New problems include: 1) updates are no longer stored on the MSN server preventing you from accessing up-to-date account information from multiple computers (this may be a temporary problem); 2) investments that lack a trading symbol, such as specialty funds available through certain 401Ks or 529 plans, are no longer supported.You can see the investment in your portfolio but you cannot record "buys" or other transactions; 3) information contained in watch accounts, such as year-to-date performance was lost after the upgrade.

I hope once Microsoft is finished adding features to their Money 2005 software they will work on bringing it from Alpha to Beta quality.Perhaps, after a year or two of Beta testing, Microsoft will be ready to release Money 2005 (or 2008) for general sale.Until then, I do not see how they can legally be selling software that fails to perform its basic functions.

stay away!
I bought Microsoft Money 2005 thinking it would help me get a grasp on my post-college finances. And it would, if it ever worked.

For one thing, the auto-update from bank account feature is a joke. It only works maybe 10% of the time, and every once in a while it would stop working for a week or two at a time. When that happened one time, I decided to try to send in an email to MS... they ask for your Product ID but its impossible to get to because of ANOTHER error. And then I tried to delete the accounts I had in there and re-add them but it didnt allow me to do that.

This program is a sad, sorry joke and I am puzzled asto how Microsoft could gain a foothold in this software genre with junk like this. A total waste of money.

WHAT A PIECE OF #$% !!!
I agree with almost every negative review on this board. In comparison with 2004 edition, this one is just plain HORRIBLE. It looks prettier (kind of), but that's as far as it goes. I've been using MS Money since 2000, and I've enjoyed every upgrade; they've all been quite satisfactory save this monstrous creation. I haven't just used Money only, I've tried out Quicken 3 times, once back 4 years ago, another a year ago, and a week ago. It's too inflexible & the graphs stink.

Every time I do an internet update, it duplicates every account with some generic name (I track 3 checkings, 4 savings, 2 credit cards, 1 cash on hand, & 2 loans). I am NOT going to rename all the accounts again & redo every transaction with all the splits.

As far as MS Money 2005 goes:
I tried to do an update with CapitalOne, and it failed time after time. It also took flipping forever to do any of the updates! I wish I could have let the default setting NOT update news articles. I'm here to balance my checkbook, track settings, & budget, forecast, I don't care about news. I would love to elaborate further, but the arteries in my forhead would explode from my frustration.

Because I couldn't even get the program to KIND OF work, I wish I could give it ZERO stars. I refuse to spend countless hours (more) to try to get this piece of crud working; pen & paper IS BETTER than this program. Back to 2004 I go (until they release a HUGE compilative fix for all this poo). ... Read more

Product Description

Adobe Acrobat 5.0.Use Adobe Acrobat to convert any document to Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Adobe PDF files can be opened reliably across a broad range of hardware and software, and look just like your original files. Easily convert your Microsoft Office documents to Adobe PDF. Simply click the Convert to Adobe PDF button on the Microsoft Office application toolbar. Gather research information from the Web by downloading and converting Web pages to an Adobe PDF file. Saved as an Adobe PDF file with active links, your Web content is easy to archive, print, and distribute reliably. Convert unlimited paper documents to Adobe PDF files. If you require searchable Adobe PDF files, you can use the Paper Capture feature within the Create Adobe PDF Online service. You receive three free trials per day. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

This is the best deal going right now for Acrobat
By the time I was done reading the reviews for Adobe Acrobat 6.0 I was depressed. Not only do I not have Windows XP, or Windows 2000, or NT installed in my machine (The only operating systems that will work with 6) I also couldn't muster up the confidence in the product after so many people were giving it the thumbs down. I want to create an eBook, and Adobe Reader is the most popular reader out there, with some 400 million, to a half a billion users with it installed. What a dilemma. I kept coming back to read some more. Finally I found the answer. I bought a new Adobe Acrobat 5.0 here at Amazon from one of their vendors, and it works great with my Windows 98SE. I planned on buying the 6.0 upgrade after they got the bugs out, and or I got a new computer with XP. Then I found out that 5.0 was the only version before, and that was the professional version. 6.0 Standard is a geared down version of 5. Ok, so it has some additional features, but it is missing all the rest of the professional features that 5 has.
So what's the skinny on the deal? For what I paid for a new 5 that is the full program, unregistered, and upgradeable, plus what I would have to pay here at Amazon for the 6 Professional Upgrade, I saved 80 bucks, and wound up with both versions 5 and 6 pro. Which as I mentioned are both professional versions. If I bought 5 and upgraded to 6 standard, I would only spend a little more for both versions. (About 4 percent more for standard, and about 20 percent less for professional) That way if 6 standard turned out to be as bad as many were saying it is, I would have 5 also.
In the final analysis, I am using 5 and am super excited about the new capabilities that Adobe Acrobat gives you. I'm hoping that by the time I get a new machine with XP on it, Adobe will come out with 6.something, or a second edition of 6 etc. with the fixes built in.
I'm not the only one to come to this conclusion. I noticed in the sales rank at the time I bought it and wrote this review, that 5 was outselling 6. Also I noticed that in the "Those who bought 5 also bought this" section, it had a special note that said, 47% of the people who bought 5 also bought the 6 upgrade. If your running XP, 2000, or NT, get them both. That way all the bases are covered.
Check out the reviews on 5 you'll be surprised how everybody raves about it. To be perfectly honest with you, if I had an XP machine, I would have ordered the 6 upgrade at the same time. Hope this helps.

