5 comments about ClipArt&More 3 Million.

1. I got this once and there really aren't any good images on the cd-rom. It is an activation code for clipart.com. I used it for a year and have been able to find a bunch of images using the site. $32 for a year is much better than getting the subscription on the website ($170!!) If you don't mind not having images on a cd-rom then this is decent, just download all you can in a year and burn them to a cd yourself. I find searching on the website easier than trying to hunt something down on a cd anyway.



2. This isn't worth the amount of paper it took to make the box. The box advertises "Search by: Animals, Sports, Science, etc." and makes statements like "Locate the right image fast!" and "Every piece ... is key worded and cross-referenced..." Yet the Windows software and the Mac software provided for looking at and finding images are just file browsers with absolutely no way of finding anything. The file names are also non-descriptive. Many images are identical with slight variations on colors or rotation. My teenager laughed at the images and said that he could draw better and I don't doubt him. This is a true "pig in a poke".



3. Totally agree with the other reviews.
   
   The physical product you receive in the mail is really useless. Disc one contains a software program that should allow you to search the other two discs in the set. Those, by the way, contain wire-framed art (looks rendered back in 1980)and some bad sound effects. So, totally NOT what I was expecting (and thus the poor rating).
   
   This is basically paying $39.95 for a one year membership to a great web site that will cost $169.95 per year thereafter.
   
   Regardless of whether the value is worth what you get (and it probably is), the offer and product are still not clear.



4. I bought this product looking for an inexpensive home clip art collection. What I received was three discs that I basically can't access and a one year subscription to a clip art service I probably won't get my money's worth out of. What an extreme disappointment. The least IMSI could have done was actually stated this is a subscription service you are buying. I will not buy from IMSI again. They don't advertise the truth with their product. I'll stick to Nova. I've bought their product before and they deliver what they advertise. I'll pay the extra money for that. Boy did I get burned!!



5. I just ordered my third set of "Clip Art & More" CD's - it's an annual rite of passage in our home. However, I never even attempt to use the CD's themselves - yes, they're pretty useless. I just want the one-year subscription code to www.clipart.com, which costs $159.95 to purchase but is "free" with software purchase (code included in software purchase). So - I buy the software (this year I found "Clipart 3.0 Million" at a site for 9.98 + 5.00 shipping - took a little hunting but deals are out there) and so for $14.98 I will now have my 2008 yearly subscription to www.clipart.com! Beats paying $160!! Clipart.com is a highly-rated graphics program (#2) in "top ten reviews" and my son and I have used it quite frequently for school projects, etc.

2 comments about Tonka Garage.

1. I played this game about 10 years ago and I loved it. It had tons of neat features and many customization options from what I can remember. I don't remember anything specific about it, but I loved it as a kid, even though I had a defective version. Buy it. NOW.



2. The game info includes XP compatible, but not for the all the games. When you go to test the vehicle that you fixed up, the screen goes black and all you can see is your vehicle. There are a few other areas that don't work all the way. My five-year old loves the game, but is very frustrated that he can't do everything. There is no technical support from anyone as the game is too old.

No comments about Adobe Indesign CS3 Upgrade from Pagemaker.

3 comments about Apple Final Cut Express HD 3.5 Upgrade (Mac)[Old Version].

1. I have been a Final Cut user for about six years now. I started with an education copy of FCP 2. I then purchased FCP 3, but because of cost considerations, I chose to buy FCE HD rather than upgrade to FCP HD.
   
   I am impressed with the feature set of this version of FCE. I had FCE 1, but I didn't use it very often because it was so limited. The keyframe element of FCE HD makes it well worth the upgrade!
   
   It runs very well on my G5 dual 2 gig, and the render-on-the-fly feature is fantastic. I'm not sure how I got along without it. I have created several movies already without any glitches or crashes.
   
   Nice job Apple!



2. By far the most intuitive and powerful video editing software I have ever worked with. Set up was simple and carefree. I am working with 1g but will probably upgrade to 2g. You need the version 3.5 to work with the new Intel Mac machines. This upgrade works perfectly.



3. I am dissappointed that Apple did not make FCE HD compatible with the Sony HD camcorder. The upgrade at addition charge to HD 3.5 makes it compatible, but not fully functional in Capture mode. i.e. In DV mode the clips are selectable by time marker, but in HDV mode there is no device (camera) control.
   
   Once the Capture process is completed it works fine. It would be nice to have some of the simple to use features included in iMovie.

1 comments about PhotoPlus X2 Digital Studio.

