Product Description

Macromedia RoboHelp Office X5 - Document Management - PCRoboHelp is the fastest, easiest way to create professional Help systems and documentation for desktop and web-based applications, including .NET and Rich Internet Applications. RoboHelp is the industry standard in Help authoring and has won over 55 prestigious industry awards. Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theMacromedia OFFX50100ND - ROBOHELP OFFICE X5and all other Macromedia Software - Security ... Read more

Features

• Create professional Help systems and documentation
• Work with built-in or popular HTML editor or Microsoft Word
• Create Help systems that run on any browser or platform
• Easy to use; automated wizards and project templates
• For desktop and Web-based applications

Reviews (4)

Functions like a Beta release
Want support for JavaHelp? Forget it. RoboHelp claims to support JavaHelp, but only supports some of it.

For example, I had to write a utility to "massage" the resulting JavaHelp build xml files because RoboHelp does not recognize multiple controls pointing to a single JavaHelp topic. (No, aliases do not work for JavaHelp.)

Also, neither JavaHelp 1.x nor 2.x recognizes all the formatting codes inserted by RoboHelp. For example, plain old HTML bold tags display properly; RoboHelp's bold style does not. What's the use of using a style then?

Did this company even test the product? I don't think so. In fact, when I used one of my two "freebie" support tickets to force the issue about the multiple control/single topic issue, Macromedia admitted, after sending me a lot of irrelevant material about using aliases, that this was a known bug and there were no plans to fix it.

Want frustrating error-prone version control? Just use RoboHelp's built-in crash-a-rama RoboSource, the program that continually provides errors. Oh, I can get it working, sometimes even for days at a stretch; then it'll start its crashing again, where I have to repeatedly reboot my server, a machine we've had to dedicate to RoboSource. RoboHelp doesn't work with CVS, the version control system we use inhouse, though Macromedia claims it works with SourceSafe. I'll never know, though, because I've learned over the years not to trust Macromedia.

Want support for Eclipse? Forget about it. Doesn't exist.

Perhaps for users who only need to single-source a simple documentation set, such as a WinHelp system coupled with a Word document, this product would work just fine. I'll never know, because the documentation community should be heading in the same direction as the application community: cross-platform compatibility.

I could list other problems and workarounds, but what's the point? I recommend looking elsewhere, depending on your documentation needs. I know I will.

The next sound you hear will be the installation CDs hitting my trash can, and the tapping of my keys as I take this opportunity to find another product....

Don't listen to the naysayers
For those of us who were three versions behind, RoboHelp X5 makes my job a lot easier. You can purchase just what you need but I recommend getting this version or you may regret getting "just" this or "just" that & may end up having to get the whole enchilada anyway. Makes no sense. Older versions of RoboHelp, for me, caused topics to get overwritten. Also, this version has conditional text built in. Thanks for those of you who wrote reviews & provided tips, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. I highly suggest the RoboHelp author forum at http://www.helpcommunity.ehelp.com/forums/wbpx.dll/~robohelp.

I also like the Flash Help feature very much. You can easily go to Project Manager and set your preference for the type of Help output you want. Flash Help makes the Help for our product look very slick. My coworkers agree. I highly suggest that you upgrade if you haven't already.

Another reason you should purchase this product (and no, I don't work for Macromedia) is that eHelp no longer "owns" the product. Macromedia supports it. Sure, you may not get a break on the price but guess what? Unless you're a registered user, you won't be able to access free skins online anymore. Macromedia has made the product more proprietary than ever. So, with improvements formerly via eHelp Corp. comes disappointments. They want you to upgrade, yes. You will have to pay, yes. Pirated software? If we all did that, you'd probably be paying an even bigger price for the prized software.

Good luck, & if you want to create your own Help project by hand, then don't buy the product. RoboHelp X5 literally saves weeks of work and if it has a few bugs, what software product doesn't? I personally would not want to be slaving over Help files all weekend doing them manually.

That's MY six hundred or so bucks' worth...but I got my company to pay for my version. So what are you griping about? Cut a purchase order and get reimbursed or use your company's credit card!

Overpriced and very disappointing.
There is very little that is "robo" (i.e., automated) about RoboHelp. Sure, it will auto-generate things when you ask it to, but its output is so erratic and incomplete you might as well do it all by hand.

As a manual Help creation tool, it's got a nice complement of features, but let me tell you about a couple of little quirks or bugs...

You're supposed to be able to switch the type of output you get from RoboHelp at any point in your project. We started out with the goal of producing WebHelp, then switched to MS HTML help. Well, the part where you define what's available in your final output (Window definitions) did not come along for the switch. It took some time to realize that we had to delete the window definitions and define new ones in order for RoboHelp to actually produce the output we wanted.

Another little quirk is that when you add a hyperlink to existing text in a bulleted list, RoboHelp throws in a bunch of space characters (from 3 to 10) between the bullet and the text. And the WYSIWYG editor is not really WYSIWYG, not that that's any surprise, but it won't allow you to do everything you want to do. There is a TrueCode editor to let you get around that, if you know your way around HTML.

A new quirk that I've been wrestling with this morning is that any edit to an existing topic changes the style for that topic, and RoboHelp will not allow me to change it back, even when I edit the HTML directly!

Workarounds, more workarounds, and living with things you can't work around--expect to spend a lot of time developing your project's Help file with RoboHelp.

Highway Robbery
This is nothing more than the basic RoboHelp with many more bells and whistles. It's not worth a grand; not now, not ever.

Reminds me of automobiles: they're all the same, four wheels and a horn. They all do the same thing. But start adding features and the price starts climbing.

