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Punch Viacad 2D/3D Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this item, then found it was also available on this same site @ $99.99. I had an instant feeling I had purchaced the wrong item, as I was looking for the VISTA compatible version, and the "platforn" listed states "NO OPERATING SYSTEM" What this means, no one at amazon customer support could tell me. They seem to be in INDIA or in ASIA somewheres.
I called customer service and they could not tell me the differences other than the $100 version is from TARGET, and the $70 version is from AMAZON.
Long story short, if you want the PC version of this software, GET THE AMAZON VERSION FOR $70.
Here's what I found out....the ITEM NUMBERS are different (88100 vs 88500) The 88500 being the "newer" more expensive. The bottom line is that the only difference is the SIZE OF THE BOX. I dug around the web for hours and finally was able to find a site with UPC, ISBN and all info on this title. The "old" $70 version is in the larger box with a flap to open up with ideas and pictures that are used to sell the product. The newer on (88500) is the smaller size box that has become popular recently.
Also, right on my box it states WORKS WITH WINDOWS VISTA (the website does not tell you this, unless you look at the picture of the box, and then it conflicts with the information on the site, hense my confusion.)
The detailed specs clearly state VISTA as a supported operating system.
The program install takes a bit of time to install due to tha amount of files to transfer, and on a VISTA system, SEVERAL MINUTES (up to 15?) due to the fact VISTA will read the entire disk, file by file before even starting the install. Be patient, and notice your HD or CD/DVD drive light is still "thinking"
In XP, the program runs flawless. In vista I had to adjust some setting and verify my "OPEN GL" was up to date. I am still having a issue with 3d rendering (it wont all the time, yet at other time sit does perfectly.)but I have only had it for a day, so I'm still on the learning curve. I'm not 100% convinced it's a bug in the software, more a compatibilty issue. It has NO issue on my XP system.
Speaking of learning curve, there IS. On a scale of 1-10 it's a about a 6 for me. If you are familiar with PUNCH! products, this interface should be familiar. It is not as intuitive as other PUNCH! software, but I feel it's because of what this software has to offer....TONS OF FEATURES. They all need a button or two!!
The software is AMAZING for the price. Shorter learing curve, decent features in both 2D and 3D. I was making detailed 3D gears in a day.
You will need to REGISTER this software to use it beyond the default "trial" of 7 days. For those of us who follow EULA, and are honest this is no problem.You can also download tha latest patch (upgrades to "build 711") for free right away. It's approx. a 7.3MB update.
As with other punch software they have a decent user forum at http://forum.punchcad.com/. As this is a relatively new product, the forum is still developing, and if other PUNCH! sites are any indication, this will be a great site for resources!
OTHER NOTES:
If you sign up for a AMAZON VISA, you can get $30 off your first purchace. This item also has FREE shipping. I opted for NEXT DAY shipping and it set me back $88, but I will get a $30 credit on my new VISA. Can beat that.
I DO NOT work for PUNCH! or any of it's companies, I'm just a user trying to save a buck on something I enjoy doing with my PC.
I rate this item at 4 stars, because of the learning curve, and the apearant left out details in tutorials. Still, this is by far the easiest CAD program to date that I have used. I have used PRO-E, AUDOCAD, TURBO-CAD to name a few. My proficiancy level is "hobbiest, a jack of all trades, master of none" I am a moderate user, not a "power user, to put this review into perspective.

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Punch! ViaCAD 2D/3D is a new precision design program with the power of multi thousand dollar CADs.With it's state of the art 2D/3D patent pending user interface that seamlessly toggles between 2D & 3D and LogiCursor™ technology that thinks as you draw anticipating your moves precision design was never so easy.System Requirements:Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000; Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon class processor; 2 GB of hard disk space; 512 MB RAM or greater; Mouse Point Device; CD-ROM DriveFormat: WIN 2000XPVISTA Genre:PRODUCTIVITY UPC:664446881007 Manufacturer No:88100

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Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit for System Builders Review

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(More customer reviews)This version of Windows Vista is the OEM version, which means that it does not come with a box or a manual, just a "Quick Install" guide. This is the FULL version of Vista but another thing that it is lacking is support from Microsoft. Because this version is intended for (as the title suggests) system builders, whoever that may be, they are the people who are supposed to provide the End User Support not Microsoft. It does, however, still include Windows Update so there do not think that you will not be getting updates from Microsoft, because you do. But if you are building a computer for your grandmother, and she BSOD's Vista, its up to you to fix it; Not Microsoft. Another difference between this version and the full 400 $ version is that this version only comes with the 32 Bit version of Windows Vista, but the full version comes with both the 32 and 64 Bit versions. So if you are pretty technology Savvy and you do not need Microsoft's support and you know what type of processor (64 or 32 bit) then the OEM version is the version for you.

