Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 Business Edition Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I installed Office 2008 on my 1.25GHz G4 iMac, running System 10.5.8 . Since many reviewers have thoroughly discussed the features of each Office application already, I am focusing this review on my experience of upgrading from Office v.X to Office 2008 on a PowerPC iMac. Background:
*I have experience with several versions of Mac Office, beginning with version 4.2 . I also have used Office 98, Office 2001, and as mentioned above, Office v.X before upgrading to Office 2008.
*The way I use Office has changed over time. I made extensive use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in graduate school and in various professional settings through Office 2001. Now I mostly use Excel to do basic financial analysis and Word to write personal documents.Installation:
*Installation is straightforward, using Apple's familiar Installer mechanism. I prefer this method to the old drag-and-drop installation method because OS X is so sensitive to where things are installed.
*The installer program automatically finds older versions of Office and allows users to delete them easily.
*Many customized settings can be transferred from previous Office installations, including dictionaries, autocorrect lists, and proofing tool settings.
*Once Office 2008 is installed, several updates must be downloaded and installed. Microsoft should have made this process more user-friendly. Users must manually shut down other applications, including the Office 2008 Installer, before running the update installer.Pros:
*Office is now a Universal Binary so the same program will run on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.
*An Uninstaller is placed in the Office folder automatically.
*Office will check for updates automatically on a schedule chosen by the user. No more messing around on the Microsoft website, hoping you didn't miss a Service Pack or Critical Update.
*Users can now turn the feedback sounds on and off. If hearing a chime, a popping bubble, or some other "cute" noise every time you did something drove you crazy, you will greatly appreciate this long overdue feature.
*Speaking of unnecessary cuteness, Clippy the Paperclip is gone! Yesssssss!Cons:
*All the applications startup and quit slowly on a G4 machine. Office v.X applications started and quit virtually instantaneously (yes, I realize v.X was written specifically for PowerPC processors). Saving files is slow as well.
*Office 2008 uses a new file format that is not compatible with other versions of Office. If you send documents to people who are not fully up to date, you have to save a second version or limit yourself to working with the older file format.
*It's good that Microsoft no longer just ports Windows Office to the Mac. Nonetheless, there are user interface inconsistencies both within and across the applications which keep Office from feeling 100% Macintosh.
*Silverlight, Microsoft's attempt to compete with Macromedia Flash, is installed by default.
*WARNING FOR POWER USERS: No macros in Excel! Bad, bad, bad move. And no support for Visual Basic.Bottom line: Office 2008 doesn't hold any surprises for experienced Office users. For the most part, everything still operates in the way to which you are accustomed. If you own a PowerPC Mac and use an older version of Office, you should carefully consider whether you want to upgrade or not. The benefits of the new features may be outweighed by the inconvenience of the slower performance and/or the need to adjust your workflow.
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 due to the removal of macros and Visual Basic from Excel.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 Business Edition Upgrade

Your business is everything to you--an extension of your life, an expression of your passion. Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition is packed with all the tools and features you need to make your vision a success. Get core Office applications to help you manage your business, organize your data and present a professional image; plus new Exchange Server support and reliable Office for Windows compatibility that take productivity and collaboration to the next level.


Upgrade and save. You may be eligible to upgrade to Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition at a special discounted price. Licensed users of any Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition suite or application, or any Office for Mac 2001-2004 suite or application, are eligible for the discount. Plus, get Business Edition extras like Exchange Server support and Office Live Workspace to help you manage, create and collaborate more effectively and easily.

Our best Office for your best business.
Only Office gives you this much compatibility. Confidently share files with colleagues and clients no matter what version of Office they're running, even if they use Office for Windows.
Choose software that grows with your business. Get a powerful suite designed to keep up with your company's growth. Find what basic users need and advanced users demand in one comprehensive package.
Save time and money with the world's most familiar software. Choosing familiar software can be a great way to reduce time and money on training. Get up and running faster, and allocate the resources you save to other important areas of your business.

