Microsoft Office for Macintosh 2001 Review

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(More customer reviews)As a dedicated Mac user, I approach new Microsoft products with a healthy skepticism. However, I must have cross-platform reliability since I use Windows NT, too. So I took what I needed from MS Office 98, and I disabled the rest. Then I upgraded my Mac OS from 8.6 to 9.0 to 9.1. While Word 6.01a and PowerPoint 8.0 still worked, Excel 5.0 would not work with Mac OS 9x. Thus, I had to purchase MS Office for Mac 2001 in order to get an Excel program that would work with Mac OS 9.1 (and that I hope will work with the new Mac OS X). This software comes in a cute round plastic box, but there is no written manual included. I have found that it takes about a week or two to complete the usual de-bugging processes.
As with most "Value Packs" or "CD Extras," one needs to do a "custom install" because some of these "free" applications might be earlier versions than those which one is already running (if one has kept current with updates). As another example, I have been running Internet Explorer 5 for some time. I did not need to re-install it and re-configure my plug-ins and preferences. Also, I have Outlook Express 5.02; I did not need to re-install it. I did not like the way the these two programs "interfaced," so I have tweaked them so they that do not grab information from each other. (I highly recommend Aladdin Systems "Spring Cleaning 3.5" software's "Internet Cache Remover" feature to assist with this issue.)
With MS Office for Mac 2001, PowerPoint documents can now be "saved as" QuickTime Movies, which is a timesaver for creating presentations. This feature is quite an improvement over Office 98, even if it does grab a considerable amount of RAM. (Do check to see if you need to add more RAM to your Mac before installation of this software.) I have been keeping Virtual Memory turned on, with which I boost my RAM by 150 percent, with only a slightly detectable slowing of processing speed.
My vote is still out on the new Entourage program. I need to test it more to see if I like it, and if it will work efficiently with e-mail applications with proxies and with those behind firewalls. One bonus for Mac users has been the relative immunity to most e-mail generated viruses, worms, and trojan horses, so I plan to make the transition to Entourage with all due discretion. The ability to integrate with Palm OS is nothing new for Mac users; however, Entourage may simplify the process. ...
The instant access to "Encarta Dictionary" through Word may appeal to some users. I do not like "Encarta Dictionary" very much, although it is an improvement over the dictionary that was included in Word 6.01a. I prefer to use the only CD-ROM dictionary that I believe works with Mac OS at present, which is "The Oxford English Dictionary" 2nd ed. (However, it still seems necessary to keep it as the resident CD-ROM for it to work with the Mac OS.)
Finally, the main drawback to MS Office for Mac 2001 is that there is no manual in print now for users who run Mac OS 9.1. So be prepared to do your de-bugging, tweaking, and navigating without much written help until the various "after-market" print manuals are updated and reissued.

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Microsoft Office 2001 was created specifically for Macintosh and designed to give you all the tools you need, simply and effectively. Office 2001 contains Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the new Entourage e-mail and personal information manager. With these four tightly integrated programs and innovative Mac features, Office 2001 makes everything you do--from completing common tasks to managing information to communicating--easier than ever. Use Word to create stylish, innovative, professional documents for print publishing or the Web. Use Excel's comprehensive tool set to create, analyze, and share spreadsheets. Easily analyze your data with charts, PivotTable views, and graphs, then post your data to the Web for universal viewing. With PowerPoint, you can create powerful presentations quickly. And with Entourage, you have a personal e-mail and scheduling manager. All are designed for the Macintosh and its innovative and familiar functionality.

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QuickBooks Pro 2006 for Mac Review

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(More customer reviews)I really wanted to like this product. After one year, summarily, they've added Address Book syncing. Great, that's fine. It sounded like it had most of the modern features of its sister Windows product, except two fully functioning features that are critical:
Payroll and online banking.
As for payroll, you can either sign up for a monthly service, or if you have a recent PowerBook, use the included Aatrix's highly confusing and outdated TopPay software package (with expensive yearly tax-table updates).
Online banking is NOT well implemented here. Some folks can use Direct Connect, others cannot. Though this is no fault of Intuit, but rather the banks' lack of web services, Intuit could still open up their QuickBooks format to CSV, or QIF. Worse, there's a transaction "purgatory" register. Yes, that's a SECOND register for your banks' downloaded QBO file. You then manually go through each transaction to add it to your corresponding register. There's no command-key equivalent to add all, or even a single one: you have to select an item, then click a button. COMPLETELY INELEGANT.
There are some overpaid product managers out there. They would do well to hire interface designers/art directors/graphic designers (NOT decorators).
A major disappointment.

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QuickBooks: Pro 2006 for Mac helps you easily and accurately manage your accounting tasks, so you can save time and focus on your core business.New and improved features in 2006 will help you boost your efficiency and accuracy.

