On 13 Sep at 15:49, Mike Flaherty <[email protected]> wrote: > Tim, In your original note you referred to the following site so I'm > guessing that you have already seen their 2011 software review .... if > not .... > http://genealogy-software-review.toptenreviews.com/mac-genealogy-software/ > > I can not vouch for the "independence" of the above site/feature but > that said I have no reason to doubt it either, however, one wouldn't > be surprised if income was received from 'click through to buy > individual products'. > > For those that haven't seen it, the site appears to have done a decent > and comprehensive review with the Olympic ceremony being 1)Family > Tree, 2) Reunion 3) MacFamilyTree.... Given that the products outside > of these three reveal significant gaps in features and product support > without any cost benefit, the medalist are probably worthy of focus. The interesting thing here is the contrast between the reviewers verdict, placing FTM for Mac first, and this comment which is on the FTM for Mac message board on Rootsweb: "Do NOT buy the current (first) version of FTMM! Many of us have had serious problems with it." So I ask the question are the reviewers to be trusted? Or are they journalists first and genealogists second? I have much the same problem with most web comparison sites. > Perhaps the important point here is that there is a very detailed > review behind each product.... Also in these type of comparisons, > where products are all much of a muchness the important point is not > which one is rated top but picking the one that works for the > purchaser and continues to do so after they buy. So people might balk > at the cost of Reunion or be sold on it's exclusive MAC focus, > longevity, and being the top ranked support and that allegedly it is > the most used by MAC users (that comes from Reunion). > > I think Laurence Harris Who is Laurence Harris? He has not contributed to this thread on this SoG Mailing List. > makes an excellent point re Web based applications especially as at > the entry level they are free and allow people to put a toe in the > water (analogy - and good for those who typically join the gym on 2nd > January and go twice thereafter..... okay Laurence I'm teasing). I agree that web-based programs are an option and we should consider those. I wonder if they are better suited to a separate seminar for all computer systems on web-based genealogy programs. That way the Society would reach a wider audience and we would not have duplication of effort. > That said, collectively these sites have loads of users and MyHeritage > is one of many that can be listed and possibly demonstrated (as a > generic example) but not used in the package comparison exercise. > > Can you make the software providers work for you? Perhaps you should > take up Laurence's offer of help I have not read this offer on this list. If he is a MyHeritage man, then this is really for a different seminar on all web-based facilities, regardless of computer. > and he could organise a person to perform demonstrations. Additionally > you could invite representatives from the three software packages to > perform demonstrations for you (but set them the same demo exercise). > Visitors could then 'independently' verify the sales pitch with on the > ground SOG members who are familiar with each product and only have > their genius and bias to declare. Good point about getting the vendors in. TWR Computing used to be the principal vendor in this country, no Mac software support here that I am aware of. It is definitely on the list to go round the vendors at a later date. My first concern is to see what we can do in-house within SoG before moving abroad. TWR Computing only seem to offer two Mac programs: FTMM and Reunion. Loads of PC proggies, though! > Rosemary makes a very good point about running Windows on a MAC and > Family Tree Maker. If I were switching genealogy software, ease of > conversion would be my top question once I had arrived at the top > three packages. This is highlighted by Rosemary's experience and your > experience and comments re GEDCOM are invaluable. I still remember how I started. I got hold of demo copies of every program I could find and tried them all out to see what I liked. My favourite was an Australian program whose development had already ceased! But it enabled me to find what features I valued most. Different people do genealogy from different points of view. So what I would like to organise is a public showing of as many options as possible and then encourage people to make up their own minds on what they want. Might there be a minority program that will take on the world, the Mac world at least, in a few years time? > The sun is shining here in Lausanne, Switzerland, so it would be rude > not to take advantage of a local glass of something at the lake. What sun? What lake? We are jealous! > Cheers, > > PS. I have conflicting numbers for market share ..... it is really > number of users per package and it's not independent but the three > packages mentioned above appear to account for the lion share of MAC > users (allegedly) - web based usage aside. > > I wonder if Laurence knows where to get package and website market > share details or up to-date number of current active users (NOT visits > to website). I would be delighted to receive any marketing report you could get hold of. And many thanks for all your comments, they are very useful to the debate on what we should provide for the Mac users who are interested. -- Tim Powys-Lybbe [email protected] for a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org/