Newbie to Acrobat
Yes indeed Adobe Acrobat is too expensive, but, when considering the alternatives of buying other brands of PDF software that have less than pleasing quality, it all boils down to choosing the product that has the highest quality. To my knowledge, Acrobat is still the best PDF software available.

My personal needs are to create PDF files, encrypt them, require passwords to view, and restrict the user from printing and copying. After testing a couple other PDF products, I quickly discovered that their security was overly easy to bypass, no I take that back, they were *ridiculously* easy to bypass. Adobe's security has so far proven to be usefully solid.

Since Adobe provides limited public information about their products, I recommend that you first buy a book teaching how to use an Adobe package and read it through so that you will know what the software actually does and does not do. Yes, I agree, having to purchase a book and spend the time studying is not the prefered way to learn about any product, but the few dollars invested can easily pay for itself by your knowing which software to buy (or more specifically, what not to buy!).

What has amazed me the most with my Acrobat experience is when I had to call Adobe customer service to get a complex upgrade to version 6. Not only did the girl answering know what I was talking about, she also accomplished the entire order within that one phone call! WOW! Customer service like that is unheard of today. Apparently Adobe does care about its products enough to hire quality employees, and with that level of care, I feel more confident that I made the right decision choosing Adobe. Too, I purchased Acrobat from Amazon for the same reason of wanting quality service.

There are other PDF products available, some are even free, but for those of us who prefer quality and usefulness over initially lower costs, Acrobat is an intelligence choice. Choosing the right product today, the one that does not crash nor take time away from our work to fiddle with settings, gives us more time to whine about the costs later. If Acrobat were less expensive, I would give it five stars.

Essential if you like to save web pages
I use Adobe Acrobat for many things--creating PDF files, editing them and writing documents for work. But if you visit web pages and want to save or print them, the Adobe Distiller is really essential.

The Distiller acts like a virtual printer, and saves a web page view as a PDF file, complete with images. Unlike saving a web page, which relies on being on the internet to bring up linked photos, the PDF captures the pictures and creates a document that you can store away. Even if the webpage is taken down or altered, you have a copy of it. Web pages are rather ephemeral; they come and they go. This is a good way to document them.

I don't find the interface particularly easy to use--it's not like the Microsoft Office package and the icons are all new to figure out. The price is somewhat steep, though it's been lowered recently.

Despite these criticisms, I would not be without this software. It's probably one I use more than almost any other on my PC.

Good Product, Poorly Documented
I didn't understand the multiplicity of ways in which Acrobat can be used until I took part in an Acrobat focus group. The documentation is awful and even the "official" Adobe instruction books (which are expensive) are no better.

That said, as I have gotten to know the product, I find myself using it more and more. It is particularly useful for file-sharing -- unlike MS Office files, which will repaginate for different users, the Adobe .pdf format is a graphic one, so that everyone who looks at a document is literally reading off the same page.

It is also possible to store large amounts of information in relatively small files. I know that because I know that files I pull down off the Web are relatively small, but being able to do it myself has proved elusive. There are some useful web pages on the topic on Adobe's website, but that too is poorly organized.

Magic for everyone who needs document review or control
If you use Photoshop, this is a natural complement. It is great for document editing and management --- as well as downloading websites. There are more features than one needs to or will learn --- but an absolute for anyone who sends documents to others, as you can limit the use of the content sent (no printing, no extraction, allowing or not allowing editing, etc. ... Read more

Product Description

MODEL- MS-CD43283WI VENDOR- MICROSOFT CORPORATIONFEATURES- Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition- Full version Windows Small Business Server Premium 2003 English CD/DVD with 5 Client Access Licenses. Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition includes Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 technology plus SQL Server 2000 and ISA Server 2000--ideal for small businesses with demanding IT needs such as data-intensive line-of-business applications. * E-mail networking and Internet connectivity Get shared access to the Internet a firewall to help protect your local network Internet e-mail based on Exchange Server and productivity tools such as Outlook Web Access and the Remote Web Workplace. * Microsoft Windows SharePoint Service Get a preconfigured internal Web site based on Windows SharePoint Services which team members can use to share information in a collaborative environment. * Remote access You can accommodate an increasingly mobile work force through the new Remote Web Workplace which provides access to e-mail remote desktops and much more. * Mobility Your mobile users can access their e-mail schedule calendar and task information from their cell phones and other portable devices. * Server administration and management Take advantage of updated end-to-end network administration features that help ensure that your network runs efficiently. REQUIRES- Processor 300 MHz processor minimum; 550 MHz or faster recommended. 256 MB minimum; 512MB or greater recommended (4 GB maximum). 5 GB of available hard-disk space* (only 2 GB required if upgrading from Small Business Server 2000); additional available hard-disk space may be required if you are installing over a network. CD-ROM drive minimum (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive recommended). VGA or hardware that supports console redirection (Super VGA 800 600 or higher-resolution monitor recommended). Actual requirements vary depending on your system configuration and the applications and features you ... ... Read more

Features

• Includes Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 technology
• Get a preconfigured internal Web site based on Windows SharePoint Services
• Accommodate a mobile work force through the Remote Web Workplace
• Mobile users can access their information from portable devices
• Updated network administration features helps your network run efficiently

Amazon.com Product Description

Learn a new language with the award-winning method used by the U.S. State Department to train diplomats. Proven effective by NASA astronauts, Peace Corps volunteers, and millions of students worldwide, the Rosetta Stone Language Library teaches new languages faster and easier than ever before.