I think it's the height of arrogance to charge a grand for this software. Just so long as this type of arrogance marks the software industry, then just so long will I in my secret heart cheer on the software pirates. ... Read more

Product Description

Make The Most of Your Home PC Microsoft Works 8 gives you the tools you need to transform your home computer into a productivity center. It's easy to use and essential for getting the most out of your computing experience. Works 8 will help you and your family coordinate schedules, stay connected, and perform everyday tasks better and faster than ever before. Put it to work for you. ... Read more

Features

• View PowerPoint presentations; auto-save and document recovery
• Essential productivity tools for the home PC
• Word processor; spreadsheet; database; email/Internet tools
• New dictionary tool with thesaurus; enhanced calendar
• Share and edit documents with Microsoft Word and Excel users

Reviews (4)

Database report problem
I had my boss buy this for work.I regret that decision!Everytime we try to print reports from the database, the field widths keep changing!!!I keep 'fixing' them and saving, but they keep changing everytime!This is a very frustrating and time consuming bug.I didn't have this problem with older versions of MS Works.I've been going on line to find help for this problem and still have not found any.I wish I had researched this version before assuming it was as good as the older version.

Our wordprocessor needs are very basic and this version suits our needs. (we use Corel Draw for more graphics intense needs) Same with the spread sheet.Our need is limited and it's 'good enough'.The mail merging feature from Database to Word processor is also acceptable for our use.

Contains enhanced interface and a more substantive dictionar
Microsoft Works provides a workable word processorThe new calendar applet is much easier to use and will import your old addresses if you have the 7.0 version. Works can perform very easily most of the major tasks that Word provides such as footnoting, page numbering, typesetting of longer documents.
In contrast to the products offered by Sun Micro, the Works CD includes multitudes of useful clipart and there is a link in the Help menu to help you download multitudes more. The dictionary links to Encarta Encyclopedia. The one thing I didn't like so much was still the underdeveloped nature of the spreadsheet. It is more suited to home-related tasks and not to linear algegebraicfunctions. Still, it was nice to be able to edit excel 2003 documents and save them in a usable format for work.

A Great Option for Some
If you are really cheap or totally bankrupt when it comes to buying a set of productivity tools, here's a savior or option. This is really low-end software and I really don't recommend it, but it is commendable enough to do simple task such as typing a one-page document, adding numbers in the spreadsheet program. But the database is just not good at all. It's unreliable and not powerful to handle complex task such as creating complex queries or even reports. Works 8.0 cost forty dollars but if you have an extra thirty dollars, buy Star Office 7.0 instead, if you were to compare that to Works, Star Office would look more like Microsoft Office. Not much has changed since version 7.0, but the Wizards are more tasks intensive and focus on accomplishing your work more efficiently. The Task Center is much leaner and sleeker, but comparing it to prior versions, its not much a of a improvement. One of the great features of Works I always appreciate, is the pre-made templates that come bundled, you can't go wrong there, and to be honest its bit more intuitive compared to Star Office.

Star Office is a full-featured productivity suite that includes a satisfactory word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation graphics and drawing program. The only time I can recall when I really, really appreciated Works was version 4.5, which was the ultimate Works; the Wizards were intuitive and easy to use. It guided you along the way; this really made Works friendlier and useful than recent versions. So, as I said before if you have the extra 30 dollars go for Star Office you won't regret it or just save and buy WordPerfect Office, WordPerfect Productivity Pack or Microsoft Office Teacher & Student Edition, a $150 value and you get four of Microsoft's major productivity applications, Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, only problem with it, you can't upgrade to future versions of Office.

Not worth it
Don't even bother, unless you can get it free. Just download Open Office instead, http://www.openoffice.org/ and get all thefunctionality of a word processor, as well as a spreadsheet, presentation software (Power Point equivalent), and more, for free. I've used Works, Word (bundled with MS Office), and Open Office, and the only one that has any real benefits over the others is MS Office Professional and only if you need MS Access. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Program
I have had this program for a couple months now and it works fabulously.I updated from FTM 9 and it completely transferred all my information very quickly.I have thoroughly enjoyed this program and it helped me to find family I have searched and searched for.It's great!

Doesn't work if you're trying to upgrade from FTM 9
I've been using Family Tree Maker for years and have come to depend on it for storing thousands of records of ancestors.The only thing I haven't liked about it is that it doesn't have enough flexibility for publishing a book, so I have to retype everything if I want to publish something.I've used Family Tree Maker 9 for a while and bought the upgrade to Family Tree Maker 2005.When I installed this new version I kept getting errors using my file from the old version.The support center couldn't or wouldn't help;I called repeatedly and they just said my file had been corrupted.So my review is not for Family Tree Maker in general, just for this new version. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Remotely accessing computers--whether from the next desk over or in aremote office thousands of miles away--is an essential part of business life. Keeping things running smoothly and safely, Symantec's pcAnywhere 10.5 allowsusers to work where they like without worrying about slow file transfers ormalicious hackers. The package is designed for two sets of users: help deskstaffers who want to watch what their clients are doing or even take overoperations remotely, and mobile professionals who need to access files or runprograms while far from their desks.

Installing and setting up the software can be tricky for novices, so most usersshould have competent IT staff on hand to take care of glitches. Once installed,it's easy to remotely control machines or quickly drag and drop files via cableor modem using the simple, intuitive interface. Essentially, the remote machineopens a window into the host computer to watch or take over its functioning.While this may take a bit of adjustment at first, it quickly becomes secondnature.

The security features for pcAnywhere are strong, varied, and impressive,including basic authentication, roaming network search for unauthorizedconnections, and comprehensive logging. IT professionals will appreciate therebootless install feature, which lets them put the software on employees'computers transparently. Remote access should be safe and painless, andpcAnywhere 10.5 is both. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (12)

NOT FOR SERVERS!But great for what it was made for
OK folks, let's get this straight.PC-Anywhere (or any such remote-control software) is NOT for servers!(I am a MCSE certified Systems Engineer with over 15 years of experience in large network environments...trust me when I tell you this).Remote-control software is also not the best solution for setting up remote-access for several network users.

PC Anywhere is great for what it should be used for -- an individual getting in to control his/her personal PC.It will work well over dial-up or broadband speeds, and has deacent security built in.

