No comments about Adobe Creative Suite 3.3 Design Premium Upgrade [Mac].

1 comments about Camtasia Studio V 5.1.

1. I am in the process of learning this software and really getting the most out of it. Although I have not received my "official" copy from Amazon yet, I have been using my Demo copy from the company site. A really terrific piece of software. I used Version 4 in Demo mode right before this was released and there appear to be some interface changes. Is it worth the upgrade? Hmmm, I am not sure. If I was an owner of 4, I would sit tight and wait for another upgrade. There are no Camtasia books (as far as I can see) for this version yet. Still, really AWESOME software. :)

5 comments about Nova Art Explosion 800,000 Clip Art.

1. Before I purchased this program, I read A LOT of customer reviews. Most of those reviews were not great, and I almost did not buy this program. I'm glad I did. There were a lot of complaints about the clip art not been catagorized very well and it being hard to find what you're looking for. But, if you really stop to think about it, how in the world do you organize 800,000 images?!?! I feel this is a great collection of clip art. It comes with a huge 1700 page book which catalogues the images for you. Be aware the images are not in color in the book, they are just small black/white images to give you an idea. Take a rainy day and familarize yourself with the catagories in the catalogue and you shouldn't have any trouble finding the image that you want. For instance, if you want a picture of something pertaining to Christmas, Halloween, or Easter, you would look in the catalogue under "Holidays". Once you get familiar with the catagories, it should be easier and easier to find what you're looking for. Also, be aware that this product is just a collection of clip art, and you will need a separate program in which you import the images. I use my Windows browser to open the images on the CDs, then I use drop & drag to import the image into my Print Shop program.



2. The amount of clip art is more than any mere mortal will ever need. The art ranges from animated to more sophisticated. My biggest criticism of this product is the system to look up the art on the 32 DVDs that it comes with. Sometimes it's difficult to find exactly which DVD it's located on. I'm confused as to why they didn't number the DVDs and then put the corresponding number of that DVD under the clip art in the guide book but they didn't so it makes finding the particular picture much more difficult than it has to be. If you are a casual user and want some simple clip art this probably wouldn't be a good product for you.



3. Love the Nova 800,000 clip art. Has a great variety of clips for everything I need and works easily with my scrapbook program. Only picture I couldn't find was a good orchard picture, but oh well. It's a great value.



4. This was a fun collection of clipart! I have one major critique and that is the handy search feature and gallery they discuss in the product description did not work. If you are counting on being able to keyword search or view galleries do NOT buy this product! You're stuck using the old fashioned book with tiny black and white thumbnails. I have no idea why it failed but it did so on multiple computers, one brand new. The vector clipart is what you would expect, poor quality and pretty much useless. The rest of the collection is fun and just what I needed to complete my personal/professional projects.



5. O.K. I'm not going to list 800,000 best things about this software, but I can say:
   It's a designer's dream - great images that you can adjust
   It works with Windows Vista
   Very well cataloged and indexed - necessary as there is so much to choose from
   Sparks unlimited creativity
   If you are looking for something, but will not know it until you see it, you will find it in here
   Excellent! I used it to create the images for No man is an island
   Alison J. Macmillan
   www.WordisWorth.com

5 comments about Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 [OLD VERSION].

1. I have been using this product only a couple of weeks. So far it is very similar to elements 3.0.



2. I don;t know a lot about video editing software, but I got this for my dad as he liked the slideshow it has that allows you to add music, plus I like the resize feature that seems to keep higher quality than other programs resizing. they look very crisp when blown up or shrinking them.



3. I purchased a $25 OEM version here a couple of months ago. That means it came without a manual - but that's OK as my PE1, 2 and 3 had manuals - and while some may think the Adobe manuals are fine, a good aftermarket version is much better.
   
   I chose PE5 over 6 as there have been some PC interface problems reported plus the gray boundaries are tough to see menus. And there are only very minor changes in V6, Then, best of all, V5 was $75 cheaper!!
   