We all learn our childhood language by associating new words and phrases with the world around us. The Rosetta Stone method replicates this process by presenting vivid, real-life images to convey the meaning of each new phrase. Instead of translating, memorizing, and studying rules of grammar, you actually learn to think in the new language. Vocabulary and grammar are integrated systematically, leading to everyday proficiency.

The Rosetta Stone Level I program offers a comprehensive course of study for beginning learners, leading to intermediate proficiency. The program contains over 3,500 real-life images and phrases in 92 lessons and more than 250 hours of mastery instruction in listening comprehension, reading, speaking, and writing. Systematic structure teaches vocabulary and grammar naturally, without lists and drills. There are reviews, exercises, and tests for every lesson with automated tutorials throughout the program. (Ages 6 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fantastic Program
I have been meaning to learn French for quite some time and have picked up some books and audio tapes but got quickly frustrated and discouraged.However, after ordering this software I am starting to think that I may actually be able to learn French.

As a little background I have never been good at languages and I was not very good at my foreign languages in school (could barely speak a word).I am an absolute beginner at French an was very nervous that my past performance in learning languages would prevent me from learning French.I was also a little nervous when I read some of the other reviews that said this might not be the best program for beginners, but I ordered it in the hopes that I could at least try something new.

I am extremely happy with my purchase.The proram walks you through French in a very intuitive manner, and though there aren't any explanations it starts you out so slowly that you are easily able to figure out the meanings of what you are seeing on the screen.There is something to be said for learning a language by recognition and repetition rather than learning the grammer rules first.I do use my grammer book occasionally (I bought it before this) but only to satisfy my curiosity about certain thins like feminine and masculine articles, and singular and plural nouns...

Honestly this is a fantastic program that teaches you how to speak and hear French with amazing success.You do learn the grammer rules, but you figure them out for yourself by comparing phrases and by building on earlier lessons.It really is similar to the way a child learns to talk (without ever having to know what a past participle is).Bottom line - fantastic proram and I would have no problems suggeting it to anyone.Even if they know nothing about French and have struggled with other languages.

Rosetta Stone; Not best for everyone
I'm aware that Rosetta Stone is highly regarded in pedagogic circles. However, I haven't had much success with the methods employed by both Rosetta Stone and "Tell Me More." Seeing pictures representing words spoken in French doesn't stick in my head. I prefer the much less expensive "Learn to Speak French," which includes grammar tutorials and allows me to drill over and over while reading the French word and, if I like, the English translation. Admittedly, I am a novice student. Perhaps once I have the basics of the French language, grammar and all, under my belt, then I'll move on to Rosetta Stone with more success.

I like it
This will not work for you as the first or only program for learning French.It is great as a supplement to other methods of learning French.The method is entirely intuitive - there is no English anywhere, so you may also want to have a dictionary and a grammar book.

I have found Rosetta Stone language programs most useful for reviewing the information I have learned elsewhere, for brushing up on languages I haven't used for a while, and for expanding vocabulary.

It may not be the best choice for total beginners, but you can learn a lot by associating words and expressions with the images and occasional mini videos.I do consider it definitely a worthwhile purchase.

Their method works!
The Rosetta Stone people believe in total immersion.Nothing is translated; all meanings are conveyed by a clever use of pictures.You see a french expression, hear it spoken, and see its meaning illustrated, all at the same time.The method works.It allows the English compartment of the mind to quiet down and the French to take over.I felt that I was absorbing french vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence patterns more efficiently with this program than by any other learning method I have tried.

For the most part the pictures make the meanings obvious, but when they don't you are on your own.I kept Google running in the background and used its translation facility to look up the occasional mysterious word. That usually worked, but the lack of English translations within the program is a design flaw in my opinion.Doubtless they would protest that including translations would go against the spirit of total immersion.Well, having to stop to look things up in a french-english dictionary is not total immersion either. But this flaw is not fatal.The program is so good otherwise that I was willing to put up with the inconvenience.

The method is not a complete approach in itself.No grammar is taught except for what you can figure out for yourself from the examples. French Now! by Transparent Language is another excellent program that complements it nicely. Rosetta Stone is expensive, but their "French Explorer" is modestly priced and provides a generous sampling of their fuller Level 1 and Level 2 programs.If you simply can't afford the fuller programs you might consider using French Explorer in conjunction with French Now!

only ok
All in all this program isn't bad but it doesn't seem to have anything on grammar. Without learning the grammar of a language it is almost pointless to learn it because you will sound like a fool to someone who knows the language. The only other program I have tried is French NOW by Transparent Language which is just as good as this program, has grammar turtorials, and is much more affordable. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Scan and store all your business contacts quickly and easily with the IRIS Business Card Reader II. Perfect for scanning new contact info at trade shows and fairs, or as a handy addition to your office desktop, this lightweight (just 220 grams) and portable color scanner will save you from hours of tedious data entry.

An optimized OCR engine quickly and accurately converts scanned business cards into database records and CardIris organizes the information and automatically sorts it into appropriate fields. CardIris offers automatic orientation, de-skewing, cropping, field analysis, and even zoom options.

