X-Rite i1Display 2 Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been increasingly more interested in my photography hobby and came to the eventual realization that monitor color and luminance calibration was necessary. It just did not make sense, spending sometimes hours post processing a photo on my computer, only to have it show up with different colors on somebody else's screen or printer.
I have never before calibrated any monitors or TVs and considered, in addition to this product, the Spyder 3 Pro and LaCie Blue Eye. I finally decided on the Eye-One Display 2.
I have now calibrated my dual LCD monitor setup (Dell 2405WFP and 2408WFP) and Dell XPS 17" laptop with complete ease and great, consistent results. Because I actually have 2 separate PCIe video cards, calibrating dual LCD is as easy as calibrating one with Windows Vista 32 bit.
PROS:
1. Cheaper than LaCie Blue Eye, which is highly regarded by certain website reviewers (although more expensive than Spyder 3 Pro)
2. Same hardware to the well regarded LaCie Blue Eye
3. Better ability to reproduce black on LCD as per a website review than Spyder 3 Pro
4. Ability to measure and calibrate luminance
5. Very simple easy mode for those who want speed and to not have to understand the complexities of color calibration
6. An advanced mode, which was actually fairly easy for even me to use (and I have no prior detailed knowledge of color technologies)
7. Software allows you to see the before and after effects of your calibration effort by showing a color chart and a small portrait of a woman.
8. Install CD contains very easy to use complete video tutorials on how to calibrate.
CONS:
1. On Apple Macs, dual monitor calibration is supposedly easy. But with Windows XP/Vista, it is not a straightforward task. Because I actually have TWO separate PCIe video cards, calibrating dual LCD was as easy as calibrating one under Windows Vista 32 bit.
A dual monitor setup with a SINGLE video card can be calibrated individually under Windows XP with a workaround solution, as per suggestions I've found from a Google search. I am not sure if the workaround works under Vista, but it seems plausible.
2. More expensive than Spyder 3 Pro (although cheaper than LaCie Blue Eye)
TIPS:
1. On the Dell 2405WFP 24" LCD panel, the monitor will not allow user customizable contrast control if you choose a DVI input for that monitor. I am not certain why this is since my 2408WFP allows this. The only downside of this, is that you cannot use the advanced mode for the Dell 2405WFP, since that mode requires the user to manually change some monitor settings, which include contrast.
2. Consider whether or not you need the more expensive Eye-One Display 2 version vs. the cheaper "LT" version. If you do not need a customized white balance or different gamut or even know what I'm writing about, then you might be completely fine with the "LT" version. I am not 100% certain if the "LT" version will measure and calibrate luminance, however. This could be an important difference.
3. If cost is an issue, I would also research the Spyder 3 Pro system. Although I chose the Eye-One Display 2, I realize now since seeing the vast differences from my pre-calibrated images to my post-calibrated images, that color calibration is essential. It is probably better to calibrate with almost anything vs not calibrating at all.
4. Also realize that the Eye-One Display 2, Spyder 3 Pro, and LaCie Blue eye hardware can be utilized with 3rd PARTY SOFTWARE! A Google search will show that there are indeed even FREE 3rd party software that you can use to drive the hardware. Some forum members seem to write positive results with some of this software.
5. If cost is no object, serious consideration should be given to the more expensive LaCie Blue Eye. A Google search shows that this is a very well regarded system. (The Eye-One uses the same hardware as this Blue Eye.)
6. Go the X-rite website and look at the current version numbers of the software and compare it to what your installer disk has. Instead of using the install CD, I downloaded the newest versions from the website. I believe only 1 or 2 out of approximately 5 files I downloaded were newer from the website, but this is always a good idea. Some of the files are very large and you will definitely need a broadband connection. Burn these files to your own DVD, so that you can then install the software on each of your computers or laptops to use the calibrating hardware. The install CD is still very useful as it has the really useful tutorials.
I hope this review was helpful as it is certainly confusing as a novice to determine which calibrator to use!

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The Xrite Eye-One Display 2 is an, easy-to-use, powerful solution that provides the best monitor profile quality ever! With enhancements to both hardware and software, you'll achieve consistent, predictable color on all types of monitors (LCD and CRT). Eye-One Display 2 features an enhanced sensor providing higher repeatability, faster measurements and higher sensitivity in the dark areas for better control in shadow detail and a more neutral gray scale. Its lightweight, sleek design is the same as the original Eye-One Display and comes with an Ambient light head (which also acts as a dust protector), a built-in counterweight for LCD displays plus an integrated suction cup for CRTs. The included Eye-One Match 3.6.2 software has an easy-to-use interface and even provides an Easy Mode for great results with a few simple clicks. And for all monitors supporting the DDC/CI standards, you'll achieve one button push monitor profiling. The Advanced Mode allows experienced users to achieve individual and best possible monitor calibration with new features such as selection of different monitor white points, custom luminance settings and detailed profile summary. When you're ready to profile all your input and output devices, use the generous upgrade voucher* towards the purchase of other Eye-One solutions.i1Display 2 Measurement Device: Compact award-winning colorimeter for emissive color measurements of LCD, CRT and laptop displays. Highest sensitivity in dark areas for better control in shadow detail and more neutral gray scale. Detachable ambient light head to capture ambient light measurements and protect your device. Easily attaches to all models of LCD and CRT monitors with included built-in counterweight and suction cups. USB powered. Use at multiple workstations without additional licensing fees. i1Match Software: Software interface provides an Easy Mode for great results with a few simple clicks, plus an Advanced Mode for experienced users to achieve the best possible monitor calibration. Workgroup Match: Utilize reference profiles to match all monitors in your workgroup. Unlimited gamma white point and luminance settings, including native gamma and measure luminance as target. Ambient Match: Check ambient light and adapt profiles for different ambient light environments. One push button monitor calibration (PBC) support for leading industry monitors. (Please see Specifications tab for complete listing.). Gray balance optimization for more neutral and better defined grays. Profile summary report ideal for post profile analysis. Validation: Monitor validation and trending graph. Before and after images show instant results. Profile reminder to ensure true and reliable color over time. Easy to follow on-screen help guides - no extra manuals needed.Compatible with all Windows and Macintosh operating systems except MAC OS10.7 Lion (Lion Compatibility coming 9/2011).

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Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2011 3-User Review

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(More customer reviews)The 3 machine license is not as advertised, you'll be disappointed if you think you are going to get a 3 machine 1 year FULL VALUE, that's not the deal. If all of your machines expire on exactly the same day, then you get that. If there is any anomaly, the license expires when you FIRST registered no matter when that was. Customer Support is just what you'd expect from a huge foreign conglomerate- useless, unless you like defensive pre-recorded platitudes.
IMO, the company and product has deteriorated over the past few years and they think they are too big and too good to worry about happy customers or honest customer service. I won't be buying this product again.

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Secrets of the Pros Pro Tools DVD Vol. 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)What I mean by that is... it's a DVD-ROM. It does not, repeat DOES NOT, play in a DVD player like one might expect when ordering a DVD. For this title, you must insert it in your computer and watch quicktime movie files on your computer media player.
As such, I cannot comment on any of the content of this disk... I haven't been able to watch it. Shame on me... maybe there was some fine print on the order screen that I did not see... when I ordered a DVD, I thought I would receive a PLAYABLE DVD that would work in my DVD PLAYER... get it?
Ultimately, the content may even be great... someday, maybe I'll actually get to see it and figure that out for myself. It's just that what was delivered to my mailbox is not what I expected or what I wanted.
Just for information and comparison purposes, subsequent volumes within this series (Volumes 2 & 3 specifically) ARE playable DVDs and DO work in a DVD Player... as I would expect... and in accordance with what I wanted and ordered.

