Family Tree Maker Version 16 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If the "free" Ancestry.com subscription is a consideration in your decision to purchase Family Tree Maker, you might want to know there are strings attached. Even though the 9 months are free, Ancestry.com requires a credit card number along with your name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address. Why would they want that information unless they intend to automatically bill you and extend the subscription at the end of 9 months? No information is provided on how to to cancel the subscription at the end of the free period.

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Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition v16 is the #1 bestselling resource to create your family tree. It takes just three steps. First, use information you already know. With access to over 5 billion records, you'll be able to find all the details. Next organize and design your family tree. Import photos and documents to professionally designed templates to create a unique keepsake. Share your findings with family and friends. Print out professional quality family albums.

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Generations Family Tree Grande Suite Version 6 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Sierra Home released Generations version 8.6 in the year 2000. In 2002, Sierra Home went out of business, and Generations was sold to Genealogy.com. No new version of Generations has been released since then, and there is no support for this fine genealogy software.
Generations was originally developed by Leister Production and was named Reunion for Windows. Leister had begun with Reunion for the Mac, which continues to be supported. Many consider it to be the best family tree software for the Mac. In 1997, Leister sold Reunion for Windows to Sierra, who renamed it Generations.

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The Easiest, most complete software for preserving your family history!

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Family Tree Maker Version 16 Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)(updated 09/20/2008)
I am an experienced family researcher and currently have just under 25,000 names in my database. I have been a Family Tree Maker (FTM) user since 1998 and have purchased every upgrade since that time. I administer two surname DNA projects and routinely help others with their family research.
*FTM v16 is currently, without question, my genealogy software of choice
Like many others in the faithful legions of FTM users, I routinely ordered FTM 2008 before it even came out on blind fath that each new version had been even better than before. Like so many other FTM 2008 users, I was truly shocked to find they had dropped approximately 39 core functions from the previous version, FTM v16, and found that I could no longer do many of the very basic reports that experienced researchers do so often. I quickly returned my copy of FTM 2008 in total disgust and went back to FTM v16 which now continues to fully meet my many needs. Not learning my lesson, I recently installed the new FTM 2009 on blind faith that surely, given a "do-over", they would restore the full functionality of FTM v16, and it's predecessor FTM 2006. They didn't.
*I heartily recommend FTM v16 as your "go back" version for anyone who ordered FTM 2008 or FTM 2009, returned either version in total disgust, and are now looking for a fully-featured version of Family Tree Maker. (Some users had "upgraded" directly from FTM 2005 to FTM 2008, for example, and had missed the fully-featured FTM v16 version in the process)
*I also believe that FTM v16 compares very favorably with RootsMagic, Legacy, and other comparable genealogy softwares.
* If you are a Vista user, all you need to do is download a patch from FTM to make FTM v16 fully "Vista compatible."
*I also strongly recommend FTM v16 to novice researchers who are purchasing genealogy software for the very first time. It is very intuitive, starts you out very gently in a guided fashion, but then also has the more sophisticated functions you will find very useful as your experience grows.
There are more sophisticated softwares out there, but in some cases, their learning curves are just not worth the trouble. I want a software that works for me, rather than me having the feeling I am instead working for the software.
*Bottom line, I was loyal to FTM v16 before "upgrading" to FTM 2008 and then trying again with FTM 2009, and now that I have returned back to FTM v16, I truly appreciate it's simple, clean, reliable, straightforward performance even more than ever before.
*Without hesitation, I fully recommend FTM v16 to family researchers of all experience levels.
CHT in Virginia

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Family Tree Maker Essentials Edition v16 is the #1 bestselling resource to create your family tree. It takes just three steps. First, use information you already know. With access to over 5 billion records, you'll be able to find all the details. Next organize and design your family tree. Import photos and documents to professionally designed templates to create a unique keepsake. Share your findings with family and friends. Print out professional quality family albums. Enjoy bonuses ($150 Value) with an Ancestry.com Subscription, a 30 Minute Genealogy Consultation, the Monthly NewsletterAnd more!

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Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been conducting family research for some eight years, with the help of the Family Tree Maker program (and subscription [...].) I have purchased each new version at its release, always curious to see what had been added. While I have usually been pleased with the program features, I must admit that the last couple of versions have been disappointing to me. The interface had become more complicated and I missed being able to see a more complete screen of family detail.
The Family Tree Maker 2010 is, (IMHO) the finest version of the Family Tree Maker program to date. [...]
The installation is smooth and easy. No obstacles. I had the program up and running within minutes after receiving it.
The interface is the friendliest yet, and has even incorporated a special personal touch ... enhancing the individual name labels in family view with photos of the individuals. (I had not known that this was a new feature, so when I first opened my primary tree file, I was suddenly staring at familiar family faces instead of simply text ... What a warm feeling!) Of course, the photos must be available on your hard drive and associated to those files. Or, you can uncheck the "enhanced" feature if you wish (perhaps there are relatives you would rather not see).
The new interface is reminiscent of the more friendly versions of the past (somewhat like Version 16, I think) that we have missed (they listened to us!) and adds some amazing new features. The navigation is much simpler, more intuitive than recent versions. The program now denotes one's direct line of ascent/descent by a highlighted arrow designation that is most helpful when navigating through pages of generations. The toolbars are simple and clear with an emphasis on quick navigation to help in your workflow. Of course, the little green leaves are there again to prompt the user to check out the relevant information that is available at a mere click.
No more need to take notes or to check back and forth to look up a forgotten detail about an individual while searching for more information: There is now a layered box that contains all of the subject's entered data right there in view while you are engaged at the research/merge site.
Merging is a breeze! Recording sources is refreshingly simple. Click on "Places" on the toolbar, and you'll find all the lands and seas of the globe to help you in your research, interactive, (Bing Maps), and accompanied by user-friendly lists of your ancestry-related locations. (I, being geography-challenged, have especially enjoyed this feature.) No more Googling and printing of maps in the middle of researching. Love it!
I think that the best thing about the 2010 version of FTM is that it truly is a warm and friendly program ... making it a real pleasure to discover and record your family's history. The program is packed full of wonderful features. I believe that most genealogy enthusiasts will find that this is the best version ever of a tremendous program. With this program, they've put the fun back into family history research! Enjoy!
(BTW: This is the first review I've ever submitted - Because I really am genuinely impressed with this product ... enough to take the time to review it for other consumers. Furthermore, I am in no way affiliated with FTM or Ancestry.com or any of their employees.)


Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials

Family Tree Maker makes it easy to discover your story, preserve your legacy and share your unique heritage as you explore your family tree on your personal computer. Family Tree Maker 2010 introduces even more rich storytelling and organization tools that can add new life to your family history.

Once you've started your tree, you can add photos, video, audio and more. You can also create and print a variety of interactive maps, timelines, charts and reports.Family Tree Maker 2010 also includes a subscription to Ancestry.com--the world's largest online collection of family history resources, featuring more than 4 billion historical records. Search for your ancestors and use what you discover on Ancestry.com in your tree.
Family Tree Maker 2010 lets you easily:
Organize your family story privately and conveniently on your personal computer.
Create charts and reports in a variety of formats to share with friends and family.
Discover new information anywhere on the web and add it to your tree instantly.
Integrate with the 4 billion names in historical records on Ancestry.com. Even receive hints linking you to matching records.
Incorporate photos, documents and audio, video and other files into your tree.
View timelines and interactive maps.

What's new in Family Tree maker 2010?
New tools and charts that help you tell a richer story
Better ways to organize photos and other media
Create slideshows from the images in your tree
Family books made from your tree
Standard source templates that help you reference the right information
A view of your relation to everyone in your tree
Extended family birthday calendars
Images scanned directly into your tree
Family migration paths over time
Easy family tree download from Ancestry.com

And don't forget the features you've come to rely on:
Dynamic user interface that lets you quickly switch between important features
The ability to import data from other genealogy programs, including Personal Ancestral File
Powerful sourcing tools that let you document AND rate each of your citations
Interactive maps and lists that give you a bird's-eye view of where members of your family come from
Place authority database of more than 3 million names that helps you standardize your place entries
Photo AND file management features so you can easily incorporate all types of media files into your charts and reports
Timelines that highlight personal, family and world events
Easy-to-use tools for merging duplicate individuals, calculating dates, creating to-do lists and more

How can you make the most of Ancestry.com?
Family Tree Maker 2010 comes with a subscription to Ancestry.com, the world's largest online collection of family history resources.
Your software works seamlessly with Ancestry.com so you can easily search for your ancestors and add the information you discover to your tree.
You could find missing facts about your family in census records, draft cards, passenger lists, image collections and other historical resources.

Use Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker together. Get the most from both.
Search the extensive record collections at Ancestry.com without ever leaving your family tree. Quickly merge new records you find into your tree.
Take advantage of Ancestry Hints. Family Tree Maker automatically suggests records that may match people in your tree.
Share heirloom-quality books and attractive posters that you create with the self-publishing tool at Ancestry.com.

Your Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials software includes: Interactive Training Tutorial for Family Tree Maker 2010 (included on Family Tree Maker disk)
Get step-by-step instructions and tips that will help you easily build and grow your family tree.

The Getting Started Guide to Family Tree Maker
Follow simple directions to begin a project and master the program's basic features

The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers
Read short sections that will tell you how Family Tree Maker can work best for you.

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Reunion 9 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've used Reunion since version 6, I think, and it is the best genealogy software I've ever used. I've tried Family Tree Maker on Windows and Reunion blows it away. FTM is just ugly, where Reunion has a nice interface and is easy to use. You can export your family tree to the GEDCOM standard and upload it to Geni.com, or import your old Windows family tree file into Reunion, though you'll have to import all the media files separately, as GEDCOM doesn't seem to support media.
I considered other Mac genealogy programs, but decided to stick with Reunion. One of the great things about this software is the fantastic personal support that leister.com gives you. BTW, this is a universal app, in case you're wondering. A lot of genealogy applications seem to be lagging behind in that respect.
All in all, I consider this the best genealogy software available, on mac or Windoze. You can't go wrong with Reunion!
It's 2009 now, and I've owned this application for quite some time, and I still agree with my review. Get this software! You won't regret it!

