There is another choice -- Gramps [Genealogical Research and Analysis Management Programming System]. It is free and open source. Go to http://www.gramps-project.org for more info. I had previously used Roots IV, transferred to Ultimate Family Tree when they took over Roots, but UFT seems not to be supported much any more. I was getting tired of companies coming and going and was concerned about future support so I decided to go the open source route -- that way I do not have to rely on any company to maintain proprietary software. The transfer from UFT to Gramps was easy -- just created a .GED file in UFT and Gramps read it in fine. Being open source Gramps is ideally run on a Linux system [which is what I use] but they do say they have a Windows installer for it. So you don't have to "bite the dust" (or bullet) and buy a Mac or any other new computer. You could install Linux on your PC [keep Windows if you like and dual boot]; you could also install Linux on your Mac. Phil Sullivan --- On Sun, 10/25/09, Jay Richards <jay2@jrichards.com> wrote: > From: Jay Richards <jay2@jrichards.com> > Subject: Re: [BEARA] Family Tree Software > To: beara@rootsweb.com > Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009, 2:03 PM > Hi All: >     I have used FTM for over ten years; > since their beginning. I found  > that their software quality continue to drop over my > experience  > period. I have stopped using PC / Windows because of who > owes then now  > and the bad software quality levels provided. Look at > VISTA, what a  > disappointment, now it is gone!  At this time there is > only one  > solution to this problem; "bite the dust" and buy an apple > MAC /Intel.  > and pay  the increase cost. It is worth every cent of > it. Everything  > works better then I have ever experienced with the PC / > Microsoft.  > With my MAC / Intel, Apple does all their own updates, they > ask if  > they can do a update then I say YES and sit back and let > them do all  > the process to accomplish it. First, the software is > written by Apple  > and it is excellent. It is a total UNIX operating system; > not like  > Microsoft 7 which is only is a sub-set of the full UNIX. > Apple is  > having increase revenue at this time and Microsoft is > decreasing  > financially. Wall Street is talking about when is the > Microsoft CEO  > going to be replace because of his poor performance since > taking over  > from Bill Gates! > >     I did an export of my database from > FTM  and reloaded it into the MAC  > system using Tiger operating system by doing an IMPORT of > my database  > file into the Reunion software package . I used a CD-ROM > for  > transferring the database file between the PC ( in the PC > own format )  > and the MAC read it correctly without any problems. > Everything moved  > over excellently with NO problem. > >     To qualify my knowledge, let me mention > that I founded and managed  > the major micro-software service company in the upper > midwest for  > seven years and kept Geek Squad being only a tiny > little company. Until a  similar recession to our > current one, forced  > the company to do a total-payoff of my rotating credit-line > within 24  > hours forcing me out of business while having a five > hundred thousand  > dollar contract beginning in 60 days. I have been in the > computer  > system field for over fifty years and having recommended > over fifteen  > thousand micro system to businesses. > >     I would not use any free software for > genealogy. There is NO  > assurance that the company will continue being in > business,  > particularly during this recession. There is always a > chance of them  > not maintaining the software package for free! > > Jay Richards > Jay2@Jrichards.com > > > On Oct 25, 2009, at 9:32 AM, Sally Bair wrote: > > > I loved FTM as program to do family trees. But I have > a Mac, & I was > > absolutely disheartened & discouraged & > outraged when FTM stopped > > making it for the Mac when the Mac upgraded to its > latest computer > > chip & OS. I have lost ALL my carefully documented > family information > > & have not felt like going back over 5 years of > paper work to redo it. > > > > Sally > > > > > > Sally O'Sullivan Bair > > Secretary General > > International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) > > 8554 Gateway Circle > > Monticello, MN 55362 USA > > Tel: +763 295 5465 > > Fax: +763 295 3290 > > Email: sbair@tds.net > > > > > > > > > > On Oct 24, 2009, at 10:57 PM, Chuck Weinstein wrote: > > > >> The answer depends on what you want to do and what > type of computer > >> you > >> have.  The most popular software for Windows > is Family Tree Maker, > >> which > >> costs about $40.  For that you get an easy > interface to work with > >> and the > >> ability to both design reports and, if you wish, > everything you > >> need to > >> prepare a book of your family tree.  If all > you are concerned about  > >> is > >> keeping track of the tree, any of the softwares > that were mentioned > >> are > >> good.  Free software, however, is not > necessarily the best for > >> tracking such > >> things as sources and media (document files, > pictures, videos, and > >> the like) > >> of your family. If you have a Mac, Reunion is the > best available > >> software > >> for that operating system. > >> > >> One other advantage of Family Tree Maker is that, > since it is now > >> distributed by Ancestry, it gives you the > capability to download > >> documents > >> directly from your Ancestry.com account into the > hard drive, > >> allowing you to > >> attach those document files to the individuals > they apply to.  This > >> will > >> make your filing chores easier. > >> > >> I have no financial interest in any software or > company.  I have > >> used FTM > >> since 1994 to keep track of my extended tree. > >> > >> Chuck Weinstein > >> Deer Park, NY > >> cmw521@earthlink.net > >> > >> > >> ------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email > to BEARA- > >> request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > >> in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BEARA-request@rootsweb.com > > >  with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and  > > the body of the message > > Jay Richards > jay2@jrichards.com > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BEARA-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the > subject and the body of the message >