What's New About Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition?
Microsoft Office Live Workspace Support Share files and collaborate on projects from virtually anywhere.
Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Store and share documents, contacts, calendars and tasks in a single secure location.
Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition Stay in sync on all your devices with Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition. Unlock the power of Microsoft Exchange Server (2007 or later versions) so you can sync your email, calendar and notes, between your desktop, laptop and Windows-based mobile phone.
Business templates, themes, and clip art Look your most professional with customizable business templates that can make brochures, newsletters, and flyers stand out from the crowd. Apply your personal brand to any document with themes, then add the finishing touch with business-right illustrations and clip art.
Remote Desktop for Mac 2 Connect from your Mac to your Windows-based PC quickly and access files, applications, devices and networks with advanced security technology.
Free product training Build your skills with beginner to advanced video based training from Lynda.com.

Highlights and Features
Collaborate and Connect Your ability to share and communicate with others--regardless of Mac or PC platform--is critical to your success. Reach customers, prospects and partners more effectively with Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition.
Stay in touch while on the goSync your email, calendar and contacts via your in-house Exchange Server with ActiveSync.
Count on cross-platform compatibility Use the same file format as Office for Windows and rely on a sophisticated graphics engine to help ensure accurate, consistent file sharing and printing.
Access and share your files onlineMicrosoft Office Live Workspace is a security-enhanced "virtual headquarters" where you can share work and collaborate online. For more complex projects, Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services support enables you store and share documents, contacts, calendars and tasks in a single secure location.
Drive your Windows-based PC from the comfort of your MacWith Remote Desktop for Mac 2, you can quickly connect to your Windows-based PC to access files, applications, devices and networks.
Take your show on the roadExport presentations to your iPod or iPhone with PowerPoint 2008. Share your ideas or hold impromptu rehearsals wherever life takes you.

Create Effectively Bring your ideas to life, put more of your personality into your projects and represent your brand exactly the way you intend. Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition gives you the design, marketing and communication tools to help you create professional-looking business materials you'll be proud of.
Print-ready documents are a snapSave money, time and paper. Simple desktop publishing features in Word 2008 let you create high-quality newsletters, brochures and flyers. With Publishing Layout View, you can proof and edit your documents precisely so they print without surprises.
Discover the flexibility of Word 2008Use the Outline view to organize all your information into a convenient, flexible format, or choose Notebook Layout View to capture text and audio notes on multiple topics.
Work faster with your favorite toolsWhether you're working in Word 2008, Excel 2008 or PowerPoint 2008, the Elements Gallery puts your most commonly used tools and functions at your fingertips so you can create documents more quickly.
Quickly create and customize common business documentsStart with updated templates in Word and Excel 2008, then get creative with easy-to-use Document Elements, Word Art and SmartArt tools. Add your personal brand to any document with Themes, using fonts, colors and graphics you choose and apply with a single click.
Personalize mass mailings easily and efficientlyThe Mail Merge feature in Word 2008 lets you efficiently create materials for all your clients, so you can send a personal touch every time.

Manage Your Business Growing a small business can be more than a full-time job. That's why Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition has updated programs and features that are ready to go to work immediately to help you save time and operate more professionally.
Keep every day on trackMy Day in Entourage 2008 provides a real-time snapshot of your schedule and to-do lists so you stay on track and on time.
Stay in sync, anywhere, anytimeWith Entourage 2008, your team can access and manage their email and calendars from any web connection--via Mac, PC or a Windows-based mobile device. With Office Live Workspace, they can quickly launch online folders tailored to the unique needs of each project. Now it's easy to co-author documents and share feedback anytime, online.
Take control of your business financesExcel 2008 can help you manage your business finances like a pro. Clear, accessible templates, plus enhanced calculation and analysis functions, make it easier to monitor sales and billings.

Included Applications
Word 2008 enables you to expand your creativity with confidence. Create high-quality marketing materials like brochures, newsletters, flyers and more with professionally designed, customizable templates. Even add cover pages and bibliographies. Add polish with business-right illustrations using SmartArt and hundreds of specially designed, business-oriented graphics.
PowerPoint 2008 makes it easy to present like a pro. Give more polished, creative presentations. Save time and manage presentations better with Presenter Tools. Move about easily with Apple Remote and engage your audience while keeping your presentation running smoothly. Enhanced features like animation paths and animated GIFs are sure to make an impression.
Excel 2008 helps you manage business today while you plan for tomorrow. Business growth requires financial planning, and Excel 2008 can help you reach your goals. Updated sorting, formatting and charting tools, together with improved formula-builder and error-finding functions, help you track your progress.
Entourage 2008 empowers you to take control of project details. Project Center lets you quickly create, customize and track project-related emails, files, contacts and other important details, in one convenient location. Save your project on your server, and share the information through Entourage 2008.