This new version does not seem to bring a lot to the table over older versions, but overall still a very solid product for remote DESKTOP control.

But please, if you feel the impulse to put PC Anywhere on a server, stop and go find a qualified systems administrator who can tell you the RIGHT way to support remote Windows servers.

Never changes
You would think that a product would improve with time -- but no, not pcAnywhere! It is, always has been, and probably always will be deeply flawed. I installed this product on two Windows 2003 Servers. On one of them, the host service kept failing whenever I tried to initiate a file transfer. On the other server, file transfers worked fine but the visual display was a distortion of black and white lines. It's amazing -- every single version I work with has some problem that keeps me from being able to move it into production. And version 10.5 is no exception. Save your money!

Saved my company a lot of $$$$
Being a Systems Engineer for our network users, I love this product. It has made my life so much easier. Instead of walking the end users through some steps over the phone, I just log in and take care of the issue. Here's where the money savings comes in... I no longer have to send a computer in for software issues because someone couldn't follow the instructions and my company doesn't have to pay to fly me to the different sites. The only issue I have ever had is with 10.5 and XP. It always installs fine, but it leaves an item in the tool bar that you can't close (more annoying than anything else). I imagine vers. 11 will fix this. Over all I give this product a BIG thumbs up!

Install PCAnywhere 10.5 on Windows NT at your own risk.
I recently got a new home computer with Windows XP on it.I had currently been using Windows 98 and had PCAnywhere 8.0 running on it as well as on my PC at work running with Windows NT 4.0.It ran perfectly for years, however the only version of PCAnywhere compatible with XP is 10.5..So, I got this program and decided to load it at work as the documentation said it ran with NT. BIG MISTAKE!!!!Program installed fine, but when I went to reboot my machine at the end of the night it Blue Screened on the reboot.Then it continually rebooted and blue screened.Couldn't bypass it.Tried starting the machine in VGA mode.No good either.Blue screen.Went to Symantec site and there is a known bug with NT and 10.5 that can cause a Blue screen due to some video driver crud.Bottom line, their fix involved installing parallel version of NT on machine and doing all sorts of manual stuff with the Registry.Send my Machine off to company LAN department.Guess what. MACHINE IS TRASHED.Unrecoverable.The have to reimage the entire box.Everything on my machine is gone.Nice of Symantec to (NOT) warn me before I installed about potential problems with NT 4.0.If they had I would have kept my 8.0 on my work PC.Bottom line, I have been without a machine for a day, all my work is lost and I have nothing by disdain for this software.DO NOT install 10.5 on an NT machine if you value your PC.You have been warned.

Slow, slower, slowest!
I've used PC Anywhere in all its iterations. As a professional software analyst, I used to require that all my clients purchase a copy.

But not anymore. My biggest beef is that even when both the host and remote connections are high speed Internet, this product responds too slowly. When using this product, I can click with my mouse, go to the bathroom, get a second cup of coffee and pet my dog before the command will take effect.

I much prefer using WebX or VPN as a tool of choice for remote support.

On the plus side, remote support after hours, while slow, is relatively painless. ... Read more

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)

Userful for Learning Italian
This will not work for you as the first or only program for learning Italian.It is great as a supplement to other methods of learning Italian.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.

Save your money -- avoid this product
I strongly discourage purchasing this product because (1) the software is poorly and simplistically designed and (2) the content is a lazy assembly of stuff that does not promote learning.I ran the software on a 1.6 Ghz machine with 60 GB harddrive, so the performance issue clearly was not on my side.As far as the simplistic design, in the multiple choice select-a-picture section, for example, the answer would be in the same quadrant for a series of questions.This issue persisted throughout, leading to a lazy learning/teaching experience.Continuing with the shortcuts taken by this manufacturer, the photos designed to promote Italian language learning were not of Italian subjects.What a crime to charge $165 for this software!

Sometimes you get what you pay for...
After trying two language programs before this and being highly disappointed in their performance I finally put out the money for this program.It is comprehensive and I have found it very valuable in it's method of teaching the Italian language.I highly recommend it.

Love Rosetta stone Italian software
I have had some knowledge of the Italian language so I am not a total beginner, but pretty close to it.The reason I purchased this software is that I found myself loosing the little knowledge I had.How this program works is through picture recognition along with coinciding speech.For an example they will show you a picture of a bird in different sequences such as: flying, swimming, and the color of the bird etc... They also show people doing similar actions.By picture recognition, repetitive patterns, and hearing the words, you do learn the language. The pictures do build in a methodical way and eventually you do learn to form the words, and then into sentences. But, there is no explanation in the how and why the grammar works.The word "the" is different in Italian with respect to masculine, feminine, plural, and the program does not explain this aspect of the language.You learn merely by rote imitation.This indeed is how a child learns to speak a language.A nice feature to this software is that the native speaker does speak in a slow pronunciation, in some parts of the program you can really slow the speakers voice down and hear every syllable. The program allows you to record your voice so you can hear your progress.Learning in this way is fun and I do not find my mind wandering.

Love Rosetta stone Italian software
I have had some knowledge of the Italian language so I am not a total beginner, but pretty close to it.The reason I purchased this software is that I found myself loosing the little knowledge I had.How this program works is through picture recognition along with coinciding speech.For an example they will show you a picture of a bird in different sequences such as: flying, swimming, and the color of the bird etc... They also show people doing similar actions.By picture recognition, repetitive patterns, and hearing the words, you do learn the language. The pictures do build in a methodical way and eventually you do learn to form the words, and then into sentences. But, there is no explanation in the how and why the grammar works.The word "the" is different in Italian with respect to masculine, feminine, plural, and the program does not explain this aspect of the language.You learn merely by rote imitation.This indeed is how a child learns to speak a language.A nice feature to this software is that the native speaker does speak in a slow pronunciation, in some parts of the program you can really slow the speakers voice down and hear every syllable. The program allows you to record your voice so you can hear your progress.Learning in this way is fun and I do not find my mind wandering. ... Read more

Features

• Sixteen powerful programs in one
• Includes Roofing Wizard, Topo designer, advanced lighting capabilities, and Deck Wizard
• Also includes Cabinet Wizard, Custom Texture Builder, and PlantFinder
• Enhanced user interface with 3D cut-away viewing tools

Reviews (2)

Wow
Dude, this game is so hard to use.If you plan on buying this, you better know what you're doing already because Punch! sure won't help you figure it out.If you're a first time buyer (like me) of this kind of software, don't let the box fool you into thinking it's novice friendly (box quotes "Simple or Complex, Novice or Pro...") because it's definitely not.I'm sure the program is very powerful but with very few walkthroughs and near no help from the 400 page manual, I'll never be able to get the full worth out of the game.