With user interface language options in six languages, the IRIS Business Card Reader II supports you almost anywhere in the world and recognizes character text in up to 55 languages. The USB interface lets you connect easily to most computers, laptops, and PDAs. Contact info can be directly exported with a single-click into Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Symantec ACT!, IBM Lotus Notes, Palm OS, FrontRange GoldMine, vCard, HTML and comma delimited text. The IRIS Business Card Reader II also offers synchronization with Pocket PC, Outlook, ACT!, Lotus Notes, Palm OS and Goldmine. ... Read more

Features

• USB connectivity; menus in 6 languages
• Lightweight, portable business card scanner
• Scans business cards and photos up to 4.2 by 12 inches
• Exports directly to most contact-management software systems
• Recognizes characters from 6 to 48 points, grayscale, and color images

Reviews (6)

Not compatible with WIndows XP
I was very dissappointed when I got this product and tried to install on my computer with XP and got the microsoft warning that it did not have the "digital signature" and not therefore certified compatible with Windows XP and could cause damage. The response from Iris was they didn't pay Windows for the validation: but similar products (Cardscan, NewSoft Presto, and BizCardReader) whose demosoftware can be downloaded do not have this problem, each having the appropriate "signature".

Not for American ACT!Users.Five stars for non ACT! users
the bad news:I purchased and returned the card reader because of a few "glitches" when converting to ACT! First, it does not convert telephone numbers in USA format XXX-XXX-XXXX.You must add 01 or else the conversion is made in the Notes section and requires a copy and paste into the telephone field of ACT!Second, you cannot add any fields, such as ID/Status, which results in "lost" contacts when you import into a large database.

The good news: Easy installation, superior recognition and no-nonsense to use.Definitely recommended for non ACT! users

Not much of a time saver. Works 50%
I am dissapointed that I cannot return this to Amazon for a full refund after trying it. The OCR is not as good as expected. It is completely usless for about a third of the cards I've tried. Fewer than 10% work perfectly. I feel I have to thoroughly scrutinize every entry because of numerous minor mistakes. My girlfriend told me not to buy it and I should have listened.

A great little scanner!
I work in purchasing at a manufacturing company and needless to say I see a lot of business cards. I've tried manual methods of organizing them, with little success. The IRIS scanner cannot be beat for simplicity and quality. The OCR software may leave a little to be desired, but has a fair success rate. The scanner also does a very nice job on 4X6 photos. (...) this is a good deal!!

I liked the unit so much a bought a second one for home, just to scan photos, as it is SO much faster than my flatbed scanner.

Great Quality and Portability
After getting this reader and getting use to putting the cards in the correct way I love it.I love the fact that it is powered via the USB port.The quality is great and the text recognition is wonderful.I have scanned multiple business cards from conferences that I attend.I love the fact that I can export the contacts and separate them from the different events.The price is also reasonable.

The portability is a plus and I would recommend its purchase. ... Read more

Features

• Getting Started tutorial; 30+ videos for step-by-step instructions
• Software for home remodeling, design, landscaping, and decking projects
• 500 sample home plans; House Wizard for a customized design
• Library of over 3,000 items to create a 3D Model in minutes
• Automatically generate a materials list for project-cost estimating

Reviews (3)

Limited Capability-Not for remodeling
When I read the other reviews on this product, I was a bit surprised at their very positive nature.Then I remembered how I felt when I first tried this program and it all made sense.My guess is that the folks who wrote the positive reviews probably haven't worked with the program for very long or tried to create anything but the most elementary structures.I know I was very impressed at first.That is until I tried to re-create my own home as the starting point for a remodeling project.

This program is very intuitive and easy to learn, the problem is that it is also very limited.After you get past the ease of creating floor plans, the next obvious progression is to see the building in 3D.That's where the problems begin.The roof planes are nearly impossible to control.If you are creating anything other than a simple cape or ranch, you will quickly see how un-nerving this program can be.

Since most homes are comprised of several sections, controlling how the roof planes associated with those sections are generated is critical if you are to be able to create an end product that resembles what you had in mind.This program takes almost all of the roof plane control away from the user.The program generates the roof planes based on a few user defined parameters. This results in 3D images that almost never match what I had in mind.

Just for the record, I'm not technologically impaired. I am an engineer by trade.If I can't get it to work, then the average user is likely going to have even more trouble. In the end, if you can't get an accurate 3D model from this program that resembles what you are trying to create, then why spend the money or the time on this program.Just get a $10 floor plan program or jump up to the $500 version of this Chief Architect program which, as I've been told (haven't used it myself) , is very capable.

Finally!
I've tried many home design programs over the last couple of years and have always been disappointed.I've downloaded many free trial versions and purchased a couple.My latest, Punch Super Home Suite, was OK for 2D stuff but the 3D was impossible and frustrating.I took advantage of their money back guarantee!

I just purchased Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer for $39.00 from a local retailer last week.While I still have lots to learn I love it!I'm amazed at the sophistication for the price.I was VERY leery of buying this based on only one 5 star rating but I did.Well now there are two 5 star ratings so hopefully this will help others.

There are still some things that are "tricky" to construct but I haven't found anything I couldn't create yet and I discover more useful features every time I use it.The training videos are a great way to learn the software quickly and it comes with a hard copy manual, which is getting less common these days.If you are looking for an inexpensive but powerful design program definitely try this one!