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Suse Linux Professional 9.2 Review

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(More customer reviews)First, for those of you who wonder if your PC can run SuSE, go to ftp://ftp.gtlib.cc.gatech.edu/pub/suse/suse/i386/live-cd-9.2 and download either SUSE-Linux-9.2-LiveCD-KDE.iso or SUSE-Linux-9.2-LiveCD-KDE.iso. You can burn these to a CD and then boot into a live SuSE system. Nothing will be installed, and it is a great litmus test to see if SuSE 9.2 will work as you expect on your target system. If it works as expected, then purchase 9.2 Pro and install it on your system.
Second, keep in mind that Linux is not Windows. It never has been and it never will be. If you want the features of Windows with the security of Linux, but you want it in a turn-key system, then buy a Mac. With a Mac you get ease of use as well as key Microsoft applications such as Word. The only problem with this is you are buying both hardware and software.
Third, today's distributions want contemporary hardware. If your system is running Windows 9x, then there's a good chance you'll have problems installing SuSE 9.2. The same thing can be said, however, for WinXP, especially with service pack 2.
Finally, with Linux, you need to know what you're doing and you need to have a real reason to change. If you are happy with your Windows system, don't buy any Linux. If you're having problems with your Windows installation make sure it isn't something that can be easily fixed. If you're a casual user, then by all means be very careful with Linux. It will bite you. But if you have a real need for a feature or features found in Linux, and you're comfortable with the idea of fixing a problem that may show up, go ahead and install SuSE 9.2. I run it and I'm quite happy with it. I would be more than happy to help others install and run it as well. But I always make sure that folks know exactly what they're getting into. I'm a OS pragmatist, not an Linux evangelist.

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SUSE LINUX Professional 9.2 from Novell combines a fast, secure operating system and more than 1,000 popular open source applications. It is the first complete Linux package to harness both the improved Linux kernel 2.6 and the recently enhanced KDE 3.3 and GNOME 2.6 user desktop environments.Ideal for Linux enthusiasts and developers, SUSE LINUX Professional 9.2 improves support for mobile users and delivers a host of essential tools. Wherever you go, you can use it to browse the Web, create and share documents, work with graphics and multimedia files, configure home networks and develop applications. And if you are considering deploying Linux in your business, SUSE LINUX Professional 9.2 gives you an exciting preview of upcoming open source technologies, many of which will soon be available in enterprise Linux products from Novell.

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Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Design Premium Upgrade Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a long-time fan of Adobe, and eagerly anticipated CS3. I hoped they would work out the many Macromedia bugs, but they managed to add a few of their own! And the promised product integration simply isn't there:
The Dreamweaver inteface is unchanged, except for renaming the Layers panel, and adding a new Objects tab. It won't correctly display interactivity in a SWF preview (the first click works; subsequent click are treated as a right-click, showing the FlashPlayer drop-down menu rather than the functionality in the SWF!)
Photoshop may be the reason most people upgrade, but its most touted new feature--non-destructive filters--is implemented very poorly. Rather than working like adjustment layers currently work, SmartFilters, as they are known, convert the underlying Photoshop layer into a SmartObject and places the SmartFilter on top. You CS2 users know that you can't edit a SmartObject in Photoshop--you have to go to the object's native application. So to edit the image under a SmartFilter, Photoshop opens it in a new document window (meaning you can't see its interaction with layers underneath as you edit it, and can't see how the various SmartFilters make the changed composition look until you save and return to the original document.
Flash was the reason I purchased this upgade: I was elated about importing layered PSDs and AI files. PSDs work great; AI files cause Flash to crash! (and Adobe tech support will not even respond)
Flash added a couple of new tools: shape primitives, which came from Macromedia Freehand: they allow you to easily edit the corner radius of a rectangle long after it's drawn--even editing each corner independently!
But do they offer a Primitive Star or Polygon tool like Freehand had (which allows you to edit the number of sides on stars and polygons)?
No.
Are the new Primitive Shape tools in Illustrator or Photoshop?
No.
Are the tear-off tool sets from Illustrator and ImageReady CS2 in Photoshop or InDesign CS3?
No.
Speaking of ImageReady, does it exist anymore?
No.
Can Photoshop CS3 open and edit multiple frames of an animated GIF?
No!(Don't delete ImageReady from your hard drive yet!)
Can you move the new collapsable tool panels onto your second monitor?
No.
Does Flash correctly auto-format ActionScript?
No.
Can you open an InDesign CS3 document in CS2 if no CS3 features were used (would be useful for all the non-early-adopters, such as printers receiving the jobs files)?
No.
Can you open a Flash CS3 .FLA with Flash 8, even if no CS3 features were used?
No.
Should you buy CS3?
No.
Not even at the academic price. It's a beta-version at best; wait for CS4.
UPDATE: A week later I'm STILL waiting for Adobe's reply, even after opening a second support case! It's like they outsourced their software development and support to Microsoft.

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Adobe CS3 Design Premium Mac Upgrade.Upgrade from Creative Suites Premium or Standard or Studio 8.