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Reunion is a genealogy software program -- a "family tree program" -- for the Macintosh.Reunion received the highest rating for genealogy software in MacWorld, MacAddict, and Mac Home Journal magazines.Reunion helps you to document, store, and display information about your family -- your ancestors, descendants, cousins, etc. It records names, dates, places, facts, plenty of notes, sources of information, pictures, sounds, and videos. It shows family relationships in an elegant, graphic form -- people and families are linked in an easy-to-understand fashion.Reunion makes it easy to publish your family tree information -- even if you want to share it on the Web or carry it on your iPod. You can automatically create common genealogy reports, charts, and forms, as well as birthday calendars, mailing lists, questionnaires, indexes, and other lists. Reunion even creates slideshows, calculates relationships, ages, life expectancies, and statistics.Reunion also creates large, graphic tree charts allowing complete on-screen editing of boxes, lines, fonts, and colors. Wall charts for family reunions are one of its specialties.

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Family Tree Maker 11 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First of all, the current version out on the shelves, Family Tree Maker 11, as well as 10, do not have 35 CDs. It has the number given in the manufacturer's description above. I also have to add that these two recent editions do NOT have any ads within the program, nor do they tell you to update. This also must have been something else that occured in an earlier version.
Now, I have to say that if you do most of your genealogy research via your PC you need to buy either Family Tree Maker Deluxe or Basic. I'm not saying this to be cute. I'm saying this because it comes with a reader that Genealogical.com uses for many of its CDs. Not only that, but if you publish your GEDcom on the web, FTM appears to have the most seamless process and translation of your GEDcom.
I didn't start out with FTM, I started out with the Generations program, published by Sierra, bought out by Broderbund which is the same publisher of FTM, and not exactly the favored child. So, I felt I had to move on to FTM.
You are going to have to spend some time learning the program. Luckily, the guide that comes with it is perfectly adequate and there is no need to buy the published book for it.
Using the program, you will find the database well designed. When you add notes, though, you will find the interface a bit clunky. However, you're not going to find a better program out there. After purchasing FTM 10, I decided I would move on to the Master Genealogist, because I had heard it was more flexible regarding notes. It is, to a point, but it's a very unpleasant program to use in comparison, and the reports you can generate with FTM are surprisingly better. FTM version 11 lets you save/export in PDF files more than ever, which is very helpful if you have family members who do not own any genealogical software.
Now, this said, the charts that FTM generates are horrible. Chances are you will either have to fill out blank ones by hand, if you don't want to spend an afternoon with the FTM printed pages, a tape dispenser and scissors. FTM does not even have a cascading pedigree chart, which will add to you spending a lot of time numbering what you do get out of it. Or you might have to buy a charting companion. My old Generations program has a great charting tool (Easy Tree) which I still use instead.
As well, the family group sheets generated aren't very good. You can customize to have as little or as much information as you'd like, but the actual layout of the sheets are not exactly innate for the eye. You will do better by using the program, publishing a GEDcom on the web, and printing off of the host site. Seriously.
The timelines, are also not helpful. Not as many people use timelines, but they are necessary in doing serious detective work on a family or if you are going to put together a retrospective on an individual's life.
There are small extras that deserve mention, scrapbooks, which let you create a photo album, and/or slide show. (This is not a digital scrapbook, just the term they use for organizing photos by person.) I found it an adequate tool, but I would rather have the option of adding photos to group sheets, charts and reports instead.
There are data CDs included in the package. Basically, they're just a tool to get you on the web and researching, which is what you know to do already. They are superfluous.
It should be noted that FTM is connected to genealogy.com, which has been bought out by ancestry.com. I don't know how this will affect doing research via your FTM window in the future.
On the Family Tree Maker web pages themselves. They're very pleasant pages but aren't of much use to you until you have done quite a lot of specific research already. They're not databases or photo albums, but places to display research plus a few photos and a brief introduction. Perfectly nice, but not what you might think you get. The good news is that the program walks you through creating your page and it turns out well.
In any case, the obvious strengths of FTM are data entry, report generating, and web publishing. The weaknesses are charting and group sheet generating. You may or may not find it helpful as a research aid. So, this is not at all a five star product but it's still the best you can buy.

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Includes ten CDs with 1100 years of valuable historical data open the door to your past. Amazing creative projects like family trees, timelines, and even multimedia scrapbooks make it easy to share your findings with friends and loved ones. An easy-to-use Publishing Center provides the tools you need to create a secure personal home page for online sharing, too!

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Family Tree Maker 11 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've used a lot of different programs. The best free program is "Brother's Keeper", but Family Tree Maker is light years ahead of that program. I've used Origins because of its macintosh compatiblity. But at the end of the day Family Tree Maker has the most features, makes entering information and sources a snap, and generally keeps things easy.
The two real contenders these days are genealogy.com (the makers of Family Tree Maker), and ancestry.com. By far, the better website is ancestry.com. You can download a FREE program from their site to input ancestor information in. However, this program is very clunky to enter descendants, to add source information, etc. But what it does do, which you won't find anywhere else, is give you FREE access to one of the largest databases of personal family trees. I highly recommend starting with ancestry.com, if you want to dive into the genealogy world. The program immediately connects to the internet and tells you what the closest matches are to your tree. You just point and click. (another note, I have dsl, so the tree may be slow for dial-up users. Only for the internet savvy!)
In the other corner is Family Tree Maker. The program is far more robust, allows you to enter images into scrapbooks easily, has tons of features, and seamlessly integrates with the massive family tree library. If you have the money, you can go really far with FTM. But you will have to pay for CDs or internet information. If your tree matches up with an online tree, you'll need to pay the monthly fee to look at it.
The site requires you give them your credit card information, and you have to CALL to tell them when you want to stop, as it auto-renews your subscriptions. No email to tell them to cancel you! A real hassle.
But at the end of the day, the program itself is solid, and the best to create a family tree in. But I agree with other reviewers in the respect that the online "features" of the program are expensive and annoyingly spammish.
To wrap up, I strongly recommend FTM, but don't spend money on "Collector's" and "Deluxe". Just buy the plain and straightforward one. Use the program to keep all of your info in. Then start your internet search at ancestry.com and the Mormon's site familysearch.org. Once you've built up an extensive tree, then consider spending money on FTM cd's and internet access, if you really need them.