Miles in front of the competition!
First off, I'll start by saying I have been researching the home designer software titles for months.After exhaustively comparing specs, professional and consumer reviews, I finally landed with Punch!'s new Home Design Platinum 8.0.Platinum 8.0 is newly released, this version only has one upgrade - that's the highest end Punch! product, AS4000.See, the NEW Punch! Professional Home Design Platinum 8.0 is built on the same platform as AS4000 - very impressive to say the least.

Make no mistake, Punch! Platinum 8.0 is very high-end and makes a complete joke out of Better Homes and Gardens home design software...well, the affordable version anyway.If you compare the specs on Better Homes and Gardens 6.0 vs. Punch! Platinum 8.0 you will scratch your head in disbelief at the higher price point on Better Homes and Gardens 6.0!Even BHG's Pro version ($499) falls significantly short of Punch! Platinum 8.0's capabilities!Considering I purchased this on sale at Staples for $79.99 and will take advantage of their $20 mail-in-rebate, I almost feel like I stole it!That's seriously how good this program is for the money.

There is little you cannot do with Punch! Platinum 8.0.The item library is limited, but there are Punch! sites where you can download free user-made 3D objects (very well done I might add).Or, use the built-in CAD creation tool and create them yourself!Or, import a photo of an item.Something I found exceptionally useful.Most if not all the name-brand appliance and home furnishing outlets are online.Well, they normally have pictures of their products.With Punch! Platinum 8.0, you can copy the product picture and import it into your floor plan.How is this useful?Think about this...you design a door, but it doesn't look exactly like the manufacturer's door.Create the door using Punch! Platinum 8.0, then import the picture of the REAL door into the floor plan and place it over your created door!!!Now your looking at a door that looks REAL and will give you a better idea how the door will look with your house!Do the same for cabinets, appliances, and other furnishings!

The design tools are relatively easy to use, and the video tutorials help get your through many functions.Just don't expect to be a pro overnight.I suggest spending only a few hours on it initially, otherwise you can become overwhelmed with frustration.Try building a small house initially with just the foundation, exterior and interior walls.Get an idea of how it works.Then get into designing your house or home addition.When you run into problems, there is a whole network of experts on the Punch! Forums.

One major complaint...and I'm not alone on this one.LiveView isn't all that great.It will take you hours to get used to it's controls.Worse yet, you cannot change the viewing angle when using walk-through mode.That's absurd!In other words, if you wanted to look down a staircase, look up at your wonderful cathedral ceiling, you can't.Hopefully, Punch! will release an update to fix this...it's a common complaint.

Well, this is already to long for anyone to read, but I'll end by saying that Punch! Platinum 8.0 is definitely worth every penny!Better yet, they give you a FREE 90-Day Satisfaction Return Guarantee! ... Read more

Product Description

The IRISPen Executive is an outstanding and professional pen scanner solution which allows an instantaneous data entry into ANY Windows or Mac OS application (such as word processors, e-mail software, on-line databases, spreadsheets, accounting software etc.).The IRISPen Executive is compact and portable and is installed in 5" by a simple plug-and-play. USB powered, it doesn't need additional battery allowing you to easily connect it to your laptop, desktop or tablet PC and to use it wherever you go!Simply slide the IRISPen Executive over the text you want in your application and it is instantly encoded with an accuracy rate near to perfection! Use the text-to-speech function for a comfortable auditive control of recognized data. ... Read more

Features

• USB interface, PC and Mac compatible
• Text-to-speech technology in 10 different languages
• Scans up to 3.15 inches or 1,000 characters per second
• Supports up to 55 languages
• CardIris Limited Edition and ReadIris Pro trial software

Reviews (3)

Believe it!
I did hours of research on hand held scanners and almost did not purchase ANY do to all the confusion.I took a chance and Bought the IRISpen Executive scanner.In only a few minutes I had the software loaded (painless) and was scanning material from everything I could get my hands on.Once I learned how to hold it for my hand posture (5 minutes)it was a snap.I have read other reviews and can not figure out why anyone would not want this... it is fantastic.It is much faster then typing.In a few minutes I had scanned pages of material that I had collected for over a year.I am not a techy kind of guy so this was awesome.I give it 5 stars!I can only scratch my head If someone cannot figure this out.

Not that great
After two days with the IRISpen, and many, many attempts trying to make it work properly, I found I could type my notes from my textbook much faster than dealing with the IRISpen. The pen does what it says, but can also make a mess of what you are trying to scan. When you are reading and studying, you need a flow of concentration. You can get a flow of concentration by highlighting text and/or typing what you see as important in the text. However, if you are using the IRISpen, you are concentrating on seeing if it did its job and fixing its mistake.

The pen also lockups and causes Windows and Word to act funny, which is not reassuring.

I gave it a shot and decided to stop wasting my time and just type my notes the old fashion way. I even conducted a little test, and sure enough my notes were clearer and took less time when I typed the same information I was struggling to scan.

I am thinking about looking into the hand-held scanners... but sadly those don't look much better.

Think twice... and be ready to return if things don't work out. Mine is going back in the morning.