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Pc Tools Spyware Doctor 2007 Sb Cs By Pc Tools Review

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(More customer reviews)I had Norton Securities and was hijacked by one of those super computer hackers, Instead of "Lan" my computer was looking for "Wan", I already knew Norton was not so great but I was offered a good deal so I tried the new Norton. But yet again, Norton could not fix it. I then tried AT&T Securities, No Luck, Then I downloaded the "Free" version of Spyware Doctor. It removed the problem along with a lot of others that Norton or AT&T didn't find. I highly recommend Spyware Doctor!

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Item #: K65203. Winner of multiple awards from leading tech magazines, PC Tools Spyware Doctor provides the best protection against unwanted spyware other privacy threats. Defend your privacy from prying eyes and virtual trespassers with the most up to date and complete protection for your PC.A recent anti-spyware product comparison found Spyware Doctor to be the most effective in blocking spyware. The advanced tools work intuitively to block potential threats from entering your computer, while allowing trusted software and websites to run without unnecessary and intrusive alerts.Spyware Doctor can quickly and seamlessly update all critical aspects of the program, along with the threat database, through the proprietary update feature. You get the latest tools and signatures without waiting for a new version release or the need to reinstall the program, giving you the most up-to-date protection available.Spyware Doctor employs advanced technology that can safely go deep into your computer to detect and destroy spyware. Multiple and specialized scanners are designed to identify a wide range of privacy threats while intelli-signatures catch known and new, yet to be defined threat variants.Spyware Doctor is designed to quickly install and run without interrupting your computer activity. The straightforward interface walks you through the program where you can choose to easily customize the expert settings yourself or have them run automatically. Product Description: Spyware Doctor 2007 - complete packageCategory: Security applicationsSubcategory: Security - intrusion and vulnerability detection, security - adware & malware removal toolsLicense Type: Complete packageLicense Qty: 1 userLicense Pricing: StandardPlatform: WindowsDistribution Media: CD-ROMPackage Type: RetailOS Required: Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft

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Roxio Videowave Movie Creator Review

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(More customer reviews)This s/w came free on a new Dell computer. I've been transferring footage of a show done at my children's primary school to DVD. Goal is to produce relatively simple DVDs with about 2 hours of material, so NOT at full DVD quality. Have spent quite a few hours working on about 3 hours of material. Primarily used capture mode and the Story Line Editor; never used CineMagic or Story Line Builder.
It came installed, so I had no problems there. Applied an upgrade from the RVWMC site with no major difficulties.
The inital small spash screen remains on the screen long after the software has loaded, and clicking on its "x" does nothing. Just one of many annoyances.
The capture feature works ok and (unlike some others) RVWMC will allow capture of video in DVI format. However, it has what appears to be a poor MPEG encoder judging from results. I wanted to encode at a modest bit rate that will allow me to cram two hours onto a DVD. Experimented with different rates but it looked quite poor at low rates when compared to what Sonic could produce (see below).
Trim mode is pretty good - allowing precision of trimming down to the level of a single frame (half frame? dunno, I'm not Dr. Video). This is very useful, another advance over others.
The story line editor allows me to string clips together. Easy to get lost on a long story line; the individual pieces are not numbered and it only shows 7 at a time, with (as far as I can tell) no way to zoom out to get a feel for it.
My major gripe is that RVWMC has pieces of major features but they feel partially completed, not fully tested, not quite ready. For example, it can do a rolling credit with a variable font -- pretty nice if you're content with a few lines. But the textbox that accepts the text simply stops accepting characters after about 30 lines. Then what? For example, right-clicking on a piece of the story line shows a properties window, and various text boxes allow you to put the cursor in them -- but you cannot change anything. For example, you can put a solid frame in the story line and put plain text on top of it, but you cannot edit the text - the Done button cannot be clicked.
The lack of support is simply exasperating. Roxio points the finger at Dell in my case, but (as you can imagine) Dell's call center in India has nothing to offer. ...
Even on my relatively capable machine it feels slow. Switching among tasks takes seconds sometimes, which is longer than it should. What is it doing?
By comparison, for simple tasks, Sonic's MyDVD has fewer options but a better MPEG encoder, and in general works far more smoothly with fewer glitches and crashes. Sonic's "good" mode (basically VCD bit rate, I think) still looks acceptable. I finally gave up on RVWMC for this project and used Sonic.
Don't spend much money on this one, that's my advice.
Full details: my Roxio VideoWave Movie Creator has version stamp 1,6,676,1 according to Help/About. Running on a WinXP box, 2.4Ghz, 512Mb, lots of disc.

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Adobe Photoshop 7.0 (Mac) Review

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(More customer reviews)Adobe Photoshop 7.0 was a significant leap over 6.0. One great new tool is the Liquify filter, which lets you directly manipulate images. Obviously, Photoshop is the De Facto standard for image editing, and likely always will be. Since this is the last version that works with OS 9 anyways, it's not like I could use CS (though I've tried CS, and don't particularly like it).
Version 7.0.1 is very often faster than Photoshop CS is, so it's a good thing to have for very large files.
Invaluable... nothing beats it. Nothing.