   It's a great photo processing program, especially for those that don't need the complexity of full blown Photoshop CS3 but is taking me a while to get used to it after the earlier versions. There are some hidden items that I'm just starting to find, but have enjoyed working with it anyhow.



4. As the description said the CD was not boxed. Apparently it was meant as part of a software package so I don't know if it is a full version or not. I had purchased less expensive photo editing software in the past with more bells and whistles. Had heard so much about this Adobe Photo Elements that I was looking forward to having my copy. I'm not sure how much I will be using this one.



5. I Purchased to use in a Video game desiging clothing.
   Since I had no Previous knowledge of Photoshop it was easy to Learn. I followed Tutorials and Voila' Im doing Everything now.
   I can Do way more than I ever dreamed of with the Layering and effects.
   Great Prouduct and Price...

5 comments about Spector Pro 6.0.

1. For years it has been a struggle to control my two kids computer use.. yes, passwording the logon completely prevented use without my permisssion but once on my ability to monitor their activity was minimal at best...
   
   Several weeks ago I found that my 14 yr old son had begun visiting inappropriate web sites... We had "the talk" but not surprisingly it didn't stick...
   
   So after a fair amount of research I purchased Spector Pro... sure it's a little pricy but the results were spectacular... most importantly it eliminated the "trust question" inherent in parent/child agreements.. After two weeks of use I can honestly say I would have been thrilled with the results if it had cost $400!! At $100 it is a steal!!
   
   Some comments on the product;
   1) Make certain to turn off all anti-virus programs before begining installation! I ignored that instruction because well, I usually do and rarely have a problem. This time the program wouldn't work until I did an uninstall and reinstall.
   2) While I'm not a geek, I am fairly knowledgeable but still found set-up of the remote monitoring feature to be complex and confusing. It took four tries and about an hour before I got it right. (if you are less stubborn than I a call to tech support would be in order)
   3) The screen shot feature is great but lacks a speedy enough "fast forward" button; it can get pretty tedious if you have more than a couple of days of data to look through.
   4) The scheduling feature is fabulous!! Your child can use the computer for homework but can only access the internet during the schedule you set. Perfect for working parents!!
   
   While this product is pitched as a "monitoring tool" that misses the real value; it is an unemotional management tool that provides your child with a structured environment, it frees you and your child from daily negotiations over computer use and it eliminates (or at least limits) the parental worry about their child's internet use.



2. If you're a parent who's concerned about what your teenager is doing or viewing on myspace or facebook or youtube or any site, then this is the monitoring program to get. Don't waste your time with less expensive programs. I love the snapshots it takes, the timeline, and the keystrokes the best. After a few days, I checked the amount of time my daughter spent on myspace and found she "wasted" 11 hours doing virtually "nothing!"



3. Not only is the an excellent product, but the customer support that comes with it is above and beyond! I feel so much more secure in monitoring my children's online activities, even when they seem to know more about computers than I do!



4. I bought Big Brother because of the hype. Big mistake. No customer service by phone, bad customer service online. It took me three months of badgering to get my money back. Now I bought this product. After I loaded it I could not see how to access my password and get to the settings. I called on a Sunday and Bob was there. He was very helpful. Told me they have 24/7 customer support except Christmas. He was great and took a few minutes to help me set the features as well. My initial reactions are that it captures everything. And it actually works (unlike Big Brother, which never worked no matter how many times I reloaded it as their customer service kept telling me to do). Buy Spector and I think you'll be happy.



5. My wife and I installed purchased this product on the recommendation of her co workers. We were concerned about our daughter's internet activity and wanted a discrete way to check on what she was doing.
   
   I knew monitoring software existed but I had no idea software like this could include so many features. The Spector Pro program records all the keystrokes, chats, emails and it even takes snap shots of the screen that I can play back like a VCR. It allows me to see everything that has been on the computer screen.
   
   We originally purchased the program because we were concerned about her use of MySpace and Facebook. One of the main reasons we chose Spector Pro was because it has separate recording features for these sites. I can see all the MySpace and Facebook information separately; including login information, profiles she is viewing and who is viewing her; it even lets me when she posts to her blog or posts pictures.
   