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WinZip 15 Standard Plus Review

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(More customer reviews)[see UPDATES at bottom]
PROS:
* an essential tool for most Windows users
* allows you to create a complete set of related files in one file, while retaining the original directory structure, if any
* makes it easy for sharing files by keeping them all together, and by compressing them so they can be transferred faster
* includes an encryption capability to set a password to retrieve files you want to keep confidential
* includes a very useful shell extension for extract, add, or create a new archive
* a Mac edition of WinZip allows you to exchange files with a Mac user who has this program
* extracts from most common archive formats besides zip, including RAR, 7z, TAR, ISO, CAB, and several others
* single-user license agreement allows you to install on a second machine (for non-simultaneous use only), handy for users who have a laptop and a desktop
* can open and view a file in a zip archive without extracting it, by right-clicking on the file and selecting Open.
* works correctly with files made from my older WinZip 9 (standard zip file format), as I expected it would
* the enhanced zip file format - which cannot be read by older versions of WinZip - has a new extension, zipx, to avoid confusion
CONS:
* a couple of very minor inconveniences, described below
UPDATE: I am biased by my habit of using pkzip and WinZip for decades. Some of my friends prefer to use WinRAR and 7zip, so I have added a section describing Alternatives near the end.
WINZIP IS NEARLY ESSENTIAL...
WinZip is one of those tools that I think most PC and Mac users would find essential. The Pros above sum up the reasons. Though disk space is relatively inexpensive these days, and though Windows allows you to compress parts of your file system, it is incredibly useful to be able to create an archive of any number of related or inter-dependent files, including complete directory structures of files, for backup purposes, etc. While compressed media files (jpg, mp3, etc) do not always become smaller in an archive, it is still great to be able to keep a set of files together.
If you want to exchange files, it is convenient to have one file that contains all of the ones you want to share, and compressing it makes the transfer time (via Internet, or a thumb drive) faster. The ability to password-protect an archive makes it safe and convenient to exchange confidential files - for example, getting reports from a financial adviser using a mutually-known password.
Although the zip archive format is essentially a standard on Windows, WinZip extracts files from several other archive standards, including some that are common on Linux. And for Mac users, there is a Mac edition, so you can exchange files with either Windows or Mac users.
For people who need the features I have described, and don't have a program to do it at present, WinZip is a five-star utility.
...BUT IS IT WORTH UPGRADING TO THIS VERSION?
I have been using a licensed copy of WinZip 9.0 for several years. It does everything I need, and I consider WinZip an essential tool. So why would I need to upgrade? I decided to find out when I was offered a chance to review WinZip 15.
First and most important, the newest version still supports the original zip file format, which means that you can still provide archives to others who have an older version of WinZip. However, you need to make sure you select the option to do that, as the newest zip format is not backwards compatible.
Media files such as jpg and mp3 are already in a compressed form, and with my older WinZip 9 (and most other compression programs), it is not possible to compress them further. It is convenient to put several files into one archive, and doing that can make disk storage more efficient and use less space, even without compression. But the newest zip format claims to compress jpg files by 20-25%. I tested it with 714 pictures from India, totalling about 690 MB, and it saved 21% space, but took about twice as long (I did not time it). This only works with the zipx format. The original zip format does not compress jpgs, but it stores them more efficiently than separate files, so it saves 1% compared to separate.
MP3 files are compressed about 1% with either zip or zipx compression. For mp3, zipx takes longer to archive than zip with no obvious benefit.
A folder with 145 MS Office (XLS, PPT) and PDF files totalling 383 MB was compressed by 17% in 73 seconds to the original zip file format. The same folder was compressed by 20% in 143 seconds (almost twice as long) to the new zipx file format.
Actual performance will vary depending on files, but these results represent typical files for me. I ran my tests on a laptop with duocore processor on WinXP. I don't have the previous version of WinZip, so I cannot comment on whether the new zip engine in this version "creates Zipx files 30% to 50% faster than the previous version". Since installing this version also uninstalls previous version, it is not convenient to compare performance with older versions, and I did not. Subjectively, WinZip 15 to zip (standard) format about as WinZip 9, and somewhat slower (with somewhat more compression) for the new zipx format.
The package claims that WinZip has a streamlined interface with more intuitive menus and icons. Except for newer icons, the interface is similar to what I was used to. I don't think it is easier to use, but it was good before, and is still good.
For people who need the features I have described, and don't have a program to do it at present, WinZip is a three-star upgrade, considering benefits to price. WinZip 9 would still be good enough for me, but now that I have WinZip 15, I'll use it instead.
MINOR ISSUES
Windows allows you to select a custom directory to be used for "My Documents", for example when you want to have your home directory on a different drive from the system directory. Most programs correctly locate the new "My Documents" directory if you change it, but WinZip 15.0 does not. But this is never a problem for me, as I normally start WinZip by right-clicking on an archive or a file I want to compress, then selecting WinZip from the popup menu. It always finds the correct directory in this case.
WinZip 15 installed from the CD, and next time I used it, it offered an update for a better compression engine. When it downloaded, it also offered me an unwanted download: Kaspersky Security. Because this is enabled by default, you could get it downloaded and installed by mistake, potentially causing problems for an existing anti-virus program. If you are alert, you can easily decline. Personally, when I'm installing a program, I don't want to be offered a different program, especially when it is a trial version that will nag you to buy an upgrade later. If I wanted that program, I'd go to the Web and download it. This is effectively a paid ad, and I don't want it. But I won't encounter this often, so who cares.
WINZIP COURIER 3.0 INCLUDED
WinZip 15 Plus edition includes a program that works with a few email systems that is said to make it easy to use zip compression with email. This program supports Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, and Gmail. But because it does not support my preferred mail client, Thunderbird, I have not tested it. It is easy enough for me to open zip files from Thunderbird with WinZip, so I can already do everything I need, and I don't know how this program could make things easier than they are already.
ALTERNATIVE ARCHIVE PROGRAMS
Zip has been a standard archive format for PC since the DOS days and PKZIP. It is a defacto standard that many people use. However, there are two others worth considering, and they also support the Zip format.
WINRAR is shareware available online. It is compatible with the Zip file format, and offers a few more features over WinZip that will be of use to some power users - advanced self-extracting archive features, additional security features, and support for more human languages. It costs about the same as WinZip Standard.
7zip is a free, open source archive program also available online. It can pack many archive formats (including its native 7z, Zip, and Linux formats) and unpack many others. It claims to offer better compression in Zip format than WinZip. It is localized into even more human languages, self-extracting archive capability, and has most of the other features of WinZip.
Both WinRAR and 7zip have at least some support on Mac and Linux, which is helpful if you need to move files between these platforms and/or Windows.
If I did not already have WinZip, I would be looking at 7zip, and you might want to as well.
BOTTOM LINE: I consider WinZip to be an essential tool for most users, and all power users. But if you are already happy with an older version of WinZip (such as version 9), it may not be an essential upgrade, unless you need to compress jpg files.
UPDATE 6/22/2011
WinZip 15.0 nags me to upgrade to 15.5. Finally I did it. In running the setup program, there are two crash messages at different points in the setup. I have Visual C++ installed so instead of a standard Windows crash, I have an offer to debug it, and it does not say what has crashed. However, it still seems to install ok.
The 15.5 update also wants to install Kapersky anti-virus, which is "free". I have not tried this, but I assume that it is a special edition with some functionality at the expense of regularly nagging you to buy the upgrade. I already have Norton, so I don't need this. Watch carefully, as they kind of lull you into installing it if you're not careful. It is NOT required for using WinZip. Of course, if you don't have an anti-virus program, you need one.