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With each new version of Photoshop, Adobe never fails to come up with an awe-inspiring mix of great new features, productivity enhancements, and tweaks and treats. Version 7 is no exception. The major difference between this and earlier versions is that Photoshop 7 is Mac OS X compatible. Other main points of interest include a new healing brush that removes facial wrinkles and other surface blemishes with incredible ease, a long-awaited file browser that allows you to view image thumbnails and metadata, enhanced Web features, automatic color correction, and even a spell checker. One of Photoshop's many strengths is the versatility of its tools, and this has been stretched to new limits. Filter previews are bigger, the Liquify tool has been enhanced, brush parameters have been extended, and commonly used tool settings can be saved as presets. This means you can virtually do away with the toolbox, instead selecting tools with exactly the settings you need from the presets palette. Image Ready, Photoshop's Web-authoring and export module, remains a separate, linked application. Creation of rollovers is simpler and a new "selected" rollover state takes some of the repetitive strain out of nav-bar production. New output options include Picture Package, which allows you to print multiple images on a single page, and new templates and security watermarking for Web galleries. All in all, this is an upgrade guaranteed to keep Photoshop at the cutting edge of professional image editing. --Ken McMahon

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Norton Systemworks 2009 Premier Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I upgraded thinking that my "old" 2005 version just HAD to be running out of gas. Most of the features are similar to the old. Defrag runs at about the same speed and looks to be the same. Antivirus is MUCH better and checks the Symantec web site about every 15 minutes for updates. It doesn't scan the whole file system any faster than it used to, however. What threw me was that they hid Ghost. When I go to the Symantec toolbar on the installed programs menu, it says "empty". Well it is still there but it is called Backup and Restore. But don't turn loose the whole Backup and Restore with its schedule unless you are prepared to wait a LONG time every few days. Backup and Restore take its piece of the machine from the top and everything else running appears as slow as Molasses!! And the "compare" it makes with the previous backup is glacial. After half an hour and 3% completed, I cancelled it. It would have taken all night at that speed!. So I used the hidden Ghost to still do backups but I do it just like I used to. I manually do it every two weeks, and I save the previous one as well as the new on my external hard drive so that I always have two to fall back on. From what I can tell (haven't tested it) the Recovery CD that comes with SystemWorks will still boot from the CD drive for real disasters and it should "unwrap" my Ghost backup to a new hard drive if that ever became necessary. This time I installed Checkit and it seems great. I had forgotten to in 2005. All in all a solid product once you tell it who is boss!!

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Norton SystemWorksPremier provides fast, continuous protection against malicious threats, backs up everything on your PC, and boosts your computer's performance. Working quickly and quietly in the background, the included full version of Norton AntiVirus 2009 software has been completely re-engineered and sets a new standard for speed in its defense against viruses, spyware worms, bots, and other malicious threats. Rapid pulse updates and new Norton Insight utilize extensive online intelligence to target only those processes at risk, resulting in faster, fewer, and shorter scans. The new Norton Protection System employs a multilayered set of security technologies that work in concert to detect, identify, and block threats. The included full version of Norton Save & Restore 2.0 uses powerful disk imaging technology from Norton Ghost to create full system and file backups. If disaster strikes, you can quickly restore from system failures and recover lost or damaged files. Incremental and differential backups reduce system slowdown by backing up only files that have changed. And advanced compression and encryption minimize storage space and help keep sensitive documents safe. Norton SystemWorks utilities boost your PC's performance and keep it running at an optimized level. The utilities tools diagnose and fix Windows errors; defragment, clean, and repair hard drives; and remove unwanted Internet clutter such as cookies and web files. System Optimizer allows you to customize Windows settings according to the way you use your PC, and Process Viewer shows applications that are running to help you identify programs that are affecting performance.

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Norton AntiVirus 2002 Review

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(More customer reviews)For years I have used Mcafee and been totally satisfied. Then about a year ago, I got a new computer that came with Norton AntiVirus on it. It worked well enough but I still preferred Mcafee. Then one of the big viruses started going around and I couldn't get my files clean. So I stayed with Norton and got Norton AntiVirus 2002 and man this is awesome. I installed and ran a scan and it cleaned up over 200 infected files. I haven't had a problem with my computer since.
One of the neat features I really like about this AntiVirus is that it will scan any e-mail as you are receiving and will get rid of any virus detected in the e-mail. If it can't be fixed, it will quarantine it for you or you can just not receive the e-mail. I had that happen a few times so far. It also will make sure any e-mail you are sending is checked and cleaned and if it can't fix it, it won't send it. It's just a relief knowing you aren't getting infected files on your computer and you aren't sending them to anyone else.
Another nice feature is the Live Update feature. The one I had just notified you that you needed to update Antivirus, but you had to do it manually. Norton AntiVirus 2002 will automatically update and install the new changes for you.
Basically, it will do everything the Norton AntiVirus has always done, but has added new features (like the 2 mentioned above) and improved on an already solid product.
So yes, I am converted over from Mcafee now. Norton AntiVirus 2002. Buy it now and get the maximum protection available.