Get 33% OFF

Click here for more information about Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 Business Edition Upgrade

Read More...

Microsoft Office 2000 Standard Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If ever you're looking for something... check with Amazon first, more than likely they will have it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Office 2000 Standard Upgrade

Brand new full retail box. Orders placed before 5 PM PST will ship the same day via FedEx with tracking

Click here for more information about Microsoft Office 2000 Standard Upgrade

Read More...

Microsoft Home Publishing Premium 2000 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)but, I AM talking easy to use, WITH Professional results! Look, I've used most of the publishing suites from just about every software company in the world, and I have to admit this one has all the features you could possibly want in a product. You can use clip art, photographs, design templates, or create totally new projects you've only fanticised about, but could never do with other products you've tried before. It doesn't matter if you want a printed project or complete web site. This suite will let you do it with style and flair! I cannot describe how interactive this suite is. You simply have to sit yourself down and take 30 minutes to examine to product and features. When really good looking projects are wanted and needed, THIS is the one for you. If you've ever seen the books titled, "....for Dummies" and you can identify with the title, then this is for you. The templates are really, idiot-proof, and the ideas they inspire will truly amaze you as they did me. Microsoft has created a winner. This suite is NOT a bunch of junk packaged on one or two CD's and called a home publisher. You know the ones that are hard to navigate and the finished project looks as if a 3rd. grader did them on the family computer. NO, this Publishing Suite contains SIX, that's right SIX CD's, printed manual, on-line help, internet upgradeable, 125,000+ excellent graphics, 10,000+ project templates, 10,000+ professional photos, only to name a few of the features. If you can THINK it, this suite will let you CREATE it!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Home Publishing Premium 2000

Unleash your creativity with this product, whether you want to create your own Web page, send an e-greeting to a family member, or create a family photo album. Microsoft Home Publishing Premium 2000 has the complete set of tools. Picture It! software with its new "mini lab" lets you make adjustments to an entire roll of film in one easy step. Choose from over 100,000 quality graphics; 10,000 project templates; 10,000 professional photos; 155 fonts; or add your own photos, artwork, and personalized messages.
Working with text is easy with text-frame linking that lets you flow text from column to column and page to page on newsletters, school reports, pamphlets, and more. Use transitions, sound, animations, and music in your multimedia publishing. Support for HTML file format means that what you see is what you get. Direct Web Post makes posting creations to popular communities a snap.
Also included is the entire Microsoft Greetings 2000 product.

Click here for more information about Microsoft Home Publishing Premium 2000

Read More...

Microsoft Works Suite 2002 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great collection of easy to use software that appreciates the budget of the user, from a powerful word processor to easy photo-editing solution. Included in works is Microsoft Word version 2002! Now come on, this product sells individually at an outrageous price of $300 plus dollars. You are able to create professional looking documents, memo's and resumes, included with this version of Word, are speech recognition technologies, Send for Review, Document recovery and a slew of other powerful features. The other productivity applications such as the Works spreadsheet and database are not as powerful as Microsoft Excel and Access, but they do get the job done. This product really is worth the five stars. If you are looking for robust applications for computing and other powerful features, start thinking about saving for Microsoft Office. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2002 standard is also included and trust me I used version 2001 and this version is even more powerful and amazing with concise, articulated information. So for students who want assistance with their reports and essays, Encarta is the one-stop reference material for all your information. Every OEM manufacturer should offer MS Works as a part of their computer package. Software like Lotus doesn't really meet the needs of users anymore, Lotus is like a low-end version of Works, not much functionality. Other great software includes Picture It! Photo Express, which is great for fixing up your photos, removing red eyes and it also creates great art and craft materials. Streets and Trips is a handy geographic solution when it comes to planning your travels, so for those people who like to go on vacation, this is a good opportunity to purchase. Money is always useful when it comes to organizing and preparing you financial data, so you don't have to worry about calculating and managing your frustrating financial taxes. With insightful tutorials and easy to use wizards, Money is a smart solution when it comes to handling your "money". Remember if you are looking for robust software that takes software computing to a different level, think about Microsoft Office. But for those people who need only the essentials, Works is the way to go!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Works Suite 2002