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Family Tree Maker 9.0 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is not a good product. The graphics are fine however sign up for the free research and you learn you get nothing or very little for free. Most requests for info result is a request to join the pay service. By the way you need to sign up for the "Free" services and you will recieve weekly advertisments to upgrade, join, and a host of other things. I have sent them email to stop, yelled screamed; nothing works. It just keeps comming and comming. I was able to find all the information I got from their "free" service from independent searches. EVEN THE 10 CDs THEY PROVIDE USUALLY GET YOU A REQUEST TO JOIN THEIR PAID SERVICE. The basic product isn't bad but not at the price and the constant SPAM really ticks me off..I GET ENOUGH JUNK MAIL!

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Family Tree Maker 9.0 is an easy and complete resource for building a family tree. Family Tree Maker features sophisticated research tools, a wide variety of keepsake printouts, easy-to-use home page wizards, and one of the largest Internet genealogy communities.
Search U.S. and international indexes and records to find family members and history. Look through census reports, immigration records, passenger lists, birth records, military, and more. A step-by-step guide and customized tips help users research like a professional. Comb the Web and proprietary data with a genealogy search engine to find information on ancestors. Create personalized, heirloom-quality family trees, books, maps, multimedia scrapbooks, and family home pages. The Deluxe Edition includes one month of free access to the World Family Tree Collection featuring 200,000 researched family trees.

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Family Tree Maker Deluxe 10 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Family Tree Maker Deluxe has some nice features. An instruction manual is included, but you'll hardly need to use it, as the basic genealogy program is simple to use and offers several options for viewing and printing your family trees. For this reason, I'm giving it two stars instead of one.
The problem with Family Tree Maker Deluxe is the extra CDs which are included with the basic program. I found the extra CDs to be absolutely worthless. There is nothing on the box outlining in detail what you'll find on the CDs, so let me give you an idea.
4 of the CDs are a "Family Finder Index" which include millions of names, some of which are sketchy at best and include a lot of ??? instead of full names and dates. You may find the names of many of your ancestors here, but if you click on the name to see what additional information is available and if this is really your ancestor, you aren't given any information about the person. You are instead given an advertisement to purchase yet more CDs or an online subscription. This seems to be the typical response for most of the "research" associated with this software.
2 of the CDs contain the Social Security Death Index from 1937-1999, all of which can be looked up online for no cost.
1 CD is "Family History: Mid-Atlantic Genealogies" and contains information on the following families: Condit, Dill, Dodge, Douglas, Dutton, Emerick, Emmons, Mott, and Schell.
1 CD is "Local and Family Histories: New England" and contains the following information: Descendents of Thomas Dickinson; History of the Dudley Family; The Eaton Family of Nova Scotia; and the History of the town of Bristol, New Hampshire.
1 CD contains Military Records of US Soldiers from 1784-1811.
You are also given one-month access to Genealogy.com's World Family Tree collection, which lets you view the family trees of other people who have purchased the software and posted their family trees, unless they have marked the information "private." I found this feature to be practically worthless, as the format for viewing the online trees was confusing and difficult to navigate.
You are also given access to Genalogy.com's search engine, but again, if you run across any matches for the names you're researching, you're told to purchase more CDs or an online subscription, many of which were quite costly. Genealogy.com does have many census records available, but each decade is a separate CD, and buying all of them would be a ridiculous expense.
I'd suggest skipping this particular version of Family Tree Maker altogether and either purchasing the basic no-extra CDs version of Family Tree Maker or using another genealogy program entirely.

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Turn your family history into a lasting legacy with the easy-to-use research tools and creative output options of Family Tree Maker 10 Deluxe. Ten CD-ROMs provide 1,100 years of valuable historical data and more than 19 million passenger and immigration records, letting you create exciting projects like family trees, timelines, and multimedia scrapbooks that document your heritage.
The Deluxe Edition comes with a comprehensive publishing center that offers an array of heirloom-quality printout and layout options, while its new PDF file format tool ensures hassle-free file sharing. Use the Standard Pedigree Tree--a convenient fact-gathering tool--to print standardized genealogy forms that you can take to family reunions, on research trips, or anywhere you might uncover family facts. Also new to the title is a handy date calculator, a family file statistics tool for at-a-glance data access, enhanced photo editing tools, and RTF file formatting tools.
Discover the fun and reward of sharing family research with Family Tree Maker 10 Deluxe's easy-to-use home page wizards. You can create a secure personal home page for simple online sharing in no time. And if that's not enough to get your research started, this award-winning software comes with free access to Genealogy.com's World Family Tree Collection--a convenient, accessible online resource--for one month.

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Generations Family Tree Plus Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The side of the box stated it works for XP, however, it totally messed up my system and I had to restore my system.