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Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 (Mac) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had it for a couple of days now, but there are a number of things about PE4 that make the transition from version 3 to 4 needlessly difficult, not to mention if you get PE4 first.
The main change involves the use of "Bridge" to handle what the Browser function did previously. Unfortunately, it seems there are some missing planks in their Bridge, as it's like having 2 separate programs attempt to talk to hand off files to each other. It is clunky, not intuitive at all, and often doesn't work in a consistent way, even when you figure it out.
According to Adobe Technical Help [when you can reach them through 3 or 4 layers of sales beforehand], there is no "Organizer" for Mac that comes with the Windows version, and they were surprised at a number of missing elements in this version as a result. It also seems that they've tried to piggyback an existing full Photoshop program--Bridge--onto the back of Elements, which despite appearances, is a completely different program.
Another example: the Adjust Shadows/Highlights--which allows you to correct for things in shadows, or too bright...buried in a 3rd level menu...has been changed from the PE3 default of "50% lighten" to a "25% lighten" with no ability to change that preset. So everytime you want to adjust your picture, you have to push the slider back to 0% and start out there to see what's best for your photo. Clearly Adobe recognized their 50% preset was too much for most, and changed it--but left off the ability of the user to preset what works best for us. What's the solution to this or any other inflexible/confusing issue? I was told several times that if I wanted things to work better, I should buy the full Photoshop.
That is simply unacceptable, especially for a company of Adobe's size and history of working primarily on the Mac platform. I would rather have fewer features that work more reliably and straightforward, especially involving putting our most used features on a toolbar instead of being forced to grab them out of deep menus everytime.
In Bridge, they are trying to combine a number of features found in iPhoto, such as rating photos by stars, making it more flexible. However, they don't allow you to customize your displays or views enough to be efficient, much less easy to deal with. The speed of Bridge, and especially interacting with 4, is slow. Also particularly irksome is the lack of sensitivity/responsiveness of the sliders within PE4, i.e. brush size and opacity.
So far, I'm not impressed with the Magic Selection Tool, one of the main reasons I wanted to upgrade. It doesn't seem to grab things as efficiently as advertised, although it is better than just the Magic Wand 3 had. I'm also less than impressed with another new feature: Adjust Skin Tone, something that could be a big time saver while offering the improvements most people care about.
The combined Help program is overly detailed in some regards, yet leaves out big chunks of the program for you to guess at solutions. They have virtually no tutorials or overviews of the program specifically for the Mac version.
I will update this review as I use it more, but I would caution against jumping at this upgrade until they work out more of the kinks in the interface, unless you are a virtual pro and don't mind spending a lot of time figuring things out that aren't quite Ready For Primetime yet. What I look to PE for is something that allows more extensive editing than iPhoto6 has, and yet doesn't have the complexity or cost of the graphics standard Photoshop.
Whether because of the Mac platform changing to Intel chips, or friction between the companies, it seems Adobe is heading in the wrong direction on the Mac platform, making us seem once again like the red-haired stepchild in the computer world, while still charging the same as the Windows versions.

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Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 software for Macintosh combines power and simplicity to help you do it all. Edit and enhance your photos by fixing common flaws instantly or using advanced options for more control—you can even fine-tune the raw files produced by your digital camera. Keep every photo at your fingertips with intuitive search and viewing options. And show off your creativity to family and friends in entertainingways, including cards, calendars, and more.