EXCELLENT PRODUCT!!!
I have had this for over a year, and after a little getting practice, it works great. It is almost like highlighting text, and it works with any application. ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 2003 Professional.Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional enables you to rapidly build a broad range of applications for Microsoft Windows, the Web, and mobile devices. Developers can use Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional to quickly build professional software, reduce IT operating costs and integrate with a wide range of applications, systems, and devices. With an extensive set of visual designers, a range of programming languages, and integrated Visual Database Tools, Visual Studio .NET 2003 enables you to build powerful software quickly. Easy, Web-style deployment of rich Windows-based applications, built-in security, and an infrastructure for reusing existing code make this version of the Microsoft .NET Framework a dependable platform for software development. Support for the latest XML Web service standards and visual designers for mobile application development enable you to easily extend your applications to other systems and devices. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Its a good software platform.
We at hytechpro (www.hytechpro.com/services.html) have been providing robust solutions built on Microsoft solutions. We have found that this is a great programming environment and enable our team to deliver solutions in C# or other technologies to our client base worldwide.

I would strongly recommend it to all the people.

Great Peice of kit
I've been working as a web develop for over 5 years, and I've tried hundreds of different editors and IDE.Visual Studio.NET is by far the most complete I have ever used.My boss' at first weren't too happy about forking out so much for one peice of software, but on the first project we used it for, we made the money back on a short development time and testing time.

Because everything can be developed in more or less the same way as an ASP.NET app, we were able to offer clients more solutions for their buck.We now offer desktop and mobile solutions as well as what we offered before!

The learning curve can be somewhat steep, but once you learn to do most things, everything will become a breeze.

Good, but not Great
To put simple, this product is good, but it's not great. The true biggest problem is the complexity and learning curve. If your migrating from DevStudio, then you'll have a heck of a time learning the new environment and set up. But once you learn how to use it (which will take a while), it's much better than DevStudio, and the new languages are definately worth it.

Why would I buy this?
Can someone please explain why I would buy .Net Pro when the MSDN Pro subscription is cheaper and comes with much more?Frankly, both of them see highly overpriced.They should pay me to develop for their platform.

It's Microsoft ...
Just like Crawford Leitch wrote above.Microsoft products are trash. The company should be split-up and managed by monkeys.Name withheld ... Read more

Product Description

A PC WORLD Best Buy! (April 2005) Spyware slows systems down, causes crashes and can even invade your privacy. To combat spyware, you need a powerful tool: CounterSpy. It aggressively hunts down and removes a broad range of spyware including adware, keyboard loggers and other malware. Reducing the chance of spyware getting installed on your system is also important. Thats why CounterSpys Active Protection looks at certain areas of your system for potential spyware threats, reducing your chances of getting infected by spyware. In an April 2005 review, PC World gave CounterSpy its Best Buy award for delivering the highest spyware detection rate. According to the review, "Sunbelt Software's CounterSpy, our new Best Buy, proved the most capable of the products we tested, with the highest detection rates, cleanest interface, and fastest scan speeds. Note: Twelve months of protection updates included with purchase of CounterSpy; annual subscriptions available for subsequent updates. ... Read more

Features

• Detects and eliminates dangerous hidden spyware threats like keyboard loggers, spyware, adware and other malware.
• Real-time monitoring reduces the chance of spyware threats before they damage your PC.
• Automatic updates insure that your version of CounterSpy is always up-to-date.
• Includes extra tools such as a security checkup to look for certain types of security holes and a “history cleaner”, to remove traces of your activity on the Internet.

Reviews (2)

Leading The Way
Every now and then, a product comes on to the market which actually does just what you want it to do. I am hardly a system tech, but regularly clean my PC with various programs, and considered my system spyware free. That is until I read PC Advisor`s (UK) review of anti-spyware programs recently, and on their recommendation installed Sunbelt`s Counterspy. It was a breeze to install, and the fast scan showed 6 spyware progs installed. After I got up off the floor, Counterspy cleaned the drive and left me feeling more than a tad relieved.
Sure, nothings` 100% foolproof, but this is easy to use, gives auto updates, and gives minimal system lag, not to mention being cheaper than the competition. If you`re unsure, read the reviews!

BEST ANTI-SPYWARE PROGRAM!
After reading the review of this product in PC WORLD just the other day, I went ahead and ordered the program.The review was right on, this program found 11 spyware files and one Trojan Horse file in my home computer. Interesting, because I run Ad-Aware and Spybot as my anti-spyware programs daily......and these two didn't find what Counterspy found! I'm sold. Though my other programs are "free", I gladly will spend the $19 bucks or so for this program for my other machines now. No, I don't work for the PC World folks; nor the Counterspy folks; nor Amazon or any computer outfit....Am retired, and have fun building computers for fun and family! ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 with 5 CALs .To compete successfully in today's challenging business climate, organizations must enable more efficient ways for knowledge workers to communicate and collaborate. E-mail is currently the most widely used collaborative technology. More businesses use Exchange Server for e-mail-based collaboration than any other product. Exchange Server 2003 enables knowledge workers to gain access to critical business communications almost whenever and wherever they need to and is designed to deliver greater security, availability, and reliability.Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition is designed for large enterprise corporations and enables you to create multiple storage groups and multiple databases. Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition provides an 8-terabyte (TB) public folder store that eases the constraints on the amount of data that a single server can manage. With Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, you get: all the features and products included in Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition database size limited only by your hardware (with a maximum size of 16 terabytes) multiple databases per server clustering support for four nodes on Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server or eight nodes on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition. ... Read more

Features

• Recovery with minimal user impact, without separate recovery servers
• Meets messaging and collaboration needs of small and medium corporations
• Flexible configuration; exceptional security and privacy features
• Integrated support for mobile devices
• Integration with Outlook 2003 offers optimum network performance, and more

Product Description

Adobe® Creative Suite Standard is a complete design environment that combines new, full-version upgrades of Adobe's leading professional tools. ... Read more

Features

• Single installer--control what you install and when you install it
• Cross-media publishing--create content for both print and the Web
• An integrated design environment featuring the industry's foremost design tools
• In-depth tips, expert tricks, and comprehensive design resources
• Intuitive file finding, smooth workflow, and common interface and toolset