1. As a frequent digital photographer, I'm always on the lookout for new products that can save me time when editing my snaps. I use Photoshop CS2 for my business, but can't justify the expense at home, so I've tried various alternatives over the past couple of years. Of all the different options out there - Photoshop Elements, Paintshop Pro and the like, Serif's PhotoPlus X2 comes closest to replicating both the look and the power of CS2, but at a far more affordable price. I've been using it for several months now, and find many of its features indispensible - I rely on the batch processing feature regularly to resize my images, and the Instant Artist window is capable of some great results, although it does take some practice and can be slow at times.
   
   PhotoPlus isn't the easiest editor out there, but it does have a 'How To' window which can help with more complex tasks. I'd definitely recommend it to most digital camera users, as it will allow them to do just about anything they need to, without costing more than their camera...
   
   Overall I'd rate PhotoPlus X2 like this:
   
   Features: 9/10
   Help/Tutorials: 9/10
   Speed: 8/10
   Value for money: 10/10
   Overall: 9/10

3 comments about Professor Teaches Windows Vista.

1. I've tried a few similar programs, mostly to evaluate them for my students. I haven't found a program I can actually recommend until now. This program isn't bad at all. Only real complaint is that I had to move my windows taskbar from the bottom of my monitor to the side in order to see this program properly. That could start a newbie off with frustration and make them quit before they get started...to bad. (Just drag the bar at the bottom of your screen to the right margin to move it out of the way is the solution). Assuming you can fix that, you choose the version of Vista you want to learn and take the lessons at your own pace. I'd say it goes into just enough depth. The Vista Premium tutorials are broken down into approximately nine 60 to 80 minute lessons with brief multiple choice quiz after each lesson. I intend to get the Office 2007 program next.



2. Nice product, easy to use. Very good learning tool. A must have for Vista users.



3. Easy to install, easy to understand. Not much different than learning Windows XP. Just one or two additions.

1 comments about The Print Shop 21 Essentials.

1. Down loaded Print Shop from disk, more items than I expected. Great item for the office.

4 comments about Propellerhead Reason 4.0.

1. 
   If you check out what people were saying about PROPELLERHEAD Reason 3.0 ( Windows/Macintosh ), then you'll get an idea of what this software can do.
   
   
   Reason 3 gave a lot of bang for the buck - if you're a first timer, you get Reason 4 for the same price, and that's a steal.
   
   True, you still can't run VSTi plug ins or record live (miked) sound in Reason.
   
   But the addition of the Thor synthesizer and RPG-8 Arpeggiator plus the significant enhancements to the already well laid-out sequencer make Reason 4 a tool/toy that will keep you out of trouble for a long time to come.
   
   The new features add to the learning curve, but Reason's rack analogy still make it one of the most intuitive applications of its kind. For the most part, it's just like noodling with real hardware (watch your volume levels).
   
   I would suggest that anyone running this program should have at least 1 gig of ram, preferably more, because Reason 4 has finally started moving the CPU meter on my 1Gb pc for some projects.
   
   Other than that, you can't go wrong with this miracle of software design.



2. Reason 4 is possibly the best "production" software in the market today. The new additions (you can look at the item description) are a very helpful, specially the ReGroove function. Which lets you apply a groove (swing) to your tracks.
   
   I can keep going on and on about the new sequencer, Thor, the new Automation and time shift capabilities. But to the the most underrated addition to Reason 4, is the revamped "sound driver." That alone is worth the price to update.
   
   The new sound is warmer and richer. This is what separates Reason from other apps, the sound and "sounds" that are built in.
   
   The sounds are so much warmer and richer, I've stopped using refills and soundfonts. I can't say enough about the quality of the sound.
   
   I demoed a couple of expensive RTAS and VST instruments. And the same instruments coming from Reason sounded as good and in many cases, better than those from the RTAS and VST's.
   
   Buy it now!!!



3. I've always been into music, from the days when I did pause recording with a double deck to mix songs, to mixing records and CD players, right up to video editing involving the laying down of audio tracks. I strayed from music for a few years and went into design and photography, but when i asked a friend how i could get back into it in a good way he introduced me to Reason.
   
   I needed to be able to try my hand at beat production but without the expense of a drum machine and a mixing board, as I was unsure about investing that much money to find out I was just so so. When I discovered that Reason had elements needed to put music together and could also be linked to other professional software like Pro Tools I knew I found a gem.
   
   Considering myself an amateur to music production Reason has taught me a lot about all the various tools and tricks that go into making music that people will want to hear over and over again. I recommend it for anyone looking to get into music production on a small budget and for professionals who want to scale down their business and still get the same sound that they have had for years.
   
   Also with a laptop you can produce music with reason anytime the mood inspires you. That is a key thing because inspiration for creative people comes at any point and Reason 4.0 helps make it a reality.