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Adobe Acrobat X Professional Student & Teacher Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Verification is never fun, but I really believe Adobe's verification process is as easy as it could possibly be.
Please consider the one-star review of a previous reviewer (John M. Wells). The information he provides is false.
When opening the software box, it is difficult to miss a folded instruction card that reads the following:
"STOP: To use this product beyond the 30-day trial period, you must validate your eligibility using the fulfillment process below and the following product code."
This notice of a '30-day trial' is again stated in the very next paragraph. So it's very likely that he knew he could have used Acrobat in 'trial' mode.
I hope Mr. Well's review does not deter you from purchasing Adobe's excellent software.
*** On a more positive note...
I recently purchased the Student and Teacher Editions (academic versions) of Adobe Dreamweaver CS5, Photoshop CS5 Extended and Acrobat X Professional.
Adobe has 30-day trial versions on most of their software.
For anyone intending on purchasing academic software from Adobe, I suggest they first try out the 30-day trial version, and then if still interested, sign up for an Adobe account. It makes things much easier during the verification stage by having your account already set up.
The entire verification process is very easy and it helps to have your scanned ID or any additional paperwork ready ahead of time. I received all three activation serial numbers in less than 24 hours. Adobe says that it could take up to two business days for verification.
The following might be some helpful information:
Adobe allows you to install and activate your purchased software onto two computers. I have the above-mentioned software installed and activated on two computers on a home network. I am able to 'run' Dreamweaver, Photoshop or Acrobat on both computers at the same time without any licensing problems.
To install and activate your Adobe software on a third computer, you must first 'de-activate' the software on one of the other two computers. Make sure if you ever throw out or give away an old computer, that you first de-activate the Adobe software. Otherwise, you will lose one of your two activations.
After installing and activating, you can then register your software and receive a free gift from Adobe. The gifts vary for each software title. Some of the gifts are AdobeTextPro Font, Photoshop plugins, discounts on Adobe software and 30-day access to training videos on either Lynda.com or CreativeEdge.com. Lynda.com has an amazing amount of training videos. You may want to check out these two websites before registering so you have time to evaluate them.
Concerning future upgrades of Adobe academic software, here is a quote from Adobe's website:
"Upgrades don't have special education pricing. However, you can purchase upgrades for educational products at the regular upgrade prices from any Authorized Education Reseller."
So according to Adobe, you can upgrade your academic software for their standard (non-academic) software if or when you no longer have student or teacher status. That is a really good deal! Many software companies won't allow you to upgrade academic software.
If you are not a student or teacher and you want to purchase academic software, you may want to consider signing up for an interesting class at your local community college. You could then get your student ID and your student status. You don't need to be a full-time student and you don't need to be seeking a degree. Maybe you can find a convenient on-line class. You can then go to a website like JourneyEd and be eligible to purchase all kinds of academic software and hardware.
Also, Microsoft has a program called DreamSpark that allows students to download full-versions of their software for free. You need to first sign up for a Windows Live ID and then sign in and get verified on the Microsoft DreamSpark website. Microsoft uses your college-issued '.edu' email address for verification. During the verification process Microsoft sends an activation email to your .edu email address. You must log in to your .edu email account and click on an activation link within the activation email. My verification didn't go very smoothly as my college had blacklisted Microsoft's mail servers and wouldn't allow me to receive the activation email from DreamSpark. I was eventually verified 'manually' by Microsoft tech support. I had to email them a copy of my scanned school ID and a copy of my class schedule.
After you are verified, Microsoft will verify your student status once a year. You can download all of the software that they have available on their DreamSpark.com website. There are no time limits on the software. You can continue to use their software after your student status expires. After being recently verified, I downloaded the full version of MS Visual Studio 2010 Professional, another very expensive program that was completely free.
With that valuable student ID, you really can save many hundreds of dollars on academic software, hardware and training!

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Introducing Adobe Acrobat X Pro
Experience the full power of Acrobat Dynamic PDF to deliver next-generation PDF communications. Combine a wide variety of file types including video, audio, and interactive media into a polished, professional PDF Portfolio. Gain the feedback you need, faster, through easy-to-manage electronic reviews. Create and distribute fillable PDF forms to collect critical data. Apply passwords and permissions to protect your work. And confidently store and share documents through easy-to-use services at Acrobat.com.

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Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Review

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(More customer reviews)Here comes Windows 7, nearly three years after Windows Vista and eight years after Windows XP. By most accounts, Windows 7 is what Vista should have been. Do we finally have a worthy successor to XP?
PROS:
- Fast startup and performance
- Stable
- Nice aesthetic and functional changes to the desktop
- Improved networking, power management & security
- 32-bit & 64-bit versions included
- Windows Media Center
- Windows XP Mode
CONS:
- User Account Control still annoying
- Upgrade can be challenging
- Expensive
There are only two Microsoft operating systems I've personally skipped since DOS 6.x-- Windows ME and Windows Vista. Windows ME was so terrible that PC World coined it the "Mistake Edition." Vista, when initially released, was considered to be bloated, relying on higher hardware requirements than XP, while being outperformed by XP on identical hardware. With Microsoft fast-tracking Windows 7, I decided to skip Vista altogether and upgrade to 7. This review briefly touches upon some of the key features and enhancements of Microsoft's latest OS.
PERFORMANCE & STABILITY
One of the welcome enhancements Microsoft made was start-up time. The shutdown time has been improved as well. Also, in my non-benchmarked experience, Windows 7 has been at least as fast as XP if not faster. The kernel changes and ability to run the 64-bit version probably has a lot to do with that. Most benchmarks from around the Internet seem to support my observations.
64-BIT
I am elated to finally upgrade to a 64-bit operating system in order to take advantage of more memory support and modern processors. I have Intel Core 2 Duo processors in both my systems with 4GB of physical RAM but XP only allowed 3.25GB for system use.
DESKTOP
At first login, you'll notice the changes to the taskbar. The taskbar is no longer just a place to store quick launch icons and view open windows. It now provides functionality in the form of Jump Lists, which allow you to select your most frequently opened files or links from the apps you have "pinned" on the taskbar. The clock and calendar are improved and the Show Desktop icon is now integrated in the far right corner. Other desktop enhancements include Aero Peek, Aero Shake, Snap, new themes and wallpapers. You also get gadget support. All of these features combine to create a much improved and enjoyable desktop experience.
LIBRARIES
Windows 7 introduces a new feature called libraries. Previously, your system had shortcuts to My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, etc. which had files residing in only those specific folders. Files can now reside anywhere on your system and be organized inside libraries. It's similar to how many music and photo applications organize files.
NETWORKING
Even as good as XP was, networking was cumbersome. Windows 7 makes connecting two or more Windows 7 systems together easy, using HomeGroup. This enables easy sharing of files and devices. One downside is that HomeGroup is only supported between Windows 7 systems. File transfer performance between computers has been vastly improved and connecting to a wireless network has never been easier on a Windows machine.
SECURITY
Security in Windows 7 is good and comes with Windows Firewall and Defender. Still, you'll probably want to invest in a more comprehensive Internet security suite, like Norton Internet Security 2010. User Account Control (UAC) has been tweaked in order to give user accounts more flexibility in controlling their own security as well as providing more detailed information so the user can make better decisions about whether to allow certain actions. Coming from XP however, it is still annoying and I choose to turn it off. Also, in Windows 7 Ultimate, you can encrypt entire hard drives as well as external portable storage devices, like USB thumb drives. Though this is a welcome integrated feature, much of the functionality can be found in a popular open-source program called TrueCrypt. If you want encryption but not multi-language support, you could just get Windows 7 Professional and use TrueCrypt.
POWER MANAGEMENT
Power management has been improved overall and you should be able to squeeze more battery life out of your laptop, even when using your DVD drive. Sleep and resume has also been improved. XP wasn't always consistent when entering or resuming from sleep mode, but Windows 7 has been perfect.
WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER
I've only briefly played around with WMC but it looks promising. It has some fun options for media, especially when you're connected to the Internet. It may even be an adequate replacement for component DVR's should you choose to use it as the centerpiece to your entertainment center. The biggest advantage for me is that Windows 7 now includes a DVD decoder. This means that I can now watch DVD's natively. WMC is available in all Windows 7 editions except Starter.
WINDOWS XP MODE
For applications that ran in XP, but won't on 7, there is now XP Mode. It isn't perfect and your system has to have virtualization support and turned on. Go to your system BIOS to check. If supported, then install Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode. Check your hardware if you intend to use XP Mode.
RECOMMENDATIONS
If you're an XP holdout, like I was, I recommend upgrading. Vista SP2 users may have less reason to upgrade but might want to just for the changes to the taskbar and the UAC improvements. For users who don't need to use their computers in a corporate environment, then Windows 7 Home Premium edition is a good choice. I'm guessing most power users will choose Professional, which adds XP Mode and Domain Join. Ultimate also adds drive encryption and multi-language support. I suggest a clean install for best results. If you're a Mac OS X user, there is probably nothing in Windows 7 compelling enough for you to consider switching.
SUMMARY
Windows 7 is the premium Microsoft OS that Windows users have been waiting for. It's fast, secure, stable, visually appealing and fun to use. Windows 7 will make your old system feel fresh and new again. New system owners with Windows 7 pre-loaded can feel confident that they're getting the best Windows OS ever produced.