AWESOME! FANTASTICPROGRAM.......
Chief Architect tops them all! This program is great. It has a easy userface like 3D Home Architect version 4.0! This program is definitely worth the $ 59.00 I paid for it. Eventually I will upgrade to the next version. This version also offers designing tutorials. And the backdrops are really nice. BUY IT!!!! I have tried soooo many Home design programs and this is the BEST!!! I WOULD GIVE IT 10 STARS BUT THEY ONLY ALLOW UP TO 5!!! ... Read more

Product Description

Delorme Street Atlas USA 2005.This new upgrade provides all the famous DeLorme map detail along with 4 million places of interest address-to-address routing comprehensive GPS capabilities and other powerful features that make this the best choice for travel planning software.Street Atlas 2005 USA System Requirements Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/Me: 64 MB RAM (256 MB recommended) Microsoft Windows XP: 128 MB RAM (256 MB recommended)Intel Pentium 300 MHz or higher processor (600 MHZ recommended)700 MB of available hard-disk spaceMicrosoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later ... Read more

Features

• Updated maps showing all highways, local routes, borders and exits in the U.S.
• Instant routing finds the fastest way to get to any destination
• Powerful search engine with multile zoom levels, for close-up looks at the roads you'll travel
• Millions of searchable points of interest -- from the newest restaurants to the closest gas stations
• Add your own notes and recommendations to maps

Reviews (18)

Buggy, poorly written software
Problems in many areas:
- Buggy installation: I had to re-install after a squeeky clean reboot (on XP; had to use msconfig to boot with no other drivers).The software still has trouble locating well-established addresses and significant landmarks.
- Weak "find" function.Cannot identify addresses with any intelligence.
- User interface is not intuitive at all; ambiguous commands, poor screen/button layout.
I'm trying to be patient and tough it out, but frankly I would not buy it knowing what I know now.I also have Msft Streets & Trips, and although it has limitations as a navigation tool, the U/I is much easier to use, no problems with installation, and the data is far more complete.

Does the job, if you can get past the terrible interface
I was blown away by this product... in the sense that I could not imagine that such a well-functioning piece of software could be rendered virtually unusable by a horrendous interface. The controls are tiny, numerous, and often cryptic. To set up your GPS mouse, for instance, you would have to click the 'Exchange' button. Don't even think about using this product while driving, it is not suitable at all for a touch-screen display.

Having said that, the maps themselves are accurate, and the programs packs a ton of useful information.

first impressions
I have a long commute and wanted to figure out which back roads were ideal.

I was deciding between Microsoft's Streets and Trips 2005 and this program.I think the deciding factor was that the Delorme software has the ability for me to manually choose other roads besides the roads the program recommends.

Microsoft's version doesn't seem to offer this.At least they don't mention it.By allowing me to choose my own roads, I can avoid rush hour roads that are not ideal even though they are the calculated ones.

It may not have as many POIs, but I was more interested in customizing and alterning suggested routes than points of interest.That feature alone made the Delorme worth it for me.

Poor Northern Virginia Data
I have used Delorme products for a number of years and love the features. The 2005 Street Atlas is a little slow to start, but still nice to work with.
BUT!!! they seem to have spent their time on "features" and not updating the database. I live in Northern Virginia and was very disapointed with this release.
Street Atlas 2005 is headed for Ebay and I cringed as I installed
*#**#.

Terrible accuracy
In some areas the software worked great, but in others it was off by hundreds of feet, showing me on totally different streets. Around my house it was consistently off by 800 feet and displayed my position one street away.

This is not due to the GPS receiver. The receiver gives the right coordinate data. If you plot that data by hand on the map you will be positioned wrong. This indicates that the maps are not calibrated right.

Tech support was worthless. All they tell you is that you can return it before 30 days. Of course, you're still out the tax and the cost of sending it back.

Do not buy this product until they have fixed the maps. Consider yourself warned. ... Read more

Product Description

Intuit, Inc (292582) TURBOTAX PREMIER V2004 WIN/MAC $20 IN-BOX REBATE, OFFER VALID FOR PURCHA ... Read more

Features

• Maximize 401(k) contributions without decreasing take-home pay
• Tax preparation software with step-by-step guidance and free electronic filing
• Help and advice for investments, Schedule C businesses, and rental property
• Extra guidance on business asset depreciation and home-office deductions
• Assistance with reporting stocks, bonds, and mutual funds

Reviews (32)

Intuit Customer Support Lacking
Received TurboTax Premier disc from Amazon.During installation, kept getting different installation errors.Intuit website posted SEVERAL options as work-arounds.Spent too much time trying to fix what ended up being a defective disc.On-line chat w/ Intuit rep was frustrating, at best.Intuit would not ship replacment disc direct since Amazon is not an "authorized" seller.Amazon shipped replacement disc (took too many days, Amazon).
Response on Intuit's website about TurboTax completely unacceptable.Defective product and not ready for market.Have used TT for 15 years - won't be using it next year.

turbo tax premier 2004
Bummed I couldn't find the home and business (guess their not making it anymore) This program wouldn't allow me to import information from previous years. I've always been able to transfer from last years Turbo tax home and business forms. I had to re-type everything manually. No prompt to do it and when I went to the pull down menu I couldn't prompt it to import data. Not user friendly, it used to be better.

Don't bother...
I think this program was written by a 12 year old; the interface and style of the program are poorly done.Furthermore, this program installs spyware on you're computer, which causes the computer to crash when you switch between useres.

Not perfect, but gets the job done
This was my first year doing taxes for myself.I've always been skeptical about using software to get them done, so I usually pay too much to a CPA to do them for me.After a lot of encouragement from friends I decided to give this a try.Other than some ESPP sales, my return was pretty simple.I bought the Premier version.

What I liked:

- Nice interview process.Of course, it helped that I had prior year returns that had been prepared by a professional, so I kind of knew what the questions meant.
- Easy import of W2 and 1099 information.
- A check to make sure the return contained no errors.
- Online support from Intuit was very prompt.

Some things I would have liked to see:

- There's a screen where it tells you how much you can contribute to a Roth IRA, but it doesn't put the information on the instruction sheet when you print the return for filing.That would be useful.