Microsoft Works Suite 2002 combines six complete products, including the latest and complete version of Microsoft Word, for one price. The Works Task Launcher brings all of these home software applications and online resources to you based on the task you need to get done. Works Suite is the easiest way to get and use all the software you really need for your home PC. Included software is: Word 2002, Money 2002, Encarta 2002, Picture It! Photo 2002, Streets & Trips 2002, and Microsoft Works.
Microsoft Works gives you the essential tools you need for your home PC: word processor, spreadsheets, database, calendar, address book, e-mail tools, and more. Easily manage your personal finances, budgets, and spending down to the penny. Use the rich photo-editing tools in Works Suite to correct, organize, and enhance your images to make them great pictures and fond memories. Help everyone in the household learn more and do research for school. Make traveling a breeze and take the stress out of road trips by mapping your route, printing directions, and finding points of interest, restaurants, and hotels.

Get 69% OFF

Click here for more information about Microsoft Works Suite 2002

Read More...

Microsoft Student 2006 DVD Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The previous versions of Encarta included a host of homework tools. These have now been made into a separate product called Microsoft Student.
Homework assignments are the bane of most students I know (not to mention their hard-pressed and nescient parents). This is mainly because of the tedious and mind-numbing chores of data mining and composition. Additionally, as knowledge multiplies every 5-10 years, few parents and teachers are able to keep up.
Enter Microsoft Student 2006 - a productivity suite which includes the Encarta Encyclopedia, assignment templates, tutorials, graphing calculator software and a Web Companion.
Similar to the Encarta, MS Student's Web Companion obtains search results from all the major search engines without launching any additional applications (like a browser). Content from both the Encyclopedia (the full Encarta encyclopedia is built into MS Student) and the Web is presented side by side. This augmentation explicitly adopts the Internet and incorporates it as an important source of reference - as 80% of students have already done.
This may raise important and interesting issues of intellectual property, though. Web content copyright-holders may demand royalties from Microsoft for the use it makes of their wares in its commercial products.
MS Student would do well to also integrate with new desktop search tools from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and others. Students will benefit from seamless access to content from all over - their desktop, their encyclopedias, and the Web - using a single, intuitive interface.
MS Student's templates are actually clever adaptations of the popular Office suite of products - Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They help the student produce homework plans and schedules, projects, book reports, presentations, research reports, charts, and analyses of problems in math, physics, and chemistry. Detailed step-by-step tutorials, Quick Starters, and pop-up toolbars (menus) guide the student along the way in a friendly, non-intrusive manner.
The graphing calculator is a wonder. It has both 2-D and 3-D capabilities and makes use of the full screen. Aided by an extensive Equations Library, it does everything except cook: trigonometry, calculus, math, charting, geometry, physics, and chemistry. And everything in full color!
And if this is not enough, the lucky owner is entitled to one year of Online Math Homework Help: step by step instructions and hints for solving math problems (including algebra and geometry). The program addresses most math textbooks and more are added all the time.
For the student keen on the liberal arts and the humanities, Student 2006 provides detailed Book Summaries of dozens of classic works. Besides plot synopses, the student gets acquainted with the author's life, themes and characters in the tomes, and ideas for book reports. This is buttressed by a Book of Quotations and the entire corpus of the Encarta Encyclopedia, dictionary, and thesaurus.
This is the first release of a great contribution to learning. Inevitably, it has a few flaws and glitches.
Start with the price. As productivity suites go, it is reasonably priced had its target population been adult professional users. But, at $100, it is beyond the reach of most poor students and parents - its most immediate market niches.
Installation is not easy. MS Student 2006 makes use of Microsoft's .Net technology. As most home computers lack it, the installer insists on adding it to the anyhow bloated Windows Operating System. There is worse to come: the .Net version installed by Encarta 2006 is plagued with security holes and vulnerabilities. Users have to download service packs and patches from Windows Update if they do not wish to run the risk of having their computers compromised by hackers.
Fully installed, Microsoft Student 2006 gobbles up more than 4 Gb. That's a lot - even in an age of ever cheaper storage. Most homesteads still sport PCs with 20-40 Gb hard disks. This makes the Encarta less suitable for installation on older PCs and on many laptops. Despite the hype, relatively few users possess DVD drives (but those who do, find the entire encyclopedia available on one DVD).
Finally, there is the question of personal creativity and originality. Luckily, MS Student does not spoon-feed its users. It does not substitute for thinking or for study. On the contrary, by providing structured stimuli, it encourages the student to express his or her ideas. It does not do the homework assignments for the student - it merely helps rid them of time-consuming and machine-like functions. And it opens up to both student and family the wonderful twin universes of knowledge: the Encarta and the Web. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited"


Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Student 2006 DVD

It may not seem possible, but thanks to Microsoft Student 2006, being a middle or high school student has just become a whole lot more fun, and a whole lot easier. In one convenient package, Microsoft Student 2006 provides students with templates, organizational tools, tutorials, translator tools, and a just about everything else they'll need to finish -- and ace! -- their French homework, algebra exam and research papers.Designed with the help of leading educators and publishers, Microsoft Office 2006 offers students easy-to-use and intuitive software tools -- such as Encarta Encyclopedia, foreign language translators, and Graphing Calculator Software -- that will help them to:
Research and brainstorm term papers on virtually any subject
Create professionally designed charts and diagrams
Produce properly documented research assignments
Design outstanding classroom presentations with PowerPoint
Learn invaluable scientific and mathematical analytical skills
Expand foreign language skills
Whether the task at hand is a science project, literature presentation, math test, or Spanish homework, Microsoft Student 2006 has what it takes to not only help students meet their deadlines, but to also help prepare them with the tools they'll need to continue their education beyond high school.Quadratic Equations and 3-D Graphics: The Graphing Calculator Software A great complement to any handheld calculator, the easy-to-use Graphing/Scientific Calculator Software can help speed up individual math calculations, or can be used to create high-quality group science projects. Much more than a handheld device, this calculator lets students enter math problems exactly the way they are displayed in textbooks, so there's no need to learn any new syntax simply to complete homework assignments. From helping with quadratic equations to providing 3-D graphing capabilities in full color, this calculator does it all. And best of all, it allows students to save their calculations to share with their study group or to finish on their own at a later time.Microsoft Student 2006 also offers online math help with step-by-step tutorials that are taken directly from popular math textbooks used in schools. This way students can learn from examples that will actually help them when it comes time for the big test.Researching Literature and History With a subscription through October 2006 to Microsoft Encarta Reference Premium, students have immediate access to one of the world's most comprehensive sources of research information in the world. Literature guides offer in-depth information to leading writers and works of literature; over 68,000 articles provide the background information students will need for research papers; over 29,000 Web page links, pre-selected by professional researchers and editors, guarantee that they won't be wasting valuable time visiting irrelevant Web sites.Students also have access to more than 2,000 sound and music clips, 1.8 million map locations, and 300 video clips. In addition, Microsoft Student 2006 offers several interactive features for all levels of learning, including interactive videos from The Discovery Channel, an interactive world atlas, Encarta for Kids, Africana Encyclopedia, Virtual Flight, and much more. Also, tutorial content from leading publishers provides students with advanced guidance on writing reports, building presentations, and creating the right visuals to complement their assignments.Making It Look Good: Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office There's nothing more daunting to a student than facing a blank screen, and nothing more frustrating than spending all your time trying to make your report look nice. With Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office -- one of the key features of Microsoft Students 2006 -- students will quickly be able to get past that blank page and create professional looking reports, presentations, graphics, and just about any other kind of documents they'll need. With Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint templates, students can spend their time focusing on content, without having to worry about how to make their work look nice. In other words, Microsoft Student 2006 lets students focus on what's really important to the learning process while still creating great looking reports and presentations.The Right Tool for Every Student Whether a student is studying for an Advanced Placement exam in calculus, or trying to master subject verb agreement in expository writing assignments, Microsoft Student 2006 can help. As a perfect complement to Microsoft Office XP, Office 2003, or Microsoft Office Student and Teacher, this exciting educational tool promises to revolutionize the way students learn.Note: Students must have Microsoft Office XP, Office 2003, or Microsoft Office Student and Teacher 2003 edition in order to use the Learning Essentials tools and templates in Microsoft Student 2006.

Get 60% OFF

Click here for more information about Microsoft Student 2006 DVD

Read More...