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With Windows 7 Professional, fewer walls stand between you and your success. You can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover data easily with automatic backups to your home or business network. You can also connect to company networks effortlessly and more securely with Domain Join. With all the exciting entertainment features of Windows Home Premium, it's a great choice for home and for business. Need to use multiple languages on your PC or help protect your data with enhanced BitLocker security? Get Windows 7 Ultimate.

Everything you need for work and home
Simplifies everyday tasks
Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek and Shake, make it easier to manageall of your open windows.
Creating a home network has never been easier. You can even share files and printers with all the PCs with Windows 7 on the network.
Find virtually anything on your PC – from documents to songs to email – just by typing a word or two with Windows Search.

Works the way you want
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of the power and multi-tasking capabilities of the latest 64-bit PCs.

Makes new things possible
Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Preview Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Pin Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.
Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.
Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.
Peek and Shake Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.
Windows Search Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.
Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.
HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.
Easy to browse the web
Internet Explorer 8 Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.
Internet Explorer 8 Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.
Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.
Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.
Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.
Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.
Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable
Resume from sleep We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.
Faster and more reliable We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.
Fewer clicks and less interruptions
Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.
Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.
DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.
New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.
Media on your terms
Windows Media Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.
You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.
Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Work anywhere with less effort.
Get connected in three clicks wherever there's a wireless network connection.
Keep documents on your PC and on network servers in sync automatically.
Your PC will automatically use the printer you prefer for whatever network you're on.
Simplify making presentations special settings that keep your PC from sleeping and turn off messages, notifications, and screen savers.
Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.


Safeguard your hard work.
Advanced Backup and Restore makes it easier to keep your work safely backed up to external or network drives and accessible if you need it.
File encryption helps keep proprietary and confidential information on a PC secure if it is lost or stolen.
Preserve your investment in programs designed for Windows XP with Windows XP Mode.
Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.
Easily add your PC to a secured, managed, network with domain join capabilities.
Group policy controls help administrators more easily and effectively manage the security and configuration of multiple PCs.

Choose the Windows 7 Edition That Is Best For You

Features


Windows 7 Home Premium

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Silver Efex Pro Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Even though this product is quite pricey, if you love black and white, it is definitely worth it. Gives you amazing control over converting color images to b&w, using predefined templates, additional templates from their website, and also custom setting you can make, and save. Absolutely fantastic. I am running it on an intel Mac Pro w/ 8 Gig of Ram. It is very fast when launched from w/in photoshop. I only gave it 4 stars out of 5 because it is incredibly slow working w/ large 12 and 14 bit raw files when launched from Apple Aperture (but fine from w/in photoshop). A number of people on the web have complained about this and Nik has yet to acknowledge this as a problem. I even offered to help them trouble shoot it to find out where the memory/performance issue was coming from and they didn't respond to my offer. One solution seems to be to launch the plug-in in 8 bit photoshop mode instead of 16 bit but that is just a work around, not a real solution as other Nik software works fine w/ photoshop in 16 bit mode. Overall a great product, I highly recommend you download the 14 day demo and give it a try, and then buy it if you like it as much as I did. The Aperture slow performance was almost a deal-breaker for me but I purchased it anyway knowing that Nik would eventually have to fix that one problem area.
UPDATE: 5 stars. Nik has released version 1.001 which addresses the Aperture slowness problem. Nice and fast now. Highly recommended.

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Silver Efex Pro provides complete power and control to create professional quality black and white images from your color digital photographs, featuring award- winning U Point technology for precisely controlling detail and tonality without the need for complicated selections or layer masks. Advanced imaging algorithms protect against unwanted artifacts, a comprehensive collection of emulated black and white film types, and a state-of-the-art grain reproduction engine help produce the highest quality black and white images possible while providing more freedom to experiment.

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Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For those who aren't professional photo editors, let's be honest with each other: how many of us have bought the professional programs that professionals recommend, and then find that the learning curve is so difficult that we don't use them? I have several other photo editing programs: Photoshop Elements 2.0, Paint Shop Pro. I kept buying the next one because the "pros" recommended them. I found that to learn EACH task it took from 1/2 to 1 hour. There is NO simplicity to anything with those programs. They can do awesome things, I just don't have the time to figure out how to do EACH and EVERY ONE. Using MS Digital Image Pro, it is set up so simple, you can just make a few clicks and almost every task can be accomplished. I've imported many photos into the program, modified them easily and quickly, and then placed them into a video which I burned to DVD's for projects at work. I received quite a number of complements from other "non-professionals" on the quality of the changes. I was also able to easily make modifications for pictures of my family which came out very nice.
If you're looking for a professional, extremely extensive program, perhaps you might want to look at the other ones. But if you're like me and want a fun program that also will deal with 90% of common tasks, this will save you a lot of frustration.

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Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9 is packed with all the tools you need to edit, organize, share and archive your personal photo projects!

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The Print Shop 23 Pro Publisher Deluxe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had an old Print Shop that created low resolution PDF's. Bit the bullet and bought this one because customer support said the PDF's created would be high resolution and yes, that is true. However, PDF creator did not work properly and everytime I tried to create a PDF- the program froze and then the computer froze. Tried customer service, still waiting for a response- [...]. even though the fix is for a "printmaster pdf problem" I figured how much more broken could my PDF creator be- so I took a chance- followed the instructions and VICTORY! I can now use this pricy program for the only reason I bought it- to create high resolution PDF's from Printshop files. So if you are having problems (I am using Windows Vista 64 bit) getting the PDF feature to work- dixiegirl_10 and her fixya solution may be your answer. So for ratings- 0 stars (to Broderbund)for not providing an online solution for a known issue- but 5 stars to dixiegirl_10.

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Design like a professional with the easiest solution for high quality print projects. Design from scratch or choose from 23,000+ professionally-designed templates for a wide variety of projects, including newsletters, flyers, stationery sets, marketing materials, shipping labels, business forms, calendars and more. Customize your design with the easiest design tools around. You can add your own logo, text, photos, graphics and word art. Comes with 420,000+ high quality clip art images, photos, borders, frames and embellishments. Plus, powerful photo editing tools like red-eye removal, crop and flip to make your photos perfect. Its so easy to create and print impressive projects, clients and co-workers will think you hired a professional.

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Pinnacle My MP3 Pro Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The first problem I experienced with this software was it could not see my cd drive. I went to the Steinberg site (the company who supports this software) and found that there are quite a few problems with this software. I also searched their site for technical support and could not find any. Maybe it is there, but it was hard to find. I wanted to return the software but I bought it here (Amazon)....