Bugs that I encountered:

Basically lots of printing-related bugs.
- When I tried to print from the file->print menu, and asked it to print a return for filing, it only printed the federal return.I had to go to the "print" tab and print return for filing to PDF, and then it printed both federal and state.
- I had the same problem when using the file->print menu to print a copy of the returns and worksheets for personal records.So I just printed the federal portion using this.
- The method for printing the copy for records (including worksheets) to pdf was not as straightforward as when printing the return for filing.I couldn't figure it out so I used Intuit's online support.However, even thought I followed the instructions from them, I found that it did not print all of the worksheets.I contacted them about this and was told to just print to paper.So I have to live without a pdf copy of my return containing all the worksheets.

Works Well and is Easy To Use
I purchased TurboTax Premier and the state software. I was able to do a joint tax return of moderate complexity in one afternoon. The prompts and other messages were very helpful. I recommend this software. ... Read more

Features

• Fun and educational for horse lovers of any age
• Learn the business of owning and managing a real horse farm
• Care for horses and train them to be world-class champions
• Outfit riders by choosing from an array of clothes, accessories, and hairstyles
• Spend money wisely and make good decisions

Reviews (12)

The Game is Fantastic
I bought this for my 8 yr old grand daughter for Christmas.She is an avid horse lover. It is amazing what she is capable of figuring out on her own.On the game, she has been saving up money to purchase stud fees.She has even figured out if you take things back to the store you purchased for the horse, that they return money.
At first she was a little stumped, but after she caught on what was going on the computer hasnt shut off since then.
Highly recommend this game for a learning experience.

What a Horse Farm!
This is an awesome game!!! It's so worth the money! You actually TRAIN your horses (not like other games where you just ride), and the cartoonish graphics actually make the game more fun. It teaches a lot of math and how to spend money wisely. Anyone could play this game and see it as fun!

My Horse Farm is the best PC Game!!!!!
(...)I got the My Horse Farm PC game for my birthday.It's really fun! It taught me about spending money wisely and how to make a living.In the game, you start off with $4000.00.That may seem like alot at the beginning of the game, but it's not enough to have your own farm, so a thing I do is sell my horse and increase the money on my guest house, and then I can buy two horses when I have enough money, and I get to breed a foal.You have to exercise your horse each round (a round is like a day.There is a button to make it a new day).I would not give it to kids under 8 years old.This game is a great game to play!Especially if you like horses!I recommend it highly! *****

Fun but....
I bought this for my equestrian loving daughter and it really is a terrific game.A little slow for today's instant gratification generation, but really interesting and good.
My only complaint is it keeps crashing, so much so that my daughter will no longer play it.I have tried it on 2000/pc and xp/pc and the same thing happens.

My girls love it!
My two daughters (ages 6 and 11), both experienced game players, enjoy "My Horse Farm" tremendously.My 6-year old does need occasional help from her older sister, but can play without assistance most of the time.My 11-year old also plays on her own without being bored.I do think its a great accomplishment for the game's creators that both girls like it!I recommend it highly! ... Read more

Product Description

FileMaker Pro 7 ... Read more

Features

• Secure data with assigned accounts and privileges
• Track and manage people, projects, images, and data
• Do more, faster with 30 starter solutions
• Exchange data with a virtually limitless number of applications
• Store, track, and archive files and documents

Reviews (9)

The app I use most and teach others how to use...

A good deal of what people have written about this product simply isn't true, particularly negative observations such as not being able to import/export or that security is non-existent. Why people with only cursory knowledge speak with such authority has always puzzled me. So I offer an objective, if lengthy, review.

I've been using FileMaker since 1990. Developing FileMaker applications has been my primary source of income for almost as long. I develop in Mac OS X (Virtual PC with Windows 2000 Pro for testing). I've also tech edited an upcoming advanced book on FileMaker 7.

Version 7 is a huge upgrade over 6 (I'd call it a 'crossgrade', as in switching to similar but different product). As such, converting solutions from 6 to 7 can get really hairy, and it may be that a complete re-write is more efficient. That said, many FileMaker solutions that people have developed or inherited over the years weren't written following "correct" database rules (this is why IT types hate FileMaker), so a re-write may be a good thing. Generally, an upgrade to 7 is brought about by a need for larger file sizes, to increase the number of simultaneously open files or to consolidate data. If you've got a solution that works fine in 6 or earlier and you're not a developer, I'd think two or three times about upgrading; it's not something you want to do for the sake of it.

For users, that is people who enter data, the changes in 7 aren't apparent. It's the back end, for us developers, where the changes are significant, plentiful, and very welcome. If you're just getting started in the world of FileMaker, forget all about any earlier versions. The rules have changed in 7, and it's almost more difficult to unlearn what you know from 6 than to start fresh in 7.

FileMaker has a scalar learning curve. That is, it's easy to learn and get up and running in really no time at all (and there are plenty of free sample files to take apart and learn from). As your database becomes larger, more complex and gains a need for multiple simultaneous users or interaction with other systems, knowing the normalized rules of relational database structures becomes increasingly important, and that's where the learning curve steepens. But don't let anyone fool you, this is true of *any* database development software.

Building a database is a lot like being the architect of a building. You have to have a good idea of what it's going to look like in the end, before you start. For example, if you know your one-story house is one day going to be a 4-story mansion, you want to have a good foundation. If you know you might want the ability to relocate a bathroom to the other side of a floor, you've got to build in some room at least for plumbing, electricity, maybe some windows. It's not a realistic analogy, but it usually helps people understand the thinking involved around creating a database.