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Celebrate your family by discovering the reward of genealogical research. Generations Family Tree Plus makes it easy to sort, archive, and share your family history. Explore the Titanic passenger list, or search for records dating back to the Revolutionary War. Find clues to your history in the World Immigration Database. Fascinating facts about your ancestry are just a few clicks away. Whether you're preparing for a family reunion, anticipating a new baby, or wanting to research family ancestry, creating a family tree honors your family's past and enriches its future.
Get started with easy-to-use tutorials. Print family trees as well as descendant and pedigree charts with photos, documents, and captions. Track birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates with the built-in family calendar. Store family addresses and create mail merge files--great for reunions and holidays. Plus, jump-start your research with a free one-month subscription to Genealogy Library, an online collection of census, birth, marriage, death, land, military, and other genealogical records containing hundreds of thousands of names.

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Family Tree Maker 2008 Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Any run-of-the-mill genealogy software should be able to do at least the basic reports family researchers and professional genealogists use to some degree during almost every major session:
*register reports (descendant-ordered reports - "all descendants of")
*ahnentafel reports (ancestor-ordered reports - "your ascending line"')
Family Tree Maker 2008 has now dropped these core reports they had supported throughout the past 16 versions of their software. The usefulness of the other core reports FTM 2008 still does provide, such as pedigree and descendancy charts, is significantly chilled by the near total removal of user options in designing what data elements to include in these remaining reports. Many other key features which longtime FTM users have enjoyed have also fallen by the wayside.
*Instead, FTM 2008 offers a lot of new fluff charts and reports, some of which are interesting for occasional analytical use, and some I don't even see a real-world practical use for.
Another major show-stopper for me was that FTM 2008 has dropped the popular feature that allowed the user to produce "family books" on their own home computer, but now instead requires that such information first be uploaded to the parent company (Ancestry) with the option of then (for an additional design fee) eventually downloading and printing it out either on your own printer or through their professional press. In either case, you must first execute a waiver essentially allowing Ancestry to use your research information as they see fit. Many users may find these requirements as highly objectionable.
*Regardless, with the loss of the key reports mentioned above, I am not sure how much is left to put in a "family book" even if you could still produce one on your home computer.
*Also, all of your family books produced with previous FTM versions will now be lost.
* As for all those expensive CDs you have accumulated over the years, FTM 2008 will no longer read any CDs.
The final show-stopper for me was exceptionally poor performance:
*My copy of FTM 2008 crashed about every 8 minutes or so, requiring a cold boot to get started again. Slow install, slow loading, slow running -- a perfect trifecta of poor performance.
*Even more importantly, and truly the "last straw," was I could never get a clean upload of data from my previous version of FTM v16 to FTM 2008. Data would often be corrupted, or even missing altogether. A very large number of users have reported this same problem. I also noticed that if I did successfully do any work in FTM 2008, I could never be sure I could export it back out to a previous version so that I could do the basic reports and such which are missing in FTM 2008.
With regard to the radical new look of FTM 2008, the gee-whiz cluttered and complex new screen displays could be construed by some as a mark of sophistication or power computing, but this is all only a hollow shell if this genealogy software won't even do the most basic register and ahnentafel genealogy reports many experienced researchers use so often.
*To be able to then effectively summarize your family research for yourself and others is the true end game of doing family research in the first place.
I view this release not as an upgrade to a new and improved FTM, but instead a very sad downward departure from the core functions FTM had consistently done so very well over the previous 16 releases. I have been an FTM user since 1998.
*Video-gamers will love this new software, but many experienced researchers will find many major disappointments.
I was so deeply disappointed that I uninstalled FTM 2008 so I could go back to FTM version 16 and once again be able to do basic genealogy reports summarizing my ongoing research.
That is why I buy genealogy software in the first place.
CHT in Virginia

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Discover how easy it is to explore and preserve your family history. The Family Tree Maker 2008 Essentials Edition is designed to help beginners find results fast.Windows XP (Home and Pro) SP2/Vista, Pentium II 500 MHz processor or equivalent (recommended Pentium III 1 GHz or equivalent), 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended), 400 MB free hard-disk space (additional space required for data files), 2X CD-ROM drive or faster & DVD-ROM drive for bonus content [recommended 32X CD/CD-R (CD-R required for the Backup to CD Feature)], Monitor with 800 x 600 resolution (recommended Monitor with 1024 x 768 resolution), Keyboard and mouse, Note: ALL online features require internet access. Administrator privileges are required to properly install the program on Windows XP and Windows Vista. User is responsible for internet service provider account, all internet access fees, and phone charges.

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Family Tree Maker 2010 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Have been using FTM for 15 years and the last 2 years have been very disappointing. I have issues with the Calendar.
Some of these issues are:

Can't change fonts.
Does not print all names even though they are entered correctly. (Previous versions printed 2 pages of the same month when names or anniversaries overflowed the date.) 2009 and 2010 versions print one page only and drops any names and anniversaries that don't fit. Try and figure that out when you have over 3000 names.
When you go to save the calendar it won't save it properly. I only wanted to have certain names and anniversaries on my calendar and I saved each month separately. When I went back into the calendar it reverted to the default which is to include every name and anniversary (living people only). I have had to go to "legal" size paper to make the names fit and I am not sure they all are there even doing that.
When you try and exclude someone from the calendar it is very time consuming and some of the functions do not work at all.
Some anniversaries show up even though one spouse is deceased and the proper box is checked on the options.
Occasionally a maiden name will print rather than a married name even though the proper box is checked on the options.
I had most of these issue with the 2009 version and I was unable to get them resolved through emails with customer service. I wrongly assumed that the 2010 version would correct at least some of these flaws.
I told the customer service person that I though they had a disgruntled programmer.
I am now looking for any other software that will let me download my information without having to re-enter the over 3000 names and other information I have.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2010 Deluxe

Family Tree Maker makes it easy to discover your story, preserve your legacy and share your unique heritage as you explore your family tree on your personal computer. Family Tree Maker 2010 introduces even more rich storytelling and organization tools that can add new life to your family history.