Microsoft Office 2000 Professional Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Microsoft Office 2000 may be the best version made. Works with Windows 95 through Windows 7. Is much more compact than later versions.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Office 2000 Professional Upgrade

Microsoft Office has established a position as the most efficient suite of applications for document creation, communication and business information analysis. For many functions, the business platform has evolved from paper to the Web. Microsoft Office 2000 extends desktop productivity to the web, streamlining the way you work and making it easier to share, access and analyze information so you get better results.Office 2000 offers a multitude of new features. Of particular importance for this release are the features that affect the entire suite. These Office-wide, or shared features hold the key to the new realm of functionality enabled by Office 2000. Office 2000 Small Business also includes small business-specific tools and applications designed for small businesses, such as Microsoft Publisher to easily create marketing materials, as well as a set of four Small Business Tools. These tools were designed for small businesses to help manage and grow customer relationships, make better business decisions, and streamline business operations.

Get 71% OFF

Click here for more information about Microsoft Office 2000 Professional Upgrade

Read More...

AutoCAD Freestyle Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Final Update - On February 1, 2011, I went to the Autodesk website to check for additional updates and found that FreeStyle had been withdrawn from sale. Customer support stopped April 1, 2011.
Update 10/7/2010 - The first product update was released a couple of weeks ago. The major change fixes the first item below...you can now create custom symbols and store them in the library. I'm still in the process of evaluating the release and will update this note after I've used it a bit more.
Original Review:
The designers of a package like AutoCAD FreeStyle face a classic challenge: It needs to be easy to use for a novice, with enough features to be useful, yet not so powerful that it will cannibalize sales of the high-end (and much more expensive) AutoCAD systems.After spending a couple of days using AutoCAD FreeStyle, I think the designers set the bar way too low. The interface is simple and easy to learn, but far too many features are missing for FreeStyle to be a competitive program.That's not to say that FreeStyle can't be used to produce usable drawings; it just could be much better if it included basic features that are in other systems. Let me go through some of the areas that stood out...
Symbol Library - A library is a collection of symbols that are created once and then used on multiple drawings. FreeStyle comes with a collection of prebuilt symbols that are sufficient to get started, however it's not a complete enough library for a lot of projects - when I attempted to draw my sprinkler system, I discovered that there are no sprinkler components listed. In most CAD systems, this problem is addressed by allowing the user to build custom symbols. Once they're added to the library, they can be repeatedly used in future drawings. This release of FreeStyle doesn't have that capability. The symbols that come with the program are all that you've got, and that simply isn't enough. Incidentally, what's in the library is even a little strange... the Electrical Symbols tab includes five Gas and Water symbols along with the basic electrical symbols and the Building Components section only contains six fireplace facades...I'm sure that in real life there are more building components than just those.
Paper Size and Scale - When you start a new drawing, the program asks you to select the size of the paper and the object that you' re going to draw. e.g. you pick 8.5 x 11" paper and select that the page represents a 30' x 40' space. The scale shows that ¼" equals 1'. This makes perfect sense to anybody not used to using a CAD program, but is backwards from the norm...normally a designer would select a paper size and a scale.
Splines - Splines are a way of smoothly connecting a series of points. By adjusting the "handles", you can easily draw complex curves. FreeStyle doesn't have a way of drawing with splines. The menu allows you to draw with arc segments, straight lines and freehand "doodles". You can adjust the points of inflection on the doodle and eventually get to the desired curve, but it's not as easy as it seems. True spline capability would be easier.
Radius line joins - When drawing a floor plan, most lines meet with a sharp corner, but that's not always the case. Sometimes a drawing needs to have a rounded curve joining the two lines. Most 2-D drafting systems can do that automatically, but FreeStyle lacks that capability. You can manually accomplish the same thing by drawing a small arc, but why? You're only talking about a millisecond of computer time to have the program do it for you.
Double lines for walls - Often walls in architectural drawings are shown by two parallel lines, representing the inside and outside surfaces. Freestyle doesn't have that ability built-in. To do it correctly, it's a little more complicated that just having a double line as a selectable line type....you need to specify wall thickness, join corners correctly and scale appropriately as the drawing size changes. Again, all this can be done manually, but the basic idea is to have the program save time by doing the work for you. Incidentally, the work around is to simply draw a thick solid line for walls...look at all the sample drawings for examples.
Draw a wall of a house. Now drag a window or door from the symbol library and place it onto the wall. You'd think that the wall would break and allow the object to be inserted. It doesn't. OK, now manually break the wall into two separate line segments and drag the line ends apart to create the necessary break. That would work, if there was a way to break a line into two pieces, but there isn't. So you nuke the whole side of the house and redraw two separate line segments on either side of the door. That works...until you realize that the door is 6" to the left of where it should be.
The algorithm that calculates color fills is flaky. When you drag the fill icon over a fillable area, the area is highlighted with a light version of the fill color. It's a nice idea, so you can see exactly where the color's going. Unfortunately, a single open pixel prevents an area from filling. The highlighting, though, isn't nearly so discerning. It's not unusual to have an area highlight, but fail to fill when clicking on the mouse button. I also managed to fill in an object and then select the color and move it while leaving the outline behind...it was a little strange.
There's no instruction manual. You can get help for any of the commands by selecting that command and clicking the question mark icon. Clicking on the icon showing three stacked baby letter blocks takes you to the Freestyle website where there is more detailed information. It's annoying, though, not to have something you can skim through. I was trying to figure out how to color in a tree and it wasn't until I saw a picture in the on-line help that I realized that the color was coming from a filled in circle located behind the tree.
I could add more, but you get the idea. If the product manager at AutoDesk chooses, all of these can (and should) be fixed in a future release. Until then, though, I'm only giving FreeStyle two stars. The simple user interface is right on the mark for a non-technical consumer level product. The omitted features, though, cost it dearly in the ability to produce usable and functional drawings.