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Ubuntu 8.10 Review

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(More customer reviews)There's nothing on this DVD you can't download for free, but you might still wish to buy it for the convenience of having a disk and to send a little cash to Canonical, the sponsor of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a Linux operating system. Ubuntu Linux is not a version of Windows even though it runs on the same kind of computer. If your computer was a radio, then Windows would be AM and Linux would be FM. You can use either one, but only one can be the native operating system at a time. You can listen to news on AM radio and you can listen to news on FM radio but you can't listen to AM stations on FM. Generally, if your program runs only on Windows, it won't run on Linux. (If you look too closely at this analogy, it will fall to pieces from all the exceptions.) But that doesn't mean you can't get work done.
I like Ubuntu because I use it to to edit and layout a monthly newsletter with OpenOffice.org, an 'office' suite. I use Thunderbird to handle email, including an address book, custom filters & folders, and multiple accounts. I use Picasa to organize my photo collection. I use GIMP to create graphics to use on web pages and other places and to edit/touch-up photos. I play card games and an online tank fighting game. I listen to mp3s. I can read/write DVDs and CDs. I can rip DVDs to .avi files that will play on my pda. I use Slimserver to stream music to my home audio system, with custom playlists. I can watch TV shows on the website Hulu.com.
I have entered data for a vast family tree using GRAMPS. GRAMPS can import and export GEDCOMs and can create a multitude of customized reports about your family tree.
I use Pidgin to keep in touch with friends on AIM, and Firefox lets me use MySpace and Facebook, etc. I also upload and watch videos on YouTube, read RSS feeds, and create photo books on Shutterfly using the Firefox browser.
I can open, read, and write .doc, .xls, and .ppt files from MS-Office using OpenOffice and share them with colleagues. I can read and create pdf files, too.
All of the software I've mentioned above either comes free on the Ubuntu disk or you can download and add it for free using Synaptic, the software installer.
Probably the best thing about using Linux is the complete absence of nag-ware. Your computer programs won't constantly nag you to "set this application as the default for X type of file" or to upgrade to the version that actually works. Linux, and the applications on it, were created by people who use the programs. They don't like intrusive ads, pop-ups, and nag-ware anymore than you do. You can't buy software like this.
The system for adding and removing software, called Synaptic, is elegant and easy to use.
Ubuntu is not without flaws. If you know what hardware you want to use, Google around and find out if it will work with Ubuntu-- sometimes there aren't drivers for certain kinds of hardware. What that means is that your wifi card or your printer may not play nicely with Ubuntu. Check first!
I have yet to find a Linux video editor for use by non-experts. The video editing software I have found generally demands a higher level of familiarity with the technical specifications of digital video than I have come close to achieving. I have to use a different operating system to make video DVDs of home movies & slides. That's not to say it's impossible with Linux; it's just impossible for me with Linux.
There is a large and active Ubuntu web forum where I have been happy to find answers to my questions and very little of the geek arrogance that used to be so prevalent on the USENET linux newsgroups.
Ubuntu Linux is a great product, with free upgrades and updates, and an enthusiastic user community that will help you make the most of it. It is as easy to learn as any new operating system-- if you made the jump from Windows 95 to Windows XP, or you taught yourself how to use XP, then you can use Ubuntu. But remember, Ubuntu is not, and is not trying to be, a Windows operating system. If you can live with that, and you're willing to learn how it works, you should be very happy.


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Ubuntu is an operating system consisting of free and open source software. With Ubuntu you can surf the web, read email, create documents, spreadsheets and more! Ubuntu gives you the power and flexibility for business, education and home use.Ubuntu is easy to install, free of viruses and perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. The DVD will install in a number of widely-spoken languages, with support for many more available to download. Ubuntu is community developed, commercially supported and offers free maintenance updates after release. This version will receive updates for the next 18 months. When the next version is released, you can upgrade to it for free. This is a double sided DVD. One side is for x86 (or 32-bit) based systems including Intel Pentium, Intel Core and AMD Athlon. Choose this if you are unsure. The other side is a 64-bit version of Ubuntu which will run on AMD64 or Intel64 based computers (including AMD Athlon64 and Intel Core 2).Comprehensive DVD with desktop and server installation, alternate installation modes (e.g. OEM install), plus supported add-on software and translations for over 100 spoken languages.Office productivity suite, web browser and email for your everyday needs. Instant messaging, image editing and various tools for accessing and managing your multimedia files. A selection of server applications, including email and database servers and cluster management tools

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Native Instruments TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO Review

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(More customer reviews)I use Traktor Scratch Probably 5-6 times a week working on new mixes in my studio and performing for crowds and it hasn't crashed on me a single time, and this is using Windows 7 with my Dell Studio XPS 1640 with 4gig of RAM. The sound quality coming from the Audio 8 DJ is crisp and clear with very very low latency. I have used Torq, Serato Scratch Live and now Traktor Scratch Pro and I can say for spinning house/electro I like Traktor the best. For hip hop I do like Serato Scratch, something about having the wave forms side by side heading in the same direction makes it easier for me. But you really don't need it for House music. Having the capability of 4 tracks is epic when I'm playing samples or acapellas over another track. Also having 4 effects units that can work in a chain is pretty cool too. The digital vinyl is incredibly accurate, although I do like Serato's accuracy a little better, they're still both very very good.
You can midi assign just about every function in this program. What's nice too is using modifiers, a MIDI assigned key or button doesn't have to be used for the same function. Using combinations of keys/buttons you can have one button/key/knob perform multiple tasks, such as Dry/Wet or scrolling through the effects list.
Overall I have very very few complaints with this program, and the complaints I have are minor. In my opinion this is the best DVS on the market. There's a reason DJ's like Sharam, Pete Tong, Carl Cox, Umek, and Nick Fanciulli all use this program.