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Cinematize 2 Pro Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pro: This software is essentially Cinematize 2 Pro Editionfor those who wants to create a presentation media from various VTS/VOB files. You can select chapters to get to the desired selection pretty quick. The desired clip(s) can be stretched between chapters. No need to stitch different VOB files together. You can drag & drop the entire DVD directly on its inbox. Pretty cool. The output option include H264 and .mov version with attached & unattached option for video & audio files. The pro version also extract the 5.1 audio tracks as separate mono channels. The DVD titles can be output in an unattached format as a separate file. I usually prefer unattached version as it gives me a chance to cleanup the video/audio clips for a clean presentation. By the way,the video & audio files are sync'd with time code so when you insert them into Premier Pro they are already in sync. It's interface is pretty intuitive and easy to understand.
CON: The biggest drawback that I noticed is that when you extract your clips, there is no audio in the monitor mode. Which really sucks. I need clips with exact wording to make the 10 second impact. So now I have to guess where the desired sentence ends (which is very difficult as I can't read the lips) and for final version I have to use premier pro to trim it. It would have been easier if I could had it all ready during the selection process. Now it is twice the work for me. Also, be warned that this software in finiky about what brand of DVD read/write device you have. I have windows 7 and I have pioneer and LG DVD burner. But for some odd reasons this software refuses to recognize the VTS files in Chapter 1 when I used Pioneer. When I tried the same disk in LG burner i had no issues.
Summary: This software is very expensive for what it does. Miraizon is a new company and this software is buggy. When I bought the disk Miraizon already had a new version for download. To load the new version you must contact the customer service for a download link, unintall the old version and then load the new version. The customer service is pretty good. When i called the response was very quick.

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Palo Alto Marketing Plan Pro 9.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I also have a copy of Palo Alto's Business Plan Pro. I'm working my way through MPP, doing 4 plans at once for 4 different clients. So far, I find it very helpful, and easy to use.
I'd like to see a slightly larger array of sample plans to look at, but I can understand the limitations.

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Ultimate Pro Pinball Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Pro Pinball games are the best you can get without having a full-sized table in your game room (which we do).
I loved these games when they were first released, and played them on Win95 and 98, but when XP came along, they were toast.
I was very happy to see that they had been re-released for XP.
Strangely, the first two games work just fine, but the newest in the series will not work on my computer. It installs, graphics are fine, but all keyboard entries are erratic and slow (I'm talking 10-20 seconds for response times!). The fix posted in the readme files, and the updates, didn't fix the problem for me, but may fix it for others.
It's a bummer, because the third game is my favorite - however, I'll live with just the other two.
It's still worthy - but frustrating to pay for something and not be able to play part of it!

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Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I researched movie editors for months, before buying Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack. Did I make the right choice? Yes, however this product is only usable if you have good general computer skills, and have the ability to learn through trial and error. I would not recommend this product if you expect to produce a masterpiece in one day.
What do you get in this package?
Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9 - program to edit digital movie, add soundtracks, voice-overs, and fancy text, rolling credits, etc.
DVD Architect Studio - program to author DVD's, so you end up with professional quality DVD menus with all the bells and whistles
Sound Forge Audio Studio - a music editing program, with the added ability to convert all your L.P.'s and cassettes into digital format, so that you can then make CD's or load them onto your IPod.
Cinescore Studio 1.0 - free music of various genres, to add to your productions to give them a professional sound
There was one major problem with this software when I first loaded it, that I only managed to fix by pure luck. The problem was quite a major one. In the version which comes on CD-ROM, there is a bug which stops the soundtrack from MPEG2 files from loading into the editior program. This is incredible considering that almost every digital camcorder on the market uses the MPEG2 format, including Sony. However!!! Once you have loaded the program and registered, you need to go to the Sony update software web page. Here you will find a download that fixes many bugs in the program, including the MPEG2 problem.
There is another problem with the program if you are going to buying this to upload videos to You Tube. In the last couple of months You Tube has upgraded there video screen to Widescreen (16:9 ratio) format. There is no template in Vegas Movie Studio to handle this. So if you intend on uploading video to You Tube in 16:9, then you will need some advanced computer skills to create your own template. I'm sure Sony will work on this and provide an update to the program in time. At the moment, the program handles traditional 4:3 format for upload to the internet.
There are many cool features hidden within Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack. Only the basics are discussed in the instructional booklets that come with the program. If you explore all the alien like buttons and features, through trial and error, you will be more than happy with this software.
6/10 for ease of use
9.5/10 for cool features
All the best with your movie editing and DVD production.
Regards D.
UPDATE AS OF 28th JUNE 2010
GREAT NEWS!!!!
Sony Creative Software has just released a brand new version of the software featured in this review.
The NEW VERSION is called Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 Production Suite.
All the bugs that I had reported in the above review have now been FIXED! Yeah!!
This is FIVE STAR Software Package now. I give no hesitation in recommending this.
Dex :)

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Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Pro Pack takes HD video and audio production even further with tools for professional-level sound design and more video effects and transitions. Use the included Sound Forge Audio Studio software for precise audio editing and CinescoreStudio software for soundtrack creation. Upload movies to YouTube, burn to Blu-ray Disc, or author DVDs.

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Adobe Flash Pro CS5 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)You would think that after 5 tries, Adobe could find a way to bring a certain uniformity to it's applications -- namely CS5 Flash. Unfortunately, that's just not the case. Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign are pretty solid, but the rest of the various software within the many suites feels as if their programmers were locked in a room and not allowed to communicate with other teams.
Software upgrades are supposed to -- find ways to increase user efficiency, offer additional tools, provide an even easier UI than previous, without abandoning well established fundamentals. Sometimes it feels as if Adobe just takes what they have, rearrange everything, burry a few new nice features, then slap a new CSX badge on it. Here you go - 200 for the upgrade, please!
Thankfully I bought a manual for this new version, because I will certainly need to read it heavily.
The biggest annoyance, first off, is that they're trying to change how tweening works.
The second most annoying is the dynamic Properties Panel. I like to be able to tear off portions of a cpanel and rearrange as I like. Or to be able to see a cpanel, and know where it is, before I even need it. Not so with the Prop Panel as it's set up when you first fire up the app. I wasn't much of a fan of it in the last versions, and I really don't like it here. When certain features are active, you have to toggle them open which pushes the side window down. Open a few, and suddenly you have to scoll down to get to everything in the cpanel. I believe you should never have to scroll in a cpanel.
If you're just starting out, read a book first and then move forward. If you're coming from CS3 like I am, I suggest going with the Classic Layout/View... Window/Workspace/Classic


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Adobe Flash Professional CS5 software is the industry-leading environment for interactive authoring and delivery of immersive experiences that are presented consistently across personal computers, mobile devices, and screens of virtually any size and resolution. Design expressive content with professional typography and pixel-precise drawing tools, write code precisely and efficiently with code completion and customizable code snippets, and deliver superior-quality video to audiences practically everywhere.