I firmly believe FileMaker is the easiest of any to learn, use and maintain, that can also handle whatever complexity you throw at it. Further, it's cross-platform and things like networking your databases and making structural changes (even remotely, without bringing down the system) are really a breeze compared to programs like Access.

Lastly, one of the neatest things about FileMaker is its developer community, which is today thriving and strong. Almost like an open-source coummunity, we seem to really enjoy helping solve each other's problems (no one person knows everything about FileMaker, even at FileMaker, Inc), so we're always learning. There's plenty of free community support available that, I've found, is often better than the company's own tech support, although the folks at FileMaker are really great and genuinely into supporting the developer community. And...there's plenty of money to be made as a FileMaker developer the world over. We're certainly in demand and have been going strong for nearly two decades.

You can read FileMaker's feature list to find out about all the new features. Here are my likes and dislikes:

What I like most about 7:

* Multiple tables in one file (with an 8 terabyte limit per file; formerly 2GB).
* Multiple windows from the same file, and the ability to manage their placement dynamically, down to the pixel.
* The ability to separate data from logic (for example, keep your data in one file, and all your scripts and interface elements in another...changes and solution upgrades to your clients are much easier to facilitate this way).
* Much improved security and account management (that supposedly plays well in authenticated corporate environments...I'm just getting started in this area).
* The ability to use PNG images with transparency, which greatly improves what you can do with your interface.


What I DON'T like about 7:

* All my complaints boil down to FileMaker's interface. I strongly believe a complete overhaul is way overdue (if it were like Omni Graffle, I'd be in heaven). There are plenty of little annoyances because I use a Mac. For example, I have a Microsoft 5-button optical mouse. The scroll wheel, which works in every single application (even on FileMaker for Windows using Virtual PC on my G5), doesn't work at all in FileMaker for OS X. This is ironic because FileMaker is wholly owned by Apple, but development for the Mac seems have been an afterthought. Much of this will change in the next version, just around the corner. I wouldn't dream of developing primarily in Windows, largely because of the way Windows OS handles windows and value lists within FileMaker; you have less room to work with.

* The relationships graph, which sort of looks like an ER (entity relationship) diagram but is not, can get messy very quickly, and they've taken away the ability to look at relationships in a straight text list (I'd like both). This can get frustrating, especially if you've inherited someone else's mess. The fact that FileMaker has implemented a certification program for developers, and is working actively on releasing development standards will help reduce confusion and frustration in this area.

* The inability to move tables, fields, script steps, etc. from one table or file to another. Improvements in this area are expected in the next version.

* The inability to see how elements are related to each other. For example, it's not possible to see all the elements that call a script (i.e. a parent script or button, etc.). There are software tools that can analyze FileMaker files and expose this information, and they work great, but it would be nice if it were integrated into the program itself.

* It's a minor complaint, but worth addressing here: A number of things don't work like you'd expect or want them to, so you have to create workarounds. This appeals to the geek in me; I usually like the challenge, but sometimes it's frustrating because you'll think it's silly that something simply doesn't work like you want. That said, over the years there is nothing, really nothing in terms of complexity that I have not been able to achieve with FileMaker by itself or with the help of a plug-in. People ask me "Is it possible in FileMaker to..." I always answer yes before they're finished. It's sometimes a "Yes, but..." answer. For the snotty programmer types, I challenge anyone to name database development software that is impervious to workarounds, OR that does not have a high learning curve. If you don't have a background in databases, FileMaker is a great path. If you do have such a background, open your mind and you'll find that no, FileMaker is not the end-all-be-all database app (such an app doesn't exist), but it really is a neat and productive tool, and if you can build good solutions that manage your client's data, they will loyally worship you.

FileMaker Quirks
FileMaker is perhaps the easiest application to use for creating a simple database.But, there are a few quirks about this software that really bug me:

1. Danger of storing layouts, scripts, and data in the same file

Layouts and scripts are stored in the same file as the data.If FileMaker crashes while editing a layout or modifying a script, the whole file including the data may become corrupt and unaccessible.A better design, in my opinion, would be to keep the data separate from the layouts and scripts, so the data would be protected in an event of a crash.

2. Danger of linking to wrong external relational files

Filemaker links to externally related files by an unusual search algorithm.If there exists copies of files with the same file name on the server, on the local hard disk, or hosted on other hosts, then which file is linked becomes ambiguous. The wrong external file may be linked.

3. Danger of opening the wrong file

Each Filemaker application can host files.If a user were to host a file that has the same name as a file hosted on the server, other users may open the wrong file.

4. Danger of deleting your entire database

The "Delete All Records..." option is one of the most dangerous features of FileMaker.Many databases were wiped out because a user accidently chose the "Delete All Records..." rather than the "Delete Record..." option -- the two options are placed next to each other in the menu, inviting disaster.

5. Cumbersome queries

The querying feature of FileMake can be a pain to use.To create a query such as (Field1 = "criterion1" and (Field2 = "criterion2" or Field3 = "criterion3" or FieldN = "criterionN")), FileMaker requires you to break down the above query as N-1 queries: (Field1 = "criterion1" and Field2="criterion2"), new query (Field1 = "criterion1" and Field3 = "criterion3"), ..., new query (Field1 = "criterion1" and FieldN = "criterionN").There are other queries that can be easily posed as a SQL statement but not so easily done in FileMaker.

6. Spaghetti code paradigm

Variables for your scripts in FileMaker are stored in global fields. You'll have to keep track of which scripts are using what global fields -- the script and the variables are not kept together.Passing parameters to scripts is a cumbersome sequence of setting the global fields one-by-one, then calling the script.Most modern programming languages have procedures with calling convention such as p(x,y).In FileMaker it's set x, set y, perform p.To debug, you'll have to read the code of p to see that p really references x and y.Also, their is no hierarchy or encapsulation of scripts, so you'll have to devise your own way for organizing.