Product Description

Filemaker Filemaker Pro v.6.0 - Complete Product - Productivity Application - 5 User(s) Complete Product - Standard - English - PC, MacFileMaker® Pro 6 is the leading workgroup database software for creating and sharing solutions adapted to your business needs. Powerful features, broad platform support, and an easy-to-use interface make FileMaker Pro 6 indispensable for anyone who needs to track and manage people, projects, images, and information. Use built-in instant-productivity templates to quickly design and deploy customized solutions.Easily share information over a network or intranet and collaborate on multiple projects for greater workgroup productivity. And, with the ability to exchange data with a virtually limitless number of other applications, FileMaker Pro 6 is ideal for gathering, managing and sharing all types of information. Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theFilemaker 320205U - FILEMAKER PRO 6/5U PACK RTL MUL MAC/WIN and all other Filemaker Software - Misc ... Read more

Product Description

TurboTax Deluxe software includes all the features of TurboTax Basic, plus even more help to maximize your most important deductions, including mortgages and charitable contributions. Plus, it delivers the help you need - when you need it - from official IRS publications and expert video advice. ... Read more

Features

• Double-checks return for accuracy; compares last year's deductions to this year's
• Tax preparation software with step-by-step guidance and free electronic filing
• Extra help for mortgages, charitable contributions, and other important deductions
• Assistance from official IRS publications and expert video advice
• Updated life events planner; medical expense expert; complete tax library

Reviews (112)

CALCULATES DIFFERENT TAX EVERY TIME I OPEN PRGM.
HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM?THERE IS NO "CALCULATE" BUTTON, AND EVERY TIME I CLOSE & REOPEN TURBOTAX, IT CALCULATES A DIFFERENT TAX--SOMETIMES IT SAYS I HAVE A REFUND, AND AT OTHER TIMES IT CALCULATES A "TAX DUE"!UNBELIEVABLE!

What is this? Only the name remains the same
- Could not efile the Federal extension form - always could before!!!Had to print and seach out a last minute post office with a late collection !!!

- No way to use the State version to file the VA state extension form - found a technote on the website that says "choose States from the navigation bar" - surprise THERE is no "State" on the navigation bar

- Started my federal return and IT WILL NOT TRANSFER INFO from my 2003 Return!! I can see this on the File drop-down menu but it is greyed out.

- Where is the familiar friendly Question and Answer interface???

- Had to pay over $70 at Best Buy to buy Deluxe and State version. Premiere was not even available. I absolutely refuse to waste my time on mail-in rebates that just get refused or ignored (years of experiences with these scams).

- Download updates didn't work until the 3rd try

-I have no confidence in the quality of this year's Turbo Tax.Am considering buying another tax software product today.

Last year for TurboTax
As a 7+ year TT user, I've got to say that 2004 will be my last year. After collecting $40 for Deluxe, they fleeced me for $30 more so that I could complete the ESPP section of my taxes. This was previously included in Deluxe, but no warning was given that they made this change (fewer features for the same price). Plus I'm tired of the terrible support and the annual rebate game they force me to play to get my $10 or $30 back. Will check out TaxAct and TaxCut next year.

The most over-rated product and biggest rip-off ever
Bought this when a friend recommended it every so highly.Should've known better.This product is DREADFUL!I honestly wish I'd have seen the reviews on Amazon before I made my purchase.Support is non-existent.The downloading just doesn't happen.I've already wasted 2.5 hours on this, the mirror site download would've taken over 6.5 hours.I'm going to file manually (thank GOD something told me to try this a day in advance of 4/15), and demand a refund from TurboTax.I'll never buy this again.If I could give it less stars than one, I would.

2004 TurboTaxDeluxe
FAILURE. The program would not complete my return because of two updates, which would never download to my computer. The updates necessary were on form 8863 and merely included items on lines which differed from one form to another, but were successfully placed on the form from Turbo Tax. Since the update would not download, Turbo Tax Deluxe would not progress beyond the Error check function. I had to manually print and send the forms myself. I had to download a form 8863 from the IRS site itself, put all the figures in the correct boxes, and file that form from them. What a FAILURE OF A PROGRAM. ... Read more

Product Description

Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale: Pro v.4.0 - Complete Product - Financial - 1 User(s) Complete Product - Standard - PCQuickBooks Point of Sale: Pro is easy-to-use retail software that tracks sales, inventory, customers, sales orders, layaways, employee commissions and detailed inventory information. Use it alone or get it bundled with hardware components that can save you time and help reduce errors. Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theIntuit 284234 - QUICKBOOKS POS 4.0 PRO RETAIL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE WIN and all other Intuit Software - Misc ... Read more

Features

• Create and control your pirate haven through 16 swashbuckling episodes filled with shady mates, landlubbers and talking parrots
• Fuel your island's economy by plundering wealthy merchants, then take captives to use as a workforce
• Keep the buccaneers satisfied with rum, gambling, women and feasts
• Try to lure legendary pirates like Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, and Black Bart to your island -- they'll expand your influence and treasure chest
• You can even build parrot aviaries to produce the perfect pirate companions

Reviews (1)

A great new edition to the wonderful original Tropico
If you liked Tropico, you should find this fun and entertaining as well. I think both Tropico/Tropico 2 are the best sim games on the market, much more fun that the usual city building games. At first it's a little difficult to grasp some of the concepts, and game play is a little different than the original. In this version you're concerned a lot more with events that actually happen off the island, where as in the original you didn't have any control over what happened when boats/planes left the island. Of course, you also didn't have to worry about ships sinking...

The types of games are similar to the original Tropico, where you have scenarios or ones you design yourself. The map editor is a great thing that was not included with the original. You can play single games or there is also a "campaign" that starts you off easy and increases in difficulty (like the Warcraft campaign idea).

