It does what it says, but free version is riddled with nag screens

Pros: I installed this version after a system crash destroyed my older version. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this product can be customized at installation for the way you want to use it. That's a big plus, especially if you're into a lot of 3D imaging, or if you want to make it your default image browser, video viewer, etc.

In addition has a lot of nice features like the ability to rename a group of files into a sequential order where you determine the naming scheme. Operation is pretty intuitive, and when you do get stuck the help screens are actually helpful.

Cons: Since I don't need all the bells and whistles I test drove it and opted for the free version.

Here's where it gets sticky. Unlike its predecessor, this software (at least version 8.0) won't let you select it until you've kept the full version for the entire demo period. During that time it constantly reminds you that you haven't purchased it and tells you how long before your trial expires. OK - that's a bit annoying, but not a big deal. The real issue is that you really can't demo anything but the full version, so you don't know which is right for you.

When your software demo period expires certain features are disabled, and you get a nag screen every few images telling you to register the product. At registration you're given the option to either contribute or opt for free registration. I selected free because I hadn't had a chance to evaluate the product in Free Mode, and wanted to determine what it was worth to me before contributing. It took me several tries and two reboots before the registration was successful.

After going through all that, I was sadly disappointed that the free version puts up an initial screen asking you to register, and interrupts you every ten images with a counter telling you how many times you've used the product and how many files you've viewed since installation (Like I really care). It does offer you a link to disable the feature, but the link is actually a link to a registration window saying that if you want to remove the screens you have to contribute.

In my humble opinion these tactics demean an otherwise quality product. Most likely I'd have contributed once I understood the features of the free version, but at this point I'm just going to uninstall it, and either look for a backup of my old version or or just use the image viewer that's built into XP.

Posted: 11-Aug-2005 06:58:48 AM

Great product! Impossible to contact the company.

Pros: This has to be the easiest web site password utility that I've run across. It give complete flexibility in determining login area, field sizes, colors, text attributes, and even supports drag and drop resizing.

Cons: The software is difficult to purchase (PayPal, Google Shopping Cart, debit and credit cards aren't accepted) and it's IMPOSSIBLE to contact the company. Yes - they say they have a way to reach support AFTER you buy the product, but it won't work until you own the registered version. That's not much help for prospective purchasers with a question.

They won't give out an email address, supposedly for fear of spam bots, and their support links just produce what appears to be a scrip error message.

After much hunting I finally did find an online form for questions or issues, but after taking the time to write a detailed question it crashed when I tried to submit it. The message said something about me not being logged in (which of course I can't be until after I buy the software).

Sadly, I ended up purchasing a similar product with a lot less capability from another company because I needed in NOW and could pay for it NOW, get my registration code NOW and use it on our web site NOW! So in the end, we both lose.

Posted: 25-Jul-2008 03:17:56 PM