Once you've started your tree, you can add photos, video, audio and more. You can also create and print a variety of interactive maps, timelines, charts and reports.
Family Tree Maker 2010 also includes a subscription to Ancestry.com--the world's largest online collection of family history resources, featuring more than 7 billion historical records. Search for your ancestors and use what you discover on Ancestry.com in your tree.
Family Tree Maker 2010 lets you easily:
Organize your family story privately and conveniently on your personal computer.
Create charts and reports in a variety of formats to share with friends and family.
Discover new information anywhere on the web and add it to your tree instantly.
Integrate with the 7 billion names in historical records on Ancestry.com. Even receive hints linking you to matching records.
Incorporate photos, documents and audio, video and other files into your tree.
View timelines and interactive maps.

What's new in Family Tree maker 2010?
New tools and charts that help you tell a richer story
Better ways to organize photos and other media
Create slideshows from the images in your tree
Family books made from your tree
Standard source templates that help you reference the right information
A view of your relation to everyone in your tree
Extended family birthday calendars
Images scanned directly into your tree
Family migration paths over time
Easy family tree download from Ancestry.com

And don't forget the features you've come to rely on:
Dynamic user interface that lets you quickly switch between important features
The ability to import data from other genealogy programs, including Personal Ancestral File
Powerful sourcing tools that let you document AND rate each of your citations
Interactive maps and lists that give you a bird's-eye view of where members of your family come from
Place authority database of more than 3 million names that helps you standardize your place entries
Photo AND file management features so you can easily incorporate all types of media files into your charts and reports
Timelines that highlight personal, family and world events
Easy-to-use tools for merging duplicate individuals, calculating dates, creating to-do lists and more

How can you make the most of Ancestry.com?
Family Tree Maker 2010 comes with a subscription to Ancestry.com, the world's largest online collection of family history resources.
Your software works seamlessly with Ancestry.com so you can easily search for your ancestors and add the information you discover to your tree.
You could find missing facts about your family in census records, draft cards, passenger lists, image collections and other historical resources.

Use Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker together. Get the most from both.
Search the extensive record collections at Ancestry.com without ever leaving your family tree. Quickly merge new records you find into your tree.
Take advantage of Ancestry Hints. Family Tree Maker automatically suggests records that may match people in your tree.
Share heirloom-quality books and attractive posters that you create with the self-publishing tool at Ancestry.com.

Your Family Tree Maker 2010 Deluxe software includes: Interactive Training Tutorial for Family Tree Maker 2010 (included on Family Tree Maker disk)
Get step-by-step instructions and tips that will help you easily build and grow your family tree.

The Getting Started Guide to Family Tree Maker
Follow simple directions to begin a project and master the program's basic features

The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers
Read short sections that will tell you how Family Tree Maker can work best for you.

Discounts on Ancestry.com Products
Save 20% on a subscription to Ancestry Magazine and 20% on DNA testing.

The Standard Ancestry.com Reference Library--Access to 10 invaluable family history reference books, compiled and indexed on one DVD.
The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy
The Red Book: American State, Country, and Town Sources
The Ancestry Family Historian's Address Book
Ancestry's Concise Genealogy Dictionary
They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins
Finding Answers in the U.S. Census
U.S. Military Records
Military Records at Ancestry.com
Library of Congress: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research
The Archives: A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches (Out of Print)

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Family Tree Maker 9.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I teach Family Tree Maker to senior citizens and am an amateur genealogist. It usually takes no more than an hour or two for my students to get around enough basics about Family Tree Maker to start entering their genealogy. It has clear windows and comfortably large fonts, very user friendly error messages that actually make sense.... (ie when typing a name all in lower case, a message pops up saying "the name may have too many or too few capital letters" and you have the option to make the change right there or use the "auto-fix" button).
As another review mentions, this is first and foremost a data entry tool for genealogy, as well as a data output tool such as family trees of various configuration, several standardized reports, and my favorite: the ability to put a genealogy book together.
Family Tree Maker's helpful research tools should be used in combination with classic research mediums: Libraries, genealogy groups, the internet, historical societies, local town halls....