Click Here to see more reviews about: AutoCAD Freestyle

AutoCAD Freestyle is the simple design tool for smart ideas. It's easy-to-use, low-cost 2D drawing software ideal for creating professional-looking drawings, layouts, and plans that you can share. No training required. It has a simple user interface, just the tools you need, and pre-drawn symbols to start drawing right away. Then you can share your drawings with nearly anyone, because AutoCAD Freestyle produces files in the same format used by AutoCAD, genuine DWG, in addition to high-quality PDF, DWF, JPEG, PNG, or BMP files for digital communication, archiving, and reuse.


The Simple Design Tool for Smart Ideas
Clearly Communicate Ideas Use AutoCAD Freestyle to deliver highly polished drawings to clients, architects, contractors, and other project partners--it's better than a hand sketch any day. Share your drawings with nearly anyone, because AutoCAD Freestyle produces files in the same format used by AutoCAD: genuine DWG. You can also more efficiently create high-quality PDF, DWF, JPEG, PNG, or BMP files for digital communication, archiving, and reuse.

Get Started Quickly It's exceptionally easy for people unfamiliar with CAD software to use AutoCAD Freestyle. Download it and start drawing right away--without any training. AutoCAD Freestyle has a simple user interface and just the tools you need to draw floor plans and layouts quickly and easily, all in one place. Check out the AutoCAD Freestyle community site to get productive faster, with support from video tutorials and user-submitted tips.

Leave No Room for Error AutoCAD Freestyle lets you draw quickly without sacrificing quality. Create accurate, detailed plans and layouts to scale with a simplified toolset for creating standard shapes (lines, arc, circle rectangle), annotating your drawings (dimension, text, fills), sketching, doodling, and inserting images and symbols. The grid on your drawing surface helps you understand spatial dimensions, such as proportion and distance, to solve problems more easily. It's just like drawing on graph paper.

Don't Start from Scratch When you use AutoCAD Freestyle, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. To save time, select from a library of pre-drawn, commonly used symbols--such as doors and windows--or insert and trace over a photograph. If you don't want to start from scratch, start with one of the sample drawings provided or download one from the AutoCAD Freestyle community site.

Built for You AutoCAD Freestyle is ideal for drawing garden and landscape designs, room addition and remodeling plans, electrical schematics, custom parts, and more. Unlike other general drawing and office productivity software, AutoCAD Freestyle is purpose-built for creating plans and layouts. If you need simplified 2D drawing software you can use without training, AutoCAD Freestyle is for you.

Key Features
Simple User Interface An intuitive user interface and straightforward icons make AutoCAD Freestyle easy to use.

No Training Required Integrated and online learning tools teach you how to use AutoCAD Freestyle while you're drawing. The AutoCAD Freestyle community siteoffers additional resources to help you get productive faster, including video tutorials and user-submitted tips.

Real-World Dimensions Create accurate, detailed drawings, plans, and layouts to scale.

Share Your Work Print your design or share it digitally as a PDF, DWF, JPEG, PNG, or BMP file.