Filemaker Pro for the novice
As a novice user, with practically no knowledge of computer programming and scripting, I would like to say that Filemaker is one of the easiest databases I have ever used.I started out using Filemaker4 - this had its limitations, but the fact that I could easily and efforlessly create a whole database with functional buttons and easy links to other layouts was so great!

It is relatively foolproof for those who do not wish to overload their minds with programming data that they will probably never use (and they only need to pay the cost of the package instead of the programmers they would probably need to employ in order to keep their database up and running flawlessly; with no disrespect to you programmers out there - I wish I could BEGIN to understand the way it all works, but some of us are not blessed with the time or technological knowhow that some take for granted - but I do understand why you are frustrated by the simplicity - remember that for those who need it, Filemaker does the basic database job, in a more simplified manner).

I give 4 stars because, although user friendly, there are annoying limitations that have been noted before - ie: multiple layouts for manual change each time IS annoying, auto saving with no "undo" option is dangerous for larger databases etc.

In summary, I feel that Filemaker is an excellent ready-prepared database solution for any individual or business that requires the "quick-fix" Filemaker offers so easily.

Not perfect, but FM7 offers many long-awaited features
FileMaker 7 is a very fast and reliable rapid-application-development package for both Windows and Macintosh. With it, you can create single- and multi-user databases quickly and easily without programming or advanced training. You can start with a single-user system, and if your needs grow, you can then scale up effortlessly to a server-based platform with up to 250 users.

FileMaker is "high level", meaning you don't need a deep understanding of underlying data structures and theory to do useful work. This makes it ideal for smaller organizations who can't afford the expense of a full-time administrator/programmer, but still need a reliable, powerful, multi-user database.

If your ideal database environment includes Oracle or Crystal Reports, FileMaker is probably not for you. FileMaker simplifies things. There are only a handful of data types, only a few types of controls. In fact, experienced DBAs are often baffled by FileMaker's simplicity. But FileMaker can do very complex tasks with its streamlined approach.

Experienced FileMaker developers will find most (but not all) of their pet peeves have been eliminated with this version. Many long-standing limitations are now gone.

Despite some absurd claims to the contrary, Version 7 continues the long FileMaker tradition of importing and exporting a variety of data file formats.

The once-pathetic ODBC drivers are dramatically improved, and are now actually useful. JDBC is also available this time around, though emphasis appears to be on XML for the future. The Web Publishing feature is now XML-based, a welcome change for integration with other database platforms.

Additional FM7 advancements:
- Multi-table files and improved relationship management with multi-field keys.
- Elimination of restrictive file and field size limits.
- Editable finding and sorting in scripts
- Linguistic indexing has been expanded from the old 20 characters-per-word limit to 110 characters per word.
- User definable functions with recursion (my favorite)
- Encryption support for both native and web-based networking
- Script parameter passing
- True user-based security replaces old inadequate model

FM7 is not ideal. There's still no full-text editing of scripts, and the new multi-table file format does not allow for simple duplication of a table structure. There are some other annoyances, but overall, it's a huge improvement. Existing FileMaker users will appreciate finally getting some of the things they've been asking for for so long. And if you care more about getting your database up and running quickly than you do about esoteric database ideology, FileMaker 7 may be the right choice for your next project.

NOT a Professional Database Package
I agree with the gentleman who suggested that it was not a normalised database, and also with his view of the layout structure inadequacies.

I am a professional developer and system integrator who has developed systems from small applications to global software solutions used across almost any platform.

Filemaker is not a professional tool for the following reasons.

1.The concept of having to have multiple layouts which have to be changed individually is frankly ludicrous.
2.The security of the application is virtually non-existent.
3.The indexing only goes up to 22(or so) characters, so if you have two strings which have the first n characters the same, basically forget it..
4.The printing control is non-existent, particularly if you wish to take control away from the user.
5.The method of opening each related database is frankly ridiculous, and anything complex can very quickly get you to exceed the maximum number of windows open.
6.Almost no logic can be enabled on a print layout, forcing huge numbers of print layouts to be defined, again all which need to be changed manually.
7.Importing and exporting data capability is non-existent.
8.Relationship management and capability is inept and insufficient for serious databases.
9.Encryption is either non-existent or pathetic (sorry cannot remember, but do know that I had to write my own encryption methods as Filemaker could not handle it.)

This is far form a complete list of the real issues I experienced, but is a list of those issues which could have scuppered the entire project if long-winded work-arounds could not have been found and then developed.

In short the application is woefully inadequate, is not professional, and the only thing going for it is that it can create a cross platform solution.




... Read more

Product Description

Adobe InDesign CS2 - Upgrade - Graphics/Designing - 1 User(s) Product Upgrade - Standard - English - PCJoin the growing ranks of creative professionals discovering new levels of creative freedom and productivity using Adobe InDesign CS2 software. Tightly integrated with the Adobe applications you use most, InDesign CS2 delivers faster production workflows and a more fluid creative environment for designing professional layouts with sophisticated graphics and typography. ... Read more

Product Description

Intuit Quicken 2005 Deluxe - Financial Management - PCQuicken 2005 Deluxe makes it easier than ever for you to find out what you have and where it's going by helping you with paying bills, saving more money and planning for your future. Quicken 2005 includes over 100 customer driven enhancements, making it easier than ever for you to manage your