   This program has been a real life saver. It not only allowed us to correct some issues we were concerned with; but it now gives us the piece of mind that comes from knowing EXACTLY what she is doing online.
   
   If you are like me you have been disappointed by software that did not live up to the manufacturers claims. Not true with Spector Pro. Not only does this product work exactly as advertised the toll free tech support is also top notch and available 24/7.
   
   I can't recommend it highly enough; in fact my wife is a school teacher and recommends this program to many of her students' parents.

5 comments about AutoCAD LT 2008 [OLD VERSION].

1. AutoCAD LT 2008 was easy to install and is loaded with features. Too bad we most likely will never use most of them. Pros: It's interface is familiar, it's the industry standard, and works pretty much as is expected. There don't seem to be as many bugs as I experienced in older versions. Cons: Pricey, but everybody knows that, and we're stuck because AutoDesk has the industry in a strangle hold. I don't like how small the tool palettes are when my monitor is in a higher resolution. The printing interface is awkward.



2. Actually works with Vista. Several new features aid with production. We are ditching architectural desktop for production seats since it is all 2D. LT works and integrates just fine at 1/4 the price. First 'downgrade' in 14 years of autocad.



3. I have been using AutoCAD LT 2003 and like the updates in the new version. Although it takes some getting used to, some of the changes are intuitive. The older versions did not automatically go into edit commands like 2008 does. Just click on an object and the attributes highlight and can be changed without typing in the command. That is just some of the changes that make this a really nice upgrade from earlier versions.



4. I had the full blown student version of R13 for years and it served my purposed well until I upgraded my computer. AutoCAD is like many software and hardware suppliers and will not support any of their products over three or four years. So AutoCAD LT suites my purposes well for a fraction of the cost of the big package. The basics are still there, but a companion instruction manual is necessary to come up to date with all the useful changes that have been made since R13 some ten years ago. I am back in business.



5. I'm not an expert drafter but I've used AutoCAD 2005 for years and have found several of the changes make drawings harder.

5 comments about Adobe Photoshop CS3 [Mac].

1. Don't buy CS3! The only major refinement is the integration of Image Ready. But you'll pay a huge price in the constant nagging for the software to be activated & reactivated. After 3 weeks of this I uninstalled it and sent it back to Amazon for a refund. I'm back to CS (version 1) and it works just fine without the activation headaches. And I've got $200 back in my pocket from the upgrade. Please vote NO with your dollars by telling vendors this kind of annoying copy protection will not be tolerated. What Adobe needs is a competitor to Photoshop. How about it Apple?



2. It's almost pointless to review Photoshop: If you need a high-end photo editor, there's really no competition to it. That being said, I'm very happy with CS3: it runs quickly on my Intel Macintosh (no lag, as someone else has pointed out), has all the features I could want, and is robust enough that I'm always learning new ways to use it.



3. Having grown up with Photoshop from 4.0, Photoshop has certainly grown up with me! CS is perfect, although it takes some getting used to if you're used to 7, but once you adjust, you'll love the new features. Plus, if you get stuck, the help menu contains plenty of walk-through video tutorials.



4. This was what has become typical of large software companies. The installation kit was one disk but after a long time of seeming to be installing, it asked for another disk that wasn't in the package. I suppose I was expected to hunt it down on the web and download it, burn it and then continue, but for that price it can go look for it itself. Adobe has fallen a long, long way. I ended up returning it for a refund.



5. I'm not going to attempt to give an extensive review because I'm not a power user. However, if you are considering using Photoshop for the first time, and you can get past the high price, and you have some time to invest in learning it, and a lot of time to invest using it...it's an amazing piece of software. I just do occasional nick nac graphics work and I can't live without it. Ive been using Photoshop for about 10 years and probably don't use 20% of it's power or features, but it is indispensable. I use it to create web graphics and save, touch up and modify all kinds of graphic files. The best thing about Photoshop is that you work in layers and can save and view any number of layer combinations which keeps your graphic alive and oh so usable. If you're even considering paying the high price for this AND you are going to actually use it, go ahead and buy it. You will never regret owning Photoshop.