Create and deliver rich interactive content
New text engine Take control over your text with print-quality typography via the new Text Layout Framework. Work with columns and bidirectional text, and maintain layout and formatting with greater fidelity when importing from other Adobe products.
XML-based FLA source files Manage and modify projects using source control systems and collaborate on files more easily. An XML-based nonbinary implementation of the FLA format allows projects and associated assets to function as items in a directory or folder.
Improved Adobe Creative Suite integration Enhance your productivity and workflow when using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Flash Builder. Leverage the FXG graphics file format and integration with Adobe Mini Bridge for digital asset management.
Code Snippets panel Reduce the ActionScript 3.0 learning curve and promote greater creativity by injecting prebuilt code into projects. Quickly include functional code for timeline navigation, actions, animation, audio and video, and event handlers.
Enhanced ActionScript editor Increase development speed with an improved ActionScript editor, including custom class code hinting and code completion. Use Adobe Flash Builder software as your primary ActionScript editor for Flash Professional projects.
Object-based animation model Use object-based animation and visually achieve granular control over motion attributes with the Motion Editor. Develop interactive content more efficiently with the Motion Preset panel, which offers prebuilt motion effects and lets you create, save, and share your own.
Inverse kinematics Take advantage of advanced motion capabilities and visually add realistic physics effects with new strength and damping settings for the Bones tool. Easily create natural, chain-like motion with a simple and familiar user interface.
Advanced native drawing tools Author expressive interactive content with easy-to-use tools. Draw stylized shapes and transform them into complex patterns and effects, and animate 2D objects through 3D space with 3D transformation tools.
Video improvements Streamline video embedding and encoding processes with on-stage video scrubbing and a new cue points property inspector. See and play back FLV components directly on the stage.
Support across devices Deliver interactive content consistently for more runtimes across personal computers, mobile devices, and screens of virtually any size and resolution, and leverage integration with Adobe Device Central for enhanced testing and debugging.
Top new features of Adobe Flash Professional CS5
New text engine Flash Professional CS5 adds support for the new Text Layout Framework built into Flash Player 10, enabling you to use print-quality typographic functionality and take the experiences you create to new heights. Support for the Text Layout Framework provides rich, multilingual typographic control that previously was not available in Flash Professional, as well as a comprehensive set of APIs to manipulate text content, layout, and markup. The new text engine in Flash Professional CS5 also maintains layout and text formatting with greater fidelity when importing content from Adobe InDesign software and other Adobe products.
Print-quality typographic control Designers have come to expect rich typographic control in applications like InDesign and Illustrator. However, it's been extremely difficult or even impossible to set professional-level typography on the web--until now. With the Text Layout Framework support in Flash Professional CS5, designers can take advantage of rich typographical controls, including:
Advanced text styling such as kerning, ligatures, tracking, leading, superscript, subscript, discretionary hyphens, margins, hypertext, baseline shift, typographic case, digit case (oldstyle/lining figures), and digit width (proportional/tabular figures).
Advanced text-layout controls including threaded text blocks; the selection, editing and flowing of text across multiple columns; linked images; text wrap; and inline images (supporting PNG, JPG, SWF, or any Flash Player DisplayObject). Tab stops and CSS anti-aliasing are also supported.

Global language support The Text Layout Framework brings advanced multilingual typographic and layout features to Flash Professional CS5. This support includes the ability to display and edit not only right-to-left scripts, but also top-to-bottom scripts, and those that often use a mixture of left-to-right and right-to-left scripts such as Arabic and Hebrew.
The new text engine offers additional features for East Asian typography, including an East Asian justifier, vertical text support, and Tate-Chu-Yoko, or blocks of horizontal text embedded into vertical runs of text.
Advanced inline text editing Working with text inside of Flash Professional is now a far more efficient and productive experience. In addition to cut, copy, paste, find, replace, and spell-check functionality and standard keyboard and mouse gestures for editing (Ctrl/Command, Home/End, double-click), a new Selection mode allows text to be treated as read-only, read-select, or read-write.
Advanced rendering support While offering advanced typographic control to designers is important, you want to know that what you see on your screen matches your viewers' experience as well. The Text Layout Framework builds on the history of consistent high-quality playback and display across multiple devices in Flash Player by adding support for transparency and for device and embedded fonts (including anti-aliasing of embedded fonts). A new embedded font format (DefineFont4) provides improved typography features, international support, and reduced file sizes.
Ability to distribute content virtually anywhere Deliver consistently across screens of virtually any size and use Adobe Device Central for enhanced device testing. The Distribution service available separately through Adobe Flash Platform Services offers free and paid methods for distributing applications to social networks, mobile devices, and desktops. It also enables developers and businesses to track the distribution of and user engagement with their applications, and enables monetization of applications through ad hosting.
Deliver to mobile and consumer devices. Deliver content that plays back on millions of devices worldwide. Packager for iPhone preview, included with Flash Professional CS5, compiles ActionScript bytecode into native iPhone application code. iPhone applications are distributed as iPhone application installer (IPA) files, via the iTunes store.
Deliver to desktop computers. Take advantage of the ubiquity of Flash Player within browsers and Adobe AIR for extended support on the desktop. Content displays with a consistent look and feel across operating systems and browsers.

XML-based FLA source files Flash Professional CS5 uses an XML-based implementation of the FLA file format called XFL, offering improved cross-product integration and workflow productivity. This compact and efficient file format both accurately maintains data in a Flash document and makes the individual elements easier to manage and use.
For example, an image that is currently used in a Flash project could be checked out of a source control system, updated, and checked back in. The next time you open the FLA project file, you would instantly see the updated image without having to manually import it into the project.
With better support for multiuser environments and cross-product compatibility, the XML-based format in Flash Professional offers the following benefits:
The uncompressed format allows several users on a team to work on the same project simultaneously--no more having to split the project into multiple FLA files.
Integration with source control systems is now possible because each team member can work on separate assets in the XFL package, eliminating the need to resolve differences.
Mobile developers can work on the same files as other developers. (In the past, mobile content could not load other SWF files.)

Using XML-based FLA source files, Flash Professional CS5 provides a richer environment in which to exchange data with other key Adobe Creative Suite tools, including After Effects, InDesign, Illustrator, Adobe Encore, and Flash Catalyst.
Code Snippets panel Flash Professional CS5 provides a new way to quickly include code for things like timeline navigation, actions, animation, audio and video, and event handlers with the Code Snippets panel. By injecting prebuilt code into projects, you can work faster, freeing up more time for creativity.
For example, the sample code snippets allow you to create interactive buttons without extensive code experience. Code snippets also contain helpful comments and clear instructions right in the code and can greatly reduce the ActionScript 3.0 learning curve by helping new users learn how the ActionScript language works. In addition, because the panel is extensible, you can create and share snippets with others, helping to reduce overall production time.
Enhanced ActionScript editor Increase development speed with an improved ActionScript editor, including custom class code hinting and code completion, and reference your own code or external code libraries more efficiently. Novice developers can start projects and have code hinting assist them as they try to grasp the fundamentals of the ActionScript language. Flash Professional CS5 can automatically write the import statement for libraries, and more experienced and advanced developers can more quickly reference their own code or any external code libraries they are using.
Improved Creative Suite integration Flash Professional is an integral part of all Creative Suite 5 Premium editions. Flash Professional CS5 adds more ways to work directly with other Creative Suite 5 components for a more efficient workflow, including:
Edit bitmaps in Photoshop using the new Edit With Photoshop CS5 command
Export complex graphics via the FXG format, which you can open in Illustrator
Place finished SWF files into Flash Catalyst projects
Use Flash Builder as your ActionScript code-authoring environment
Open content from InDesign with greater text fidelity
Import FXG files from Fireworks
Open content from After Effects and retain editing flexibility

Flash Builder integration Adobe Flash Builder (formerly Adobe Flex Builder) is a professional Eclipse-based developer tool that enables intelligent coding, interactive step-through debugging, and visual design of the user interface and behavior for Flex applications. Rather than having to choose between one integrated development environment (IDE) and another, you can now write your ActionScript code in Flash Builder and then test, debug, and publish your content in Flash Professional.
Test Movie and Debug Movie. When invoked, these commands bring up Flash Professional CS5, open the FLA file that has been set in the properties of the current project, and test or debug the movie. Once the SWF window is closed (or the debug session is ended, in the case of Debug Movie), focus is returned to Flash Builder (and the FLA file remains open). You can also set breakpoints in Flash Builder that work in the Flash Professional debugger.
Publish Movie. When invoked, this command brings up Flash Professional CS5 and publishes the target FLA file. Once the export is complete, if compiler errors were found, Flash Professional is brought to the front with its Compiler Errors panel open and the errors listed. If no errors were found, a dialog box in Flash Builder indicates that the Publish request was successful.

