On 12 Sep at 18:27, Mike Flaherty <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Tim, > > From my previous note to you and your response I suspect we probably > > tackle certain subjects from different start points (me, what is > > the overall objective, what is my target audience and what are the > > likely requirements of that audience) so with that in mind ...... > > Let us say that there are 3 practical categories of people who will be > interested in your event .... A) Mac user using existing genealogy > software - they probably want to know if there is a better package or > if they have what they consider the best, to understand how they could > make better use of the software > > B) Mac user who does not currently use existing genealogy and wants > advice ... Nay more, a strong recommendation on what to buy > > C) A PC user who uses existing genealogy software and is thinking of > moving to a Mac in the near future and wants to know if their existing > package is compatible with a Mac or if they went to new software on a > Mac what would be recommended and what the data conversion > possibilities are > > I would take the various software packages and apply various filters > .... By way of example ... If the package didn't work on the latest > version of Mac's software (within release not version) and probably on > an iPad - I would not cover them as the product software was clearly > not keeping pace with the strategic direction of Apple. > > I would only take packages that were current and had a top three > market share of Mac users however I would note and make reference to > market entrants less than 12 months old. > > You get my drift, the filter is to with currency. Good points, thanks. Do you know of a reputable source of market shares held by the various Mac genealogy packages? A quick google search produced nothing. > > Then on a kind of 80/20 rule for software; 80% of the time you'll use > around 20% of the function ..... and like wise given genealogical > requirements there will be say 5 major activities plus say 5 common > "visualisations" (views) on a screen plus say 5 major print format > requirements I would produce a grid giving a star rating ..... So of > the three packages they could have a best at "X" or/and "Y" and an > overall best for function and best for price .... Yes I know it is not > scientific.... And then there is the problem of "I know what I like"! People get used to one program and then find all other programs to be unnatural. I don't know how you score for that, but it is the most common criticism of other programs. > You could tack on "where to go next" ... Websites and possibly help > contacts. Exactly. We should provide a list of sites that offer demo versions of the various programs. Perhaps some might wish to buy demo versions on a CD? > Last but not least - I would ask what would SOG like to get out of > the event.... Who is SoG? Are we SoG? If so we are deliberating here and will get as good an answer as anywhere. Apart from the fact that less than ten percent of members subscribe to this list. <snip for brevity> -- Tim Powys-Lybbe [email protected] for a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org/

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. 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 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). 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 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. 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. 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. 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). Mike Flaherty [email protected]