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PC FAMILY TREE MAKER (BM)

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Family Tree Maker 2009 Essentials Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The faithful legions of Family Tree Maker users will find FTM 2009 to be a major improvement over their previous 2008 release and will welcome the improved operating performance and a number of the new search and sourcing features. Experienced users will still miss a number of the FTM v16 features, but we have been assured that continued improvements are on the way.
Before I go on, I am an experienced family researcher, have used every version of Family Tree Maker since 1998, routinely help others with their research, and I have about 25,300 names in my database. I also administer two DNA projects. I have a very clear idea of what I need, what I am used to getting, and exactly what people are expecting when they request my assistance.
Among the challenges for experienced users will be making a successful transition from earlier versions to FTM 2009. When I first tested this product for my own use and then attempted a review, I missed several key features regarding user controls specifying desired data elements for certain reports and charts...I simply could not find them. Another user reading my initial review verified that he could not find the user controls either. Helpful comments by an FTM product manager helped resolve the problem and a number of apparently missing features are actually there. The lesson learned is that this new interface will take some patience to find your way through. In many cases, this patience will be rewarded with a very robust and versatile software with many new capabilities.
However, for those of us who are most focused on final output, such as the ability to design and produce fully indexed Family Books on your own desktop without having to go online, this product has not yet realized it's full potential. This feature was offered in FTM v16 and previous versions, but was discontinued in FTM 2008 in favor of directing users to go on line (Ancestry press) instead of allowing full desktop-based user control.
*As Family Tree Maker continues to tweak this release, efforts need to continue in the area of fully restoring features and user controls from FTM v16, and just as importantly, educating experienced users on how to find and use the features they had enjoyed for so many years.
*A side by side explanation of features for FTM v16 and FTM 2009 would be very useful in the transition process, particularly in the area of output (reports, charts, etc.)
At this time, without the previously offered Family Book features being fully restored, FTM 2009 simply does not yet meet my personal needs, and I have returned to FTM v16. I need to continue to update the many previous Family Books (about 18) that I have produced for individuals and organizations, and I also need to continue to produce new fully indexed Family Books for pending projects I have committed to. I also have an ongoing need to have FTM read various CDs in my large collection, and unless I have missed it, FTM 2009 simply won't do this.

*3-Star Rating - I am very bottom line oriented - if I do not have in my hand exactly what I need when I am done working, and I -still- have to go back to previous software (FTM v16) to get it - then the "new" software fails my test and, for the time being, is not up to my own personal requirements. All the improved performance and various new features just do not yet matter if it cannot deliver in my hand what I expect and need when I am done.
I would encourage the FTM product design team to continue to restore features from FTM v16 and previous versions, and only then will FTM 2009 realize it's full potential.
CHT in Virginia

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2009 Essentials

Family Tree Maker 2009 by Ancestry.com, the #1 selling family history software, can help you easily discover, preserve and share your family history. It can help you build your family tree, gather stories and photos and create charts and books to share with your family. The Essentials Edition includes a one-month subscription to Ancestry.com the worlds largest online collection of family history records with more than 7 billion ancestors names. Youll also receive an interactive training tutorial and The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers.

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Family Tree Maker 2010 Platinum Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This product is wonderful! I have been struggling to build my tree in [...], and have so many duplicates, much less difficulties navigating (I have over 4000 names in my tree), and this is the first version of Family Tree Maker that I have used that actually INTERFACES with Ancestry, and allows me to clean up duplicates, and update my tree in virtual time! I no longer have to build my tree, then upload it, because it is working on my actual tree at the same time I am...can't say enough about this product!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2010 Platinum

Family Tree Maker makes it easy to discover your story, preserve your legacy and share your unique heritage as you explore your family tree on your personal computer. Family Tree Maker 2010 introduces even more rich storytelling and organization tools that can add new life to your family history.

Once you've started your tree, you can add photos, video, audio and more. You can also create and print a variety of interactive maps, timelines, charts and reports.
Family Tree Maker 2010 also includes a subscription to Ancestry.com--the world's largest online collection of family history resources, featuring more than 7 billion historical records. Search for your ancestors and use what you discover on Ancestry.com in your tree.
Family Tree Maker 2010 lets you easily:
Organize your family story privately and conveniently on your personal computer.
Create charts and reports in a variety of formats to share with friends and family.
Discover new information anywhere on the web and add it to your tree instantly.
Integrate with the 7 billion names in historical records on Ancestry.com. Even receive hints linking you to matching records.
Incorporate photos, documents and audio, video and other files into your tree.
View timelines and interactive maps.

What's new in Family Tree maker 2010?
New tools and charts that help you tell a richer story
Better ways to organize photos and other media
Create slideshows from the images in your tree
Family books made from your tree
Standard source templates that help you reference the right information
A view of your relation to everyone in your tree
Extended family birthday calendars
Images scanned directly into your tree
Family migration paths over time
Easy family tree download from Ancestry.com

And don't forget the features you've come to rely on:
Dynamic user interface that lets you quickly switch between important features
The ability to import data from other genealogy programs, including Personal Ancestral File
Powerful sourcing tools that let you document AND rate each of your citations
Interactive maps and lists that give you a bird's-eye view of where members of your family come from
Place authority database of more than 3 million names that helps you standardize your place entries
Photo AND file management features so you can easily incorporate all types of media files into your charts and reports
Timelines that highlight personal, family and world events
Easy-to-use tools for merging duplicate individuals, calculating dates, creating to-do lists and more

How can you make the most of Ancestry.com?
Family Tree Maker 2010 comes with a subscription to Ancestry.com, the world's largest online collection of family history resources.
Your software works seamlessly with Ancestry.com so you can easily search for your ancestors and add the information you discover to your tree.
You could find missing facts about your family in census records, draft cards, passenger lists, image collections and other historical resources.