Spring for Bones With Flash Professional CS5, Adobe integrates the power of a dynamic physics engine into the Inverse Kinematics (IK) system. This engine allows new users to create lifelike animation with ease, and gives expert users powerful functionality that is supported for both runtime and authortime. Spring gives IK animation movement that is 100% configurable, so you can now get realistic multi-object interactions that don't look robotic and rigid. Spring, a property of an IK Bone element, consists of two attributes: Strength and Damping.
Strength sets the amount of spring. When the value is greater than zero, the bone reacts with a physical movement that is proportional to the Strength value and the overall movement.
Damping adds resistance to the Strength value. This affects the rate of decay of the spring, which in turn determines the duration between the initial movement and the time when the IK Bone returns to its rest position.

Video improvements With integrated support for content created with Adobe Premiere Pro or Adobe After Effects software, it's easy to work with video content directly in Flash Professional CS5. Streamline embedding and encoding processes with on-stage video scrubbing and the ability to define cue points directly in the Properties panel. Now, when you have an FLV playback component on the stage, you can see the video on the stage, whereas previously you had to test the movie. Flash Professional CS5 also includes Adobe Media Encoder, enabling you to convert just about any file format to FLV or F4V.
New Deco drawing tools Flash Professional CS5 extends the functionality of the dynamic Deco brush tools, enabling you to easily draw shapes and add advanced animation effects. These new brushes include:
Particle System. Quickly create movement for particle phenomena like clouds or rain.
3D, Decorated, and new Grid brushes. Draw stylized lines or create patterns with multiple objects at once.
Tree, Flame, Lightning, and Building brushes. Use specialized tools to add and customize these stylized shapes.

Adobe Flash authoring tools With Creative Suite 5, Adobe delivers a variety of tools with the capability to author interactive content for the Adobe Flash Platform. Each project you work on is unique, presenting various requirements and specifications regarding design, development, and deployment. This comparison chart is a quick reference that will help you choose the best tool or tools for what you want to accomplish.

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Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I don't see much commentary here about the actual product performance. There is a lot of confusion about this upgrade in the retail outlets, so I thought I'd explain to those with questions.
I researched Windows 7 before I bought my computer, and knew I wanted Win 7 Professional in case I wanted to run XP programs. Most retail outlets only had Win 7 Home Premium installed on their computers. The computer stores had the Win 7 Pro computers on backorder. Through some investigation at Microsoft, I found out that all versions of Win 7 are preinstalled, and you just need to get a key to "unlock" the higher versions. This is that key.
It took a total of 14 minutes to install this upgrade on my new computer. The hardest part was typing in the multi-digit key. (In other words, not hard!) It ran for 12 minutes, and then it was ready to go!
I haven't tried the features of Win 7 Pro to rate it, but this upgrade works as promised.

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If you want more features than you currently have in your existing edition of Windows 7, you can upgrade to another edition using Windows Anytime Upgrade. Upgrades from Windows 7 Home Premium edition to Windows 7 Professional edition.


Windows Anytime Upgrade No disks, no delays. And no leaving the house: With Windows Anytime Upgrade, you can upgrade to a more advanced edition of Windows 7 in as little as 10 minutes. That way, you get to take advantage of extra features while keeping your current programs, files, and settings intact.
In the past, upgrading Windows could be a bit of a hassle. In Windows 7, the software you need comes preinstalled. All you have to do is purchase an upgrade key from Microsoft or another authorized retailer to unlock those shiny new features.

Get more now. Move up to Windows 7 Professional. Windows 7 Professional has everything you need for work and home. Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode2 and keep important information safer with file encryption and automatic back-ups. Connect to business networks and move more easily between business and home networks. And with all the great entertainment features of Windows Home Premium, like Windows Media Center, it's great for home as well as for business.
Simplifies everyday tasks
Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek and Shake, make it easier to manage all of your open windows.
Creating a home network has never been easier. You can even share files and printers with all the PCs with Windows 7 on the network.
Find virtually anything on your PC--from documents to songs to email--just by typing a word or two with Windows Search.

Works the way you want
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of the power and multi-tasking capabilities of the latest 64-bit PCs.
Windows XP Mode gives you the business flexibility you need.

Makes new things possible
Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

* Requires either OEM pre-installation or post-purchase download of Windows XP Mode (which runs on Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate) and a virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC. Customers can download Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC free-of-charge from http://www.windows.com/business/downloads/ when available.
Windows 7 Professional. Everything you need for work and home. With Windows 7 Professional, fewer walls stand between you and your success. You can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover data easily with automatic backups to your home or business network. You can also connect to company networks effortlessly and more securely with Domain Join. With all the exciting entertainment features of Windows Home Premium, it's a great choice for home and for business. Need to use multiple languages on your PC or help protect your data with enhanced BitLocker security? Get Windows 7 Ultimate.

Simplifies everyday tasks
Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek and Shake, make it easier to manageall of your open windows.
Creating a home network has never been easier. You can even share files and printers with all the PCs with Windows 7 on the network.
Find virtually anything on your PC – from documents to songs to email – just by typing a word or two with Windows Search.

Works the way you want
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of the power and multi-tasking capabilities of the latest 64-bit PCs.

Makes new things possible
Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Preview Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Pin Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.
Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.
Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.
Peek and Shake Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.
Windows Search Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.
Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.
HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.
Easy to browse the web
Internet Explorer 8 Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.
Internet Explorer 8 Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.
Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.
Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.
Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.
Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.
Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable
Resume from sleep We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.
Faster and more reliable We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.
Fewer clicks and less interruptions
Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.
Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.
DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.
New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.
Media on your terms
Windows Media Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.
You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.
Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Work anywhere with less effort.
Get connected in three clicks wherever there's a wireless network connection.
Keep documents on your PC and on network servers in sync automatically.
Your PC will automatically use the printer you prefer for whatever network you're on.
Simplify making presentations special settings that keep your PC from sleeping and turn off messages, notifications, and screen savers.
Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.


Safeguard your hard work.
Advanced Backup and Restore makes it easier to keep your work safely backed up to external or network drives and accessible if you need it.
File encryption helps keep proprietary and confidential information on a PC secure if it is lost or stolen.
Preserve your investment in programs designed for Windows XP with Windows XP Mode.
Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.
Easily add your PC to a secured, managed, network with domain join capabilities.
Group policy controls help administrators more easily and effectively manage the security and configuration of multiple PCs.