4. If you see this product on sale for $279 from a seller named Musician's Advocate, be advised, it is the ACADEMIC version. When I bought it, I emailed to double check and received a response telling me it was the full version, but when I received the confirmation email with the tracking information, it gave the product code for the academic version. I called to verify and was told it's the same as the full version. This sounded too good to be true, so I called around to double check. I found out that the academic version is limited in that you have to repurchase the software when upgrades come out. So when Reason 5 comes out, instead of buying the upgrade for $130, you have to buy the whole thing all over again. There may be other limitations I'm not familiar with, but this is what I found out from people who actually know what they're talking about.
   
   Why this academic version is listed under the actual product and not the academic product, who knows? Just be careful you don't get scammed.
   
   P.S. You can buy the academic version much cheaper than what they're selling it for and probably get free shipping, too.
   Reason 4 Academic

5 comments about eFrontier Anime Studio Pro (Win/Mac).

1. I think people have said enough great things about the program, and I agree with them all. But what I want customers to know, if you can get a student discount (you're a student, someone you know is a student, or faculty) you can get it for $27 and the Pro version is $94 at places like academic superstore.



2. Don't be fooled by the product description which makes it sound as if this application is written for entry-level animators and hobbyists. It's not. This is a professional-level application. We introduced this tool into the production pipeline of our animation shop and we love it!
   
   The ability to actually *rig* a 2D character for animation is fantastic enough. But then to be able to have vertice-level control too is mind-blowing! This doesn't even take into account the: particle system, or the depth-of-field rendering, or being able to move through 3D space, etc.
   
   While the overall documentation may be a bit thin, the Anime Studio support community is strong and very willing to quickly answer any question. I found the Help File tutorials to be strong with the right amount of to-the-point brevity that quickly enables a new user to feel confident enough to begin creating right away.
   
   And the price. How can you beat the price? Less than $200?! That's the same amount you'd pay for you and ALL of your executive buddies for lunch at 'Macaroni Grill'. Or....an evening for you and 2 of your buddies at "Cheater's Lounge". But anyway....
   
   If you do *any* kind of 2D animation, do yourself a great favor and try this program. The last time I was this excited about a piece of software was back in 1996 when I started to hear a buzz about this goofy little animation program called "Flash".



3. This is a basic 2-d animation program only. You will first have to draw your image then import it. The drawing toolbar is extremely limited.



4. If you at times feel like a cartoon character, now, this may become a reality thanks to the hardwork of the folks at e--frontier.With capabilities to import any image and add rigging to it,your dreams become a digital reality.
   Maybe I should've gave it a higher rating,but it did take some doings to get things to work (still a lil buggy?)An improvement is needed in the color pallette (to eliminate all the import/export for quality) and I'm still waiting for my rebate/discount as well as the promised extra content( I'm an artist so the extra wasn't that important,would like it tho).Look for my new cartoon coming someday to a web nearest you(google,veoh).



5. Software works fine. Unsure if there if there was supposed to be a manual included, though.

4 comments about Adobe Flash CS3 Professional.

1. I am new to Flash and I think this version is very user-friendly. Keep in mind that I am not doing any heavy animations - just simple projects.



2. Flash CS3 has a wonderful interface including newly integrated tabs for windows like Scene, Color, Align, etc. It's more user-friendly than before and you can choose to do more things with your published flash than before as well. A very good tool for the web animator.



3. I can't find a reason why anyone would upgrade to Flash CS3 from CS2.
   
   It's the same interface, apparently most of the same features, and not significant enough to upgrade. I'm actually let down that Adobe seems to care so little about this product, given the widespread use of Flash video on the web today.
   
   One of my biggest pet peeves that I had hoped would be fixed in this version but wasn't, was the inability to trim videos by punching in times rather than using the slow and inaccurate scrubber. What a terrible, terrible way to trim video.



4. The latest Flash upgrade enhances this amazing world standard for vector animation. Like many Adobe products the amount of power under the hood is both astonishing and overwhelming. Unfortunately this software, like other Adobe products such as Photoshop, is plagued by a terrible user interface. Once again get ready to enroll yourself in classes and buy a pile of books just to decipher a user interface that is completely non-intuitive. If your idea was to sit down and get something done be prepared to suffer. Simple operations like assigning actionscript can be extremely confusing, as you might not understand "where" the script is being applied. A totally obvious feature called "stroke" which outlines text easily is totally missing from Flash. You might think it would be a snap to put a black outline on some white text, but it's more like rocket science. You can either use a glow filter that doesn't really do the job or get ready to break apart each and every letter so you can apply the ink bottle. The world isn't fair, is it? This program is worth about a hundred bucks.