5 comments about Finale Songwriter 2007.

1. I just got this product today but am very pleased with it so far. I really like the video helps that are included. It helped me to learn the basics very quickly. There are some things that I have not learned yet, but I do not anticipate any difficulty in learning the more complex features either.
   
   I was a Music Education major in college and have studied music theory and composition since I was 12 years old. I just wish there was a product like this when I was learning music theory and composition. It would have been a huge help to me. I highly recommend this product for those who need just a basic song writing software. Unless you need something to help with orchestration and really complex composition, this product should provide all you need to get your music written and printed in a professional format.



2. I got this product for Christmas, and, considering the prices I have seen for it, it is an extremely cost effective product. I am especially pleased with many of the midi patches. I have done some writing on it thus far, including a duet for organ and cello, and its sounds really good as far as quality goes.



3. This might be the best software I've ever owned ~ certainly, it is consuming me. I got it for Christmas for my mother, who asked me to install it for her. After I did so, I idly tried it out. Shortly thereafter I purchased my own copy. Now my only regret is that I didn't get the next higher version (I believe it's called Allegro) ~ and I will probably be upgrading. I write church music, and am finding the limitation of only 8 staves per page to be frustrating. Other than that, it's GLORIOUS! One more endorsement: I've never written a review for anything before, and probably never will again. I feel strongly about the power and wonder of the creative potential and immediate feedback of this software. P.S. I use a Macintosh; works well!



4. The Finale Songwriter 2007 is excellent for notation and printing off lead score sheets. It is easy to learn, makes quality sheet music and has some really nice features found in the more complex types of programs. This is a must have for someone who needs to get the notes down on paper in a flash. You can even play it as you go. I give it a +10 for those who like to create & arrange your own music. The finished product looks professional. Great software.



5. This is such a wonderful program. It's easy to use, allows you to print and create mp3's of music. As you write the music for any number of instruments you hear those instruments play the notes you selected. All in all the best music writing software for the money on the market today.

1 comments about Sound Forge Audio Studio 9.

1. Great Product, allows me to input audio, make adjustments and create in many different formats.

5 comments about Adobe Photoshop CS3 Upgrade [Mac].

1. Adobe Photoshop CS3 UpgradeI bought this software upgrade a few weeks ago. Although I am still learning how best to use the changes that Adobe has made from the previous CS2 version, it does appear to be a significant advance over Adobe Photoshop CS2. The one problem that I have encountered is that Apple as upgraded its operating system to Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). The result is that there is a problem using the tools that require entering values, such as the CROP tool. Once the values are selected, at some point down the line, it becomes impossible to alter the settings. The Adobe web site says that both Adobe and Apple are aware of this problem and are working to fix it. In the meantime, the only thing that one can do when this problem is encountered is to quit the program and then restart the program again.



2. Adobe Photoshop CS3
   Installing Photoshop under Vista fails unless a Java script "jscript.dll" is registered. The Adobe installer just quits with "internal error 2739". There is no mention of the problem in the product litrature. The Adobe website has a link to this particular error (dates 2007/07/09) but the link doesn't work.
   I spent almost two hours talking to customer service over a very bad line to someone in India who could barely speak English (they couldn't access the online solution article either and had to leave me on hold several times).
   The solution is to run the Java script in a DOS window in the correct directory (most important).
   A highly irritating experience.
   I have yet use the software but it is installed and running.



3. The last version I had was Photoshop CS and this version has been worth the upgrade price. I'm not a fan of the digital licensing mechanism, but the product has met my needs.



4. I was sort of forced to upgrade because I discovered that my old version 7.0 wouldn't work with Leopard. I would say it is certainly worth the upgrade from version 7.



5. You cannot upgrade to Photoshop CS3 from a Creative Suite product. Serial number check will not allow upgrade. I called Adobe customer service to verify. You must purchase stand alone. I wish something on the box had told me that.