Only the Tools You Need Start drawing right away with simple 2D drawing tools.

No Need to Start from Scratch Insert a photograph and trace over it to communicate your design ideas.

Hundreds of Predrawn Symbols Start designing right away with commonly used symbols, such as kitchen appliances, trees, and shrubs.

Create Files That CAD Professionals Use Whether you want to view files created in AutoCAD software or share your ideas with CAD professionals, it's simple because AutoCAD Freestyle is AutoCAD compatible. It produces files in the same format used by AutoCAD--DWG--which is also one of the most widely used design formats.

Windows 7 Support Use a touch-enabled device with support for Microsoft Windows 7 multi-touch functionality, including flicks.

What's New
Numeric Entry Adjust the size of an object--line, rectangle, circle, or arc--by simply entering a measurement. It's much easier than dragging the object to an exact size.

Flip Objects It's simpler to create symmetry. Make mirrored shapes by copying and then flipping objects vertically or horizontally.

Erase Using Windows Selection Erase just a selected section of an object.

DWG Support Open DWG files from AutoCAD software and other DWG-compatible applications.

Scale Multiple Objects No more dragging individual objects of a complex drawing to adjust their size. Simply select all of the objects and drag to the desired size, or right-click on it and enter a percentage.

Predrawn Content New symbols for trees, shrubs, stoves, and more help you draw faster than ever.

Rotation Grip Gives you more control while rotating an object, and provides easier-to-read feedback.

DWG Roundtrip Mode Buttons It's now easier to work with DWG files created in software other than AutoCAD Freestyle. New buttons allow you to toggle between the viewport mode and paper overlay mode so that you are always drawing to scale--even if your source DWG file is highly complex.

Get 2% OFF

Click here for more information about AutoCAD Freestyle

Read More...

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This version of Office 2008 is an improvement over Office 2004 in that it runs natively now on an Intel Mac. It is a major improvement in speed. And the stability has improved in that it has not crashed on me in the week it has been in use. Office 2004 used to crash almost daily before. If you do not have an Intel Mac do not bother with this upgrade. You are better off with Office 2004.
The look on Office 2008 is aesthetically pleasing and is more consistent with the elegant look of OSX.
That is about the best I have to say for this new upgrade. Word is so buggy I feel like I am working with a Beta version. I work a great deal with Spaces in Leopard and I have found that Word documents will jump to other windows. I have also found that when working in the notebook layout it can become unstable and partially disappear on me. The work arounds I have been using to stop this is I minimize the documents or I open another program in the Spaces window and then return to the document.
Word is still an excellent word processing program. The Notebook layout is essential for the note taking that I have to do, which other word processing programs don't have. Since I have to share documents with others it is handy to have a standard program with which to work.
The default format in Word is now Microsoft's .docx (xtml), which can be changed in the preferences to the more universal .doc.
When I have gone to the Microsoft website they have admitted that many of these problems are bugs and that they are being addressed. Another work around that MS recommended in Word was to create a new template from which to operate as it seems that the present template can be easily corrupted.
Since Office 2008 no longer works with macros and Visual Basic I have had to abandon the Excel self-calculating Invoice template I used to use all the way back to my PC days. I am now using a template that is in Pages - that works beautifully. The reason I am sticking with Excel over Numbers is that Excel is still a more powerful program. It keeps track of things that Numbers won't keep track of.
I am happier that Entourage is now more stable and responds better than the 2004 version. The My Day widget is a nice idea, but there is almost no room for customization and really makes no difference to how I organize my day.
I am left wondering if Microsoft is planning to go out of business. It seems that their products are getting worse. It is as if they have become bereft of any sense of creativity or innovation.;0) I had read that Office 2008 was designed by Mac enthusiasts. I think that was Microsoft propaganda. The impression I get is that Microsoft does not care about Mac business.
Is this a worthwhile upgrade? Not yet. If you can wait for the bugs to be worked out it will be a more satisfying upgrade. If you are dependent upon Visual Basic, or are operating on a PPC, save your money.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition

Provides the basics of Office 2008 for Mac for home users and students. Whether your projects are around the house or in the classroom, the reinvented Office 2008 for Mac experience makes it easier than ever to create professional-looking work. Includes: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage.

Get 28% OFF

Click here for more information about Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition

Read More...