Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I used a very early version of this software (the Broderbund release) and enjoyed using it to build family trees. At the time, though, the artificial intelligence aspects of the software (and associated website, ancestry.com) were not well developed, and I found the interface a little clunky (and unattractive). It's been at least 10 years since those early experiences with genealogy software, and I'm very happy to see how much things have progressed since then. The new software appears a little complicated at first glance, which I consider a good thing. In order to capture and correctly correlate reams of data, the application needs to be robust. I've found the new software (and the constantly improving ancestry.com) a joy to use. You can keep things as simple as you like, or dig (and substantiate) as deeply as you like.
I bought the Deluxe version, which I consider a huge bargain. For about $50 you get a very well-designed program (Family Tree Maker), a DVD full of reference books, and a 3-month subscription to ancestry.com.
I'm using the software on a system running Windows XP 64-bit. No problems.
Update (3/25):
I still like the software, but after using it for a few weeks, I have a few complaints. First, and most significantly for users who want to employ both Family Tree Maker and Ancestry.com, the ability to move records back and forth between the local software and the website is poorly conceived and developed. It would be nice to have a button on the Person page that would let you synch the record between the two applications. Second, I've found the support for the product lacking. I've posted a few questions to the support staff, and have received no answers. Similarly, the issue of using the two applications together is not well explained either in the software package or on ancestry.com. I've downgraded my recommendation to 3 stars (from 5). Family Tree Maker is getting better, in my opinion, but still has lots of room for improvement (and subscriptions to ancestry.com need to be more affordable...they'd make more money in the long run).
Final update (4/25):
If I could, I'd downgrade my review to 2 1/2 stars. The software is very useful, and I think the interface is well-designed. The database seems solid, and there are some nice tools. My complaints persist, however. The product support is bad to mediocre, although you wouldn't know that from the "we're here to help" message on the website. After 2 or 3 weeks, I finally received a response to my e-mail question regarding the use of Family Tree Maker with Ancestry.com, and the answer was pretty much what I expected. The two applications (the desktop software and the website) don't really talk to each other. That's very unfortunate, since users of the software will need the on-line account to explore the available data on the web, but unless you're planning to maintain a lifelong account (relatively expensive), that data will never be available locally (on your PC). That may be the plan, which seems like bad marketing, in my opinion. I think the company would sell a lot more of both products if they produced desktop software that accessed the internet seamlessly, synched the local data with the web data, and offered the on-line subscription for a more reasonable fee.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Family Tree Maker 2011 Deluxe
Ancestry.com Family Tree Maker software gives you 100+ new and exciting ways to discover your family history and preserve it for generations to come. Rich storytelling tools let you build your family tree, create charts and reports, plus incorporate photos and video. The Deluxe version comes with a free three-month Ancestry.com membership that provides access to three billion U.S. immigration, marriage, and census records.
Brand-new user interface plus more than 100 software enhancements makes it easier than ever to discover your family's story.
Click here for more information about Family Tree Maker 2011 Deluxe
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