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Filemaker Pro 11 Advanced Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)FileMaker 11 is a solid release that builds on the foundation laid by FileMaker 10. Many of the features specifically allow developers to create better databases more easily. Some of the biggest new features include:
* Built-in charting tools.
* Quick reports using table view.
* Miscellaneous development interface enhancements
Here's a run down of each feature in some detail...
* New Quick Start Screen - Along the right side are tutorials and resources for beginners. Favorites and recently opened databases are easier to get to.
* Inspector "Gadget" - One major change to the interface for developers is the use of "the inspector" palette. Similar to many other "modern" applications such as Adobe CS and Microsoft Office, FileMaker now has opened up many of the features previously hidden in dialog boxes into a palette they call the inspector. This takes a little getting used to, but once you've become accustom to the change, it's difficult to go back. The palette does take more screen space so having a large (or wide) screen for development is very helpful. It is possible to open more than one inspector window and display nearly all properties of objects all at once be it Position, Appearance, or Data information.
* Manage Layouts - Manage layouts can now organize layouts in folders and submenus similar to how we work with scripts! This is really helpful for databases with hundreds of layouts. You can also create new, duplicate, edit, and delete layouts there as well.
* Charting Tool - In the past, FileMaker required a plug-in or connection to a web site to get charts or graphs into a FileMaker database. Now it's built-in and well integrated into the tool including bar, area, line, and pie charts. You can create charts from the current record, over the found set, or via related records.
* Table View - The FileMaker table layout view now acts more like a spreadsheet and allows the user to add columns and summaries of information with flexibility and without modifying the underlying database structure. This is very easy to use and very powerful. With the right security options, users can add, modify, or delete fields from the underlying table or add, copy, duplicate, and delete records. You can also show or hide columns easily. In essence this allows the user to create ad-hoc reports very easily.
* Quick Find - The new Quick Find feature is a Google type search located in the toolbar that looks across all records and fields to gather a found set. It can be useful but it can also cause issues on more complex databases. It automatically indexes every field on the layout which can add a lot of overhead. I suggest you go into each layout and turn OFF all the fields for quick find. They all default to being included...which can make for some very slow "quick" finds. Then turn on only the most relevant fields to most searches. The fields that will search well are shown with a green search badge in layout mode.
* Report Assistant - Generally enhanced for appearance as well as making it easier to add a summary field to the database on the fly. FileMaker will also allow you to add a script on layout entry via a trigger.
* Recurring Imports - This feature really isn't anything that you couldn't do in the past...it's just automated a little more by creating a script for you.
* Text Highlighting - A simple and nice new text formatting option that makes it look as if you used a yellow marker to make the text stand out.
* Snapshot Links - You can now send a link to your database that includes the layout, foundset, and view via email. It sends this information as a .fpsl file that FileMaker can open and then take the user right to the same place you were as a point-in-time view of the database records.
* Portal Filtering - Without creating additional relationships, you can now show filtered related records directly through defining a calculation. This can go toward simplifying the relationship graph.
* External Table Security - Additional security prevents accessing tables stored in an external file.
* Layout Object Badges - Layouts show a more visual information on fields now that can be helpful when developing a solution.
* Invoice Starter Solution - The invoice starter solution included with FileMaker is now quite useful. It tracks contacts, products, and invoices and relates them all in one database file. This will be a good place for some businesses to start using FileMaker.
* New Script Triggers - There are now a couple of new script triggers: OnObjectValidate, OnLayoutExit and OnViewChange.
* New Variable Uses - You can now use variables in find script steps and on layout merge fields. This can be very helpful in creating a localized solution where the field labels must appear in more than one language.
* New IWP Toolbar (Instant Web Publishing) - Even though IWP has limited usefulness, the toolbar has been updated to be more similar to the toolbar within FileMaker itself.
* Misc Interface Improvements - You can do more functions within dialogs where before you needed to back out of the dialog in order to complete the task. This goes a long way toward speeding up development. FileMaker icons are now purple and pink...more like Mac OS Leopard...out with the blue from FileMaker 10.
There are a couple of features that are specific to the enhanced developer version of FileMaker called FileMaker Advanced:
* Custom Menus - The custom menu building interface is easier to use.
* Import Custom Functions - Now you can now import custom functions! You can't copy and paste them yet but now you can easily build a library of custom functions in a file and pull them into your solution without recreating each function from scratch.
FileMaker Server has some improvements also. They include:
* Easier installation and administration.
* Better statistics and easier access to them through the admin console.
* Backup file clone allows you to save the database structure automatically through a schedules script.
* Save and load schedules when migrating to new hardware. This will also save time when upgrading to the next version of FileMaker server.
* Specify user account when running a script on the server.
* Set time limits for script schedules.
* No limit on the number of users...bumped from 999 to whatever.
* Administrative user groups. In a large corporate environment with a shared server, you can now assign administrative access to specific databases only and not the entire server.
There you have it...an overview of all the new features in FileMaker 11. Overall, I highly recommend this upgrade for all FileMaker users. It's a great value and welcome upgrade.
If you're still trying to force Excel to be a database tool and need to share and make your critical business data more useful and accessible, there's never been a better time to invest in FileMaker. If you're already a FileMaker user, this is a stable and helpful upgrade.
--
Tim Cimbura is chief technology guru at [...], LLC. He uses his expertise to help businesses become more effective, productive, and profitable through the use of FileMaker databases, Apple products, and web site consulting and development.

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FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced includes all the features in FileMaker Pro 11 plus a suite of advanced development and customization tools. Design and develop more powerful and flexible database applications for yourself and your group!

Upgrade to FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced If you have FileMaker Pro 10 or 9, FileMaker Pro 10 or 9 Advanced, or FileMaker Pro 11, you are eligible for upgrade pricing on FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced. Attention FileMaker Pro 8.5 or 8 and FileMaker Pro 8.5 or 8 Advanced users:you are eligible for upgrade pricing until Sep. 23, 2010.

Limited time offer; after Sep. 23 2010 purchase full version. As of September 23, 2010, technical support and replacement media will no longer be available for any FileMaker 8.5 or 8 products.
Advanced development and customization tools
Chart a whole new course for your data FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced comes with brand new features to help you create eye-catching reports, boost your productivity, and build better databases.
Create eye-catching reports with FileMaker Charts using bar, line, area, and pie charting styles. Make reports in a familiar spreadsheet-like format, or build customized reports with the improved Layout/Report Assistant. Set up Recurring Imports with your Excel or text files. Plus save your data as Snapshot Links to create personal reports or collaborate with other. Boost your productivity every day with new tools to help you build and use your databases more easily including Quick Find, Inspector, Object Badges, improved Quick Start Screen, a new Invoice Starter Solution, and text highlighting.
Build better databases faster with new features for the more experienced developer such as Layout Folders, Portal Filtering, scripting enhancements, file security, and variables in find requests and merge fields.
Design and develop databases faster and easier Customize your database application even more by renaming, adding, or deleting menu and toolbar items with Custom Menus. Create standalone, runtime applications that don't require users to have FileMaker Pro.
Debug and troubleshoot more efficiently Pinpoint problem areas by reviewing scripts step-by-step in the Script Debugger. Monitor fields, variables, expressions, and even test calculation formulas with the Data Viewer, as well as temporarily disable script steps to test portions of your scripts.
Modify and maintain with ease Update databases faster by importing multiple tables or by using copy/paste to move fields, tables, scripts, and script steps. Get comprehensive information on database schema and options, like fields, Web Viewers, layouts, Custom Menus, and more with the Database Design Report.
The Top Features in FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced If you're using FileMaker Pro, you'll appreciate all the great benefits of FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced.
New--Enhanced Custom Menu User Interface Use a streamlined new interface to customize menus for executing your scripts. Rename, add, or delete menu items or replace entire menus with your custom choices for a completely tailored solution.
New--Custom Function Enhancements Copy, paste, and import custom functions into your databases without having to re-key information.
New--Improved Script Debugger Debug scripts attached to buttons and Custom Menus along with all the scripts on your layout.
Multiple Table Import Build or modify databases faster by importing multiple tables at once.
Data Viewer Monitor fields, variables, and calculations while troubleshooting.
Runtime Maker Create standalone runtime solutions that don't require FileMaker Pro.
Kiosk Maker Build applications where all menus are hidden.
External Function Plug-in API Build more robust calculations and extend database capabilities.
Database Design Report Run comprehensive reports on all elements of the database schema.
New Features Get all these features that are new to both FileMaker Pro 11 and FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced
New--FileMaker Charts Create eye-catching reports using bar, line, area, and pie charts.
New--Quick Reports Create reports in a spreadsheet-like format. Group and summarize data on the fly.
New--Recurring Import Automatically import Excel and text files every time you open your database.
New--Quick Find Search for information just as you would in a web browser.
New--Inspector Manage your layout tools all in one convenient place.
New--Layout Folders Organize layouts into folders with easy drag and drop.

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