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Native Instruments TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO is built on the same hardware components as its predecessor, TRAKTOR SCRATCH, and is professional in every area. The TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO DJ system is built to last and made 100% for the club, providing rock-solid and reliable components, from the Audio 8 DJ Interface to the supplied control media and cables.TRAKTOR PROTRAKTOR PRO allows you to mix digital files on four decks, using the high-quality internal mixer or external hardware, and an incredible effects suite. It elevates your mix by integrating industry-standard workflows into a redesigned user interface,along with automatic beat-grinding of tracks, advanced beat detection, sync lock, and more. Among its other features are 21 professional effects, auto loop, a full-featured 4-channel mixer that emulates the Xone: 92, real-time track management, and supports multiple MIDI controllers and assignments.Audio 8 DJ InterfaceThe beating heart of TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO, this interface has incredible connectivity, super high-end audio quality, convenient status LEDs, and a rock solid, compact design. It has 8 high-gain outputs (4 x stereo) for mixing up to 4 decks via an external DJ mixer, or for routing signals to outboard effects. It also has 8 inputs for hooking up 2 turntables, 2 DJ CD players, or 2 turntable/CD decks, plus outboard gear and/or a microphone. It has MIDI In/Out, and a USB socket to connect to your Mac or PC for even more options. The Audio 8 DJ Interface uses Cirrus Logic AD/DA converters with 24-bit/96kHz resolution for high-quality sound; has ultra-low latency drivers; a high-gain headphone output with volume controller and source selector; and 20 status LEDs on top to provide full visual control.Control MediaTRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO closes the gap between digital and analog DJing. The control signal is formatted onto special CDs and vinyl, and feels like the digital file is cut into the wax. The media has a 2kHz carrier frequency, which offers twice as much tracki

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WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs Tiger (I) Review

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(More customer reviews)I work with computers all day long. Tried for 4 hours to get this to work on a desktop with Windows XP Pro without any success. I was able to get it to run on a laptop with Vista Ultimate after downloading several patches from the Microsoft site and installing two "dll" registry files. Not recommended to a novice. If you look on the programming company's site you will see many complaints to them that never get answered. Good Luck !!!


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The tank simulation WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger takes place in Belarus during the summer of 1944, in which the Soviet Union launched Operation Bagration, the Belarusian offensive, against the retreating German Wehrmacht. After Kursk, this was the most significant struggle of the two tank armies and resulted in the complete destruction of the German Army Group Center and the Soviet recapture of all territories within their 1941 borders. The player can experience the battlefield from within the Russian T-34 and the German Tiger, with fully animated 3D interiors and playable Driver, Gunner and Commander positions. The tanks' dynamics include realistic physics, accurate ballistics and elaborate damage models. Interior models feature historically accurate gun-sight optics. The vast Belarusian landscape of the early 20th century, with its rolling hills, villages and large forests was carefully recreated from historical reference photos and maps. The rich battlefield environment includes AI controlled Russian and German tanks, infantry, armored-personnel-carriers, anti-tank-guns and airplanes. Stunning special effects, such as explosions, fires and smoke, the ability to completely destroy vehicles and buildings, all combine to create a lifelike combat environment. Features German and Russian Campaign missions are based on Operation Bagration, the codename for the Soviet Belarusian Offensive during World War II. Control your tank from fully modelled and animated 3D positions. driver, gunner and commander. AI controlled vehicles include: T-34/85, T-34/76, Tiger, Sk.Kfz.251, M3A1,ZIS-5, Opel Blitz, ZIS-3, Pak. 40, IL-2, FW-190. ***SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS *** Microsoft Windows XP / Vista, CPU 3.0 GHz, 1 GB RAM (2 GB for Vista), 1x speed DVD-ROM drive or better, 2GB of free Harddisk space, nVidea GeForce 6600 or ATI Radeon 9600 (128 MB), DirectX version 9.0c.

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IBM VIAVOICE for Mac OS X USB Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased ViaVoice for Mac Enhanced version and immediately had problems with it. Foolishly I upgraded to ViaVoice for Mac OS X, release 3, and thought the problems would be over. I was wrong. This software has very poor overall performance. It slows, hangs and freezes at the drop of a hat. There is no rhythme or reason to the freezes. I've tried stoping and restarting, reloading, various combinations, and it never seems to work properly. Being a Mac Addict since 1986 I think I know a thing or two about this system. It's not a user issue, it's a software issue!

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IBM ViaVoice for Mac OS X brings natural continuous speech voice dictation to Apple's highly anticipated Mac OS X. Optimized to work with this cutting-edge UNIX-based operating system IBM ViaVoice for Mac OS X brings a new level of accuracy and ease of use to voice recognition on the Apple Macintosh computer platform. All aspects of Mac OS X including the new Command Center and re-designed Voice Center use the Aqua OS X look and feel. Mac OS X Edition is also optimized for use with G4 and multiprocessors. Support is also available for specialized vocabularies such as legal and medical.Users can dictate correct edit and format text with their natural voice in the IBM ViaVoice speech-enabled word processor SpeakPad. They can also take advantage of the new DSR technology which enables direct dictation into text-fields of Mac applications with correction and editing in SpeakPad.Mac OS X Edition also provides voice command and control of the Internet so users can move back and forth between Web sites. An enhanced Speech Recognition Engine takes advantage of Mac OS X audio features and provides for faster enrollment than previous IBM ViaVoice for Mac products.System Requirements:Mac OS X version 10.1300 MHz G3 processor or higher*192 MB RAM (256 RAM recommended)600 MB of available hard drive spaceUSB portAudio output jack or USB speakersCD-ROM drive or DVD driveFormat: MAC 10.0 OR LATER Genre:PRODUCTIVITY Rating:NR UPC:780420105355 Manufacturer No:H501A-G00-3.0

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Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 (Mac) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you already have version 2 of Photoshop Elements, don't waste your money upgrading to version 3 unless you want to pay the full amount to use a healing brush insted of the cloning stamp.
Most of the new functionality is geared towards Windows users with the new Organizer and its cataloging, scrapbooking, cards, and calendars features. The Organizer is NOT available to Mac users. Photoshop Elements remains great software for digital darkroom work, but Adobe has elected to leave Mac users out in the cold with respect to providing tools to easily do something creative with the pictures once they have been digitally processed.