Use Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker together. Get the most from both.
Search the extensive record collections at Ancestry.com without ever leaving your family tree. Quickly merge new records you find into your tree.
Take advantage of Ancestry Hints. Family Tree Maker automatically suggests records that may match people in your tree.
Share heirloom-quality books and attractive posters that you create with the self-publishing tool at Ancestry.com.

Your Family Tree Maker 2010 Platinum software includes: Interactive Training Tutorial for Family Tree Maker 2010 (included on Family Tree Maker disk)
Get step-by-step instructions and tips that will help you easily build and grow your family tree.

The Getting Started Guide to Family Tree Maker
Follow simple directions to begin a project and master the program's basic features

The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers
Read short sections that will tell you how Family Tree Maker can work best for you.

Discounts on Ancestry.com Products
Save 20% on a subscription to Ancestry Magazine and 20% on DNA testing.

The Deluxe Ancestry.com Reference Library--Access to 15 invaluable family history reference books, compiled and indexed on one DVD.
The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy
The Red Book: American State, Country, and Town Sources
The Ancestry Family Historian's Address Book
Ancestry's Concise Genealogy Dictionary
They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins
Finding Answers in the U.S. Census
U.S. Military Records
Military Records at Ancestry.com
The Official Guide to Ancestry.com
The Official Guide to RootsWeb.com
Abbreviations and Acronyms: A Guide for Family Historians
Hidden Sources: Family History in Unlikely Places
Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records
Library of Congress: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research
The Archives: A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches (Out of Print)

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Family Tree Maker 2009 Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Family Tree Maker 2009 EssentialsFamily Tree Maker 2009 PlatinumFamily Tree Maker 2009 DeluxeI was surprised that I don't hate it. From the reviews, I thought I would. I have been using this program since the DOS days, because I am averse to change. When the new one came out, it lost most of what I used it for, so I stayed with the old one. This is my first try at the new one.
I was very pleased that it didn't try to overwrite the old one, or store files in the same place. It meant I could try it without worrying about losing my data,
It is not user-friendly. That is the first thing I noticed. I realized that because it is a new program, it doesn't have sixteen ways to do something, the way older programs do. It only has one, and you have to learn what that one way is. Just like the DOS version I started with. The print is vey small and hard to read, and I just today found out how to change it.
It is a good data-base. It has helped me find a number of errors I never knew I had, and to regularize entries, so the same thing is always written the same way. It has helped a lot with place names, for instance. That said, there are problems with default place names. They are alphabetical. For instance, Portland is in Multnomah County. The default is Clackamas County, because it is first in the alphabet. I looked for Iowa City, and found one in every county in Iowa, with no way to tell which was right. I can look straight at a town on the map, and find the program doesn't recognize it.
The program has gone into a partnership with Microsoft on some of it's features. With all the new software out there, much of it better, that might be a bad choice. There is a note that those features may drop without notice.
It is a space hog, and does crash. I could probably solve that with a new computer, but then my old program wouldn't be available to me, and the new one just isn't up to snuff yet. The thing I really use, regularly, is the book function. I print books almost yearly for family. This one says I can build the book on line, and still print it myself, so it is not as useless as I thought when I read that it had to be done on line, but I dno't know how they are going to get the program on line to print the accurate index, which is essential in a family book. And, because it is only a data base, there is no place in the new program for the essays on family history, family homeland, stories, recipes, and so forth that make such books more than a list of names. The old program could keep everything together, which was nice.
I am a suspicious sort. When I saw that it would no longer work with the disks we own, but is made to work with data that they expect you to pay monthly or yearly fees for, and that they want you to pay them large amounts to publish a book, I think "greed". After seeing the program, it is possible that it just doesn't have space for those features. I want to be able to print a descendant chart, with a photograph of each person, the information, and then the next person. I have not yet been able to find a way to do that. It should be an obvious option.
This is not a bad program, but I think it is finally time for me to seriously investigate all the other ones out there.
I can't run the new program satisfactorally on my current machine, and I can't run version 16 on a new machine, so if I atick with this program, I am stuck.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2009 Deluxe

Family Tree Maker 2009 by Ancestry.com, the #1 selling family history software, can help you easily discover, preserve and share your family history. It can help you build your family tree, gather stories and photos and create charts and books to share with your family. The Deluxe Edition includes a three-month subscription to Ancestry.com — the world's largest online collection of family history records with more than 7 billion ancestors' names. You'll also receive an interactive training tutorial, The Family Tree Maker Little Book of Answers, a 25% off coupon for Ancestry DNA and a 10% discount on a professionally printed family history book or poster.

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Ultimate Family Tree Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ultimate Family Tree is a great genealogy program which lets you do almost everything you could think of, even write reports in languages other than English. To me, this is THE genealogy program... While, for example, Family Tree Maker is a good program, too, it lacks a lot of the data entering capabilities of the Ultimate Family Tree.
However, I would like to point out to potential buyers that its manufacturer "The Learning Company" has recently discontinued this software. They've decided to only sell Family Tree Maker instead of offering both programs. So buyers should think very carefully if they want to buy arguably one of the best programs on the market knowing support will probably be very limited if not nonexistant in the future.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Ultimate Family Tree Deluxe

Ultimate Family Tree Deluxe is a powerful software genealogy program to assist you in discovering your family's history!It provides you with step-by-step instructions that make it easy to get started and will save you hours, even weeks, of research time.Ultimate Family Tree Deluxe is quite simply a family tree program that offers exclusive features.

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