Pirate Cove provides hours and hours of swashbuckling fun and has many new features. As far as gameplay goes, performance has improved since the original Tropico, it works great in OS X. If you like this game, I'd HIGHLY recommend the original Tropico also. ... Read more

Product Description

Intuit Quickbooks POS 4.0 Pro MS Retail Hardware and Software .The QuickBooks Point of Sale Solution for Retailers is an all-in-one bundle of QuickBooks Point of Sale software with the retail hardware you need to turn your Windows PC into a retail management system. It includes a copy of QuickBooks Point of Sale software, a receipt printer, bar code scanner, credit card reader and cash drawer, guaranteed to work together seamlessly. information you'll never get from a cash register. ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Money 2005 Small Business is the comprehensive finance solution for small companies. It makes managing your finances easy so you can spend more time with your customers.* Categorize income and expenses Money automatically categorizes all your business and personaltransactions so you can see exactly where your money goes.* Get expert advice The Business Resource Center puts the latest news and useful articles atyour fingertips; Business Reports provide a snapshot of your businessfinances.* Handle billing effortlessly Money makes it easy to keep track of customers stay on top of accountspayable and receivable and create professional-looking invoices.* Simplify taxes Keep up with taxable expenses automatically link categories to yourSchedule C report and find hidden deductions.* Includes free financial services One year of online payroll from PayCycle plus all free financialservices included in Money 2005 Premium (Experian GainsKeeper and H&RBlock). REQUIREMENTS- Multimedia PC with Pentium 166 or faster processor (or compatible); Pentium II 266 (or compatible) processor required for Windows XP (Pentium II 300 recommended).Windows XP: 64 MB of RAM (128 MB recommended); Windows 2000 or Windows 98 SE: 32 MB of RAM (64 MB recommended).130 MB of available hard-disk space plus 60 MB for Internet Explorer 6 SP1 (if not already installed) plus an additional 200 MB while installing product updates.2x or faster CD-ROM drive Super VGA color monitor with minimum 256 colors capable of displaying 800 x 600 resolution 16-bit color recommended.Windows XP Windows 2000 SP3 or later or Windows 98 SE or later.Most online features require Microsoft .NET Passport; for more information see the Microsoft Money 2005 Internet-based services policy.Super VGA graphics card or compatible video graphics adapter.Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device.28.8 Kbps or faster modem; Internet functionality requires an Internet Service Provider (ISP); local and long distanc... ... Read more

Features

• Free financial services, including 1 year online payroll from PayCycle
• Comprehensive finance solution for small companies
• Categorize income and expenses; handle billing effortlessly
• Get expert advice from current news and useful articles
• Keep up with taxable expenses automatically

Reviews (18)

Microsoft Screwd Up this Version of Money BIG Time!
Hi,

I just started a small website design business, and I was evaluating simple accounting products to keep track of my business.

I really like the interface for Microsoft Money...it is much more intuative and laid out better than Quicken Home and Business 2005....but man, what nerve Microsoft has to require you to have one of those stupid Microsoft Passport accounts....and then to make you always be "online" to create new accounts!

GEEZ...in my opinion, they went too far!

I guess I'm a sticken with a Quicken!


:)

For disappointed in Microsoft Money
Personally, I believe that who ever takes time to post his/her opinion in order to alert others deserves one big thanks from this community. So, thanks to people above:

My Microsoft Money was bundled with my PC but I only needed fast and simple money tracking. Learning to use Microsoft Money was one big waist of my time. I was considering upgrade and naturally, first thing to do was to read reviews.

Search for Money 2005 opened My Money 2005 download page, software created by totally different company. Unlike Microsoft Money, this software was actually easy and full version was only 9.95. If you want to check this out, go to ZPSSoft.com and look for My Money 2005.You may not going to be able to run your corporation or small country with it, but it will do for all your money.

Do Not Upgrade!!
I currently have the 2004 which I upgraded from 2002.Everything was fine, therefore I would only expect 2005 to be better than 2004.It was awful, I returned the product within hours!!2005 is made up entirely of advertisements displayed all over the place, it isn't user friendly and the features that I liked in the previous versions are gone.I am extremely disappointed and highly recommended not getting the 2005 version!

I wish I had bought something else
I bought Money 2005 Small Business Edition to create some basic financial accounting for my small business. The product came with no guide, neither on paper, nor on screen - for anything you need, you need to go online. The product constant encourages you to go online - but do you want to go online with all your financials open? Could a user have Microsoft or anyone else start browsing through his finances? Unfortunately, basic functions, such as decreasing a balance on a client invoice due to a credit, seem impossible to find. I wish I had bought something else.

Incredibly disappointing version "upgrade"
First, let me say that I have been an avid fan, user, and recommender of the Microsoft Money products since I first became acquainted with them after the 1998 version release of the product.

Words cannot express how greatly disappointed I am with the product itself and Microsoft as a company for unleashing this grossly inept, buggy, and endlessly frustrating piece of trash upon its previously contended users.

I have spent countless hours trying to fix problems that Money 2005 has created in my personal financial records, and even more hours with their support people communicating with them via e-mail (a journey in frustration itself - you have to format your messages a certain way for it to even get to them).

I am, as of today, sending a request to Microsoft for a refund of my purchase price and am going to try one of the Quicken products.I've never even used ANY of the Quicken products before, and am already convinced that they are surely head and shoulders above this latest version of Money.

Shame on Microsoft for thinking that nobody would be willing to jump ship and take their business elsewhere. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

CheckMark Payroll is a complete payroll system for companies with anywhere from one to 500 employees. It runs on its own as a standalone application, and also integrates with CheckMark MultiLedger, QuickBooks, and most popular accounting systems. Installation takes seconds and leaves users ready for any payroll challenge they can imagine.

Payroll lets users set up employees quickly with the employee template, and allows users to automate payroll calculations for each employee. It comes loaded with current tax tables for federal income tax and all 50 states. Using the MMREF-1 format, users can file W-2s electronically. CheckMark Payroll prints to a variety of forms, including checks, W-2s, W-3s, and the 941. It even has built-in Internet direct deposit capabilities.