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Adobe Elements 3.0 Image Edit Software for Windows is the third version of this amazingly popular Digital image and photo Editing application. It's no wonder really. Adobe's Photoshop Elements series is geared to you, the casual user, seeking access to image enhancement tools that are simple and easy. While ease-of-use is the key, PE3 adds more power. Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 software now provides powerful photo editing functionality plus intuitive organizing and sharing capabilities. Make quick fixes when you need to or use advanced editing options when you want more control. Organize the way you want and show off your creativity with new dynamic slide shows, themed photo e-mail, and more. Zero in on the best of many similar photos while viewing them side by side using Photo CompareMake compelling slide shows with transitions, captions, music, and narrationSend your photos displayed within your e-mail instead of as attachments, and include decorative backgrounds and frames in a variety of themes

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MobileMe Family Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)MobileMe Family Pack I had just purchased and signed up for Mobile Me a few days before my hard drive on my MacBook crashed. I had good backups of everything but my address book and contacts. Fortunately, those were all stored on my MobileMe account "in the cloud". After getting the new hard drive (thank you Apple Care) and reloaded my OSX operating system) & programs, I synced my computer with MobileMe *just like magic* all of my calendar appointments & contact information were just there. How cool is that?
If you have an iPhone and don't have MobileMe you are just simply missing out on one of the best parts of the service. In addition to the sync capabilities, you have access to iDisk which will give you a place to store photos and files that are accessible from any web browser. You will also have access to your calendar, contacts & email from any browser.
This is a hard-to-beat service and I would highly recommend the Family pack if you have more than one iPhone in the family.

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Mackie Tracktion 3 Ultimate Bundle, ¹ Review

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(More customer reviews)This is hardly the first good bit of software that has been abandoned by its developer. That doesn't mean that it isn't worth the time and $$... especially at the reduced price. I have played with many DAWs and find this one to be the easiest to jump into and create. Sure there are better programs out there, but they typically have steep learning curves. At the very least, Tracktion 3 is a good learning tool for aspiring home producers. Once you get the hang of music production, you can move to the $300-$500 programs others try to compare this to... or go with the graphically minimalist approach to production in a product like Reaper.
2 Cons:
The developer is no longer updating this product. The only support for it will be found on 3rd party online forums like KVR, but have been sufficient for my needs/problems. But considering there are thousands of users out there happily using other software from many years back that no longer get updates/fixes.... this should not be a huge problem.
This product has been unstable on SOME computers. Like most software, it prefers some systems over others... with the only sensible trends of DO NOT USE ON A MAC and this was not made for the newest multi-core processors. If you have a 2+ yr old computer or are running XP or Vista Home, you should have no problems.
And the best part is that you can download a demo of T3 to see for yourself how easy it is (granted, the SWA tutorial on YouTube really helps). But buy this soon, considering supplies of it are running out everywhere.

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If you like sifting through endless menus and windows to make music, Tracktion 3 is not for you. Based on a simple, single-screen interface, Tracktion is the fast, powerful, complete solution for turning your ideas into finished songs. And unlike the competition, Tracktion 3 comes with all the power and plug-ins you'll ever need. So if you want to keep your music flowing—not locked in menus or limitations—you've come to the right place.Composition is the first part of the music-making process, and it's also the most important. If you're like many musicians, you don't want your audio software to simply document your performances; you also want it to inspire them. So Tracktion 3 music software serves up everything you need to get your creative juices flowing, right at your fingertips.When it's time to dig in and actually record something is when you'll realize how different Tracktion 3 is from other audio software. If you've never recorded audio into your computer, you'll be amazed at how quickly Tracktion 3 lets you get going—creating real music within minutes. That's because unlike most other music software, which is designed around analog mixer concepts and routing, Tracktion 3 is truly different. It uses a simple, single-screen interface for all basic recording and editing operations—with a property panel that follows your every move, providing pertinent information for the task at hand.Once tracks have been recorded, it's time to see if they cut the mustard. Thankfully, Tracktion 3 has some of the best mustard-cutting technology out there. That's because Tracktion's editing power is as good, as or better than, software costing hundreds of dollars more, yet it retains Tracktion's hallmark ease of use. As with most non-destructive editing software, Tracktion's editing allows you to undo and redo your edits to your heart's content—so there's never any fear of messing up your song.A new Marker Track allows display of all your markers in

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