Comprehensive management options are available: Payroll can distribute hours to departments or to jobs created in CheckMark MultiLedger. It can import employee hours from spreadsheet and time-clock software, and track sick and vacation time on a monthly, pay period, or per-hour-worked basis. Purchase of Payroll includes 60 days of free technical support. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

You can't go wrong with this software
As a payroll professional, I have used payroll software products that range from basic to high-tech.I bought this product to replace a basic one I had been using at home to process payrolls for several small businesses.Within an hour of opening the box, I was creating paychecks.It is remarkably easy to use, comprehensive, and contains features that many of the more expensive programs do not offer.AND you don't have to pay extra to get the current tax tables installed before you can use the product (like you do if you make the mistake of buying Quickbooks).Another great feature is that if you choose not to buy the annual updates after the first year, you can manually change the federal and state tax tables yourself.

Saves me money
This payroll runs year after year and that saves me money. It prints the checks and tax forms, but not the state tax forms. After setup, running the checks takes a few minutes. And I can run a payroll anytime I want. Love the printed manual. ... Read more

Product Description

PaperPort 10 ... Read more

Features

• Download photos from digital camera; easily organize, edit, and find images
• Scanning and document management application for Microsoft Windows
• Quickly turn paper into digital content; save Web pages as PDF documents
• Create and annotate PDF files; convert static form into fillable electronic form
• Thumbnail management for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files

Reviews (9)

Nostalgia
When I installed my first Paperport (v7), it was one of my top 3 programs of all times. Since then, PP has gone downhill with every major revision. It took me a year to get through the fatal bugs in v9, although it will still crash from time to time for no apparent reason, the only software from my 142 installed programs to do so. Of my 3 big reasons of use (search, compressed document format and document edit), I use PP only for edits of my scans, as Acrobat (for archive format) and Copernic (free) do a much better job in the other two departments.

In light of this track-record, v10 is an insult to injury as v9 should have been fully cleaned up before a new offering. I fervently hope the company can stitch the product up as I do not yet wish to abandon an old favourite.

I normally hate writing such reviews as all the negative publicity affects product sales, on which depend many jobs. Much hard work goes into product development so it is with a sad heart that I am moved to write this review, moved because a company could be so greedy to continue to milk its loyal customer base with half baked offerings. If this were a car, the streets would be littered with accidents.

Four months later -- still not patch
I have used PaperPort since version 8. Version 10 should be much better. It has some nice ideas added. They just don't work in the first release.

The other reviews of this product spotlight the defects in the initial release. It is usually a good idea to wait for the first patch before writing any review of a product. But it is not four months since ScanSoft allowed this mess out the door, and there is no sign of progress.

Listen to what other people have said. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT UNTIL THEY MEND IT.

PP v10 a frustrating step back from v9 ...even 8
I've been using Paperport for years, started before v7 was ever released, and made every upgrade along the way.Each verson was always a nice improvement, espec v9 ...but NOT v10.Stay away from it ...buy v9 instead.

If you were a v9 user, and upgraded to v10, y'all know what I mean.Simply stated, it's trash ...full of bugs, slower than ....slow.Oh so frustrating.

For those of you who never used Paperport before, you MIGHT like v10 ...but that's because you don't know any better. ScanSoft NEEDS A MAJOR!!!! BUG FIX for v10, if even that will ever do the job. Version 10 should have never been released in its current state.

For any newbies to Paperport ...buy v9.It works smoothly, is faster ....and it still has plenty of features that you will like, and other features, once you better learn the software, that you will learn to exploit with satisfaction. The so-called new stuff that v10 supposedly offers is not even close to significant enough for one to have to endure all is 'bugs', inoperabilty and slowness. ...that you will quickly come to find out if you were a knowledgeable user of the earlier versions.

I upgraded to v10 as soon as it was released, and have had to 'tolerate' it everyday, and do 'work arounds' from the way I previously used it, since the day I installed it (a few months ago) ....while waiting, and waiting ...and waiting for Scansoft to release a Patch/update.

...Well enough is enough.Tomorrow is April 1st, and I am no fool! ...I'm switching back to PP-v9.

Love Paperport 9 Pro, but 10 Pro is a disaster...
Like others who have commented here, I have been a very happy Paperport 9 Professional user for several years.Last month, when I got a new high-end laptop with Windows XP Pro and saw that Paperport 10 Pro had just been released, I checked it out and was excited about all the new features.

However, from the moment I loaded it on my computer (and I should note that I am a VERY experienced computer user AND I actually read and follow directions carefully - so this isn't a case of some newbie who didn't know what he was doing) this software has been an unmitigated disaster!Everything ran at the speed of stone and my system crashed repeatedly.In the end, I completely re-imaged my computer back to the way it was when it came from the factory and re-installed all my software.I went back to Paperport 9 Pro and everything is fine again.

BUYER BEWARE !!

Buy Version 9 instead
This is my first Amazon review.I have been using Amazon since the dawn of time (1997) and this is the only product to move me so much as to break my silence and warn others.

This product is practically non-functional.I have used PaperPort 9 for 2 1/2 years and happily so.I thought 10 would be much better, but it must have been a re-write, because it's very different.

Granted, none of this is a measurable problem just opinion, so here are my measurables:

- Where it once was instantaneous to double-click on a thumbnail to view a document, it now takes 5 to 10 seconds.
- Where once i could move a document between folders instantly, it now takes the same 5 to 10 seconds.
- With Paperport 9, my scanner could run at top speed without stopping.With 10, my scanner overwhelms the app and causes it to crash if i let it run full out.

Paperport is/was a great product, but version 10 is a complete waste.Please purchase version 9 and you'll be glad you did.

Oh, and if you have problems with Paperport -- Scansoft charges you to talk to them about it.All technical support is on a pay-as-you-go basis, no freebies.There are google/yahoo support groups, but they offer little help.

Buyer Beware ... Read more