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Cosmi VersaCheck Smart Invoice and Estimates 8.0 for Windows Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought an earlier version that was produced by "VersaCheck GP7" and can't convert my customer database at this time.
Please AVOID all Cosmi software. I've had trouble with every type personally and with customers and get NO SUPPORT. Reps ignore questions, even for problems (and there are many) not listed in FAQs.
The features that work are OK, but the software is dead end. Cosmi has no intention of making sure it works after sale.

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Magix Music Studio 10 Deluxe Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been spoiled by FL Studio 5.0 and my demo copy of Project 5. A friend of mine was going to let go of his copy of Sonar 4 because he just bought Sonar 5. But he hasn't gotten around to it yet, and in my impatience I ventured into the software aisle of Comp USA looking for an inexpensive tool that I could use to automate the VST control interface of FL Studio while I lay down some audio tracks. I came across Magix Music Studio 10 Deluxe. By the looks of the screenshots and the promises on the box, as well as what few reviews I've found on the product, I decided to give it a shot.
I loaded it up and quickly discovered, however, that this kludge of a product had been literally sawed in two. The audio multi-track recording environment is one environment, while the MIDI and VSTi/DXi multi-track recording environment is a COMPLETELY SEPERATE PROGRAM!! Can you believe it? Yes, you can record audio, by loading WAV files but possibly in realtime also, within the MIDI recording environment. But all those nifty audio effects must be loaded up into the seperate program.
To make things worse, there does not appear to be a way to specify the default MIDI output device, so the MIDI Out on my MIDI controller is being used as the default device for MIDI playback because it's the first thing it finds. And if THAT wasn't bad enough, trying to use ASIO doesn't work for me because the ASIO drivers keep giving me messageboxes saying "cannot use clock rate of 44khz" or whatever. (I guess this is because my sound card--an Audigy--is set up for 48kHz.)
And if you're like me, you'll throw up over your computer monitor when you see the remnants of an 80's/90's-looking user interface filling up half of the product's windows. It still uses pixellated two-color toolbar icons that remind me of the days of System 6.x on the Macintosh.
I have not done enough tinkering to give it a full evaluation, right now I'm still recovering from the shock factor of how utterly useless this thing is. I should have gone with Sonar 4 Home Studio on the rack there, or Cakewalk Music Creator, or drove over to Guitar Center to pick up Cubase SE, or something, anything other than this.
Heck, the Voyetra offering looked to be better than this.

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Punch Professional Home Design Suite Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The 3d view is very limited, you can walk through but you can't tilt your viewing angle vertically. The objects are very basic and there isn't much of a selection. The "12 powerfull programs in 1" is rediculous. The plumbing "program" is just a few bathroom objects that you can place in your house. The electrical and HVAC are just like the plumbing. Autoframing is useless. If you decide to change something you can't drag a box around everything and update them all at once. Example: i wanted to change my wall hieght, i had to right click on every wall, select "wall properties" from the menu, and then highlight a box and change it. And i had to do that for every wall seperately. The lanscaping feature where it changines the plants to show how they will look in 5 years just scales up some flat images of the plants.

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12 Programs in one intuitive easy-to-use interface... POWERFUL, PROFESSIONAL TOOLS to help you design all of the critical components of your home including foundations, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, custom windows, custom roofs, and much, much more!

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System Mechanic 4 Professional Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As the head of the IT support desk for a large contractor, to the government, I have to find software that will reduce downtime, fix errors and keep pc user's machine up and running.

I bought a full version of this product. [The Pro version].
To evaluate it's performance and abilities.

In my opinion;

I give it a [3-Star] "middle-of-the-road" score, as far as a "packaged" s/w utility goes.
This was neither a 5-Star, "miracle" s/w package, nor was it a 1-Star "total flop".

I could go on and give a dissertation, but let me just touch on a few select topics.

1. Anti-Spyware - I have 4 full version packages in my personal arsenal [home pc, not at work]. And STILL, if I run all 4 anti-spyware packages, each one will find something that the others don't.

My picks are:
a. Spysweeper [new V3.0 has a few new, cool upgrades over it's prior version, 2.x version]
b. Pestpatrol [also Spyware X-terminator, apparently licensed to STOMP INC but appears to use the Pestpatrol engine]
c. Mcafee Anti-spyware
d. X cleaner - I like this as an overall bundle-of-utilities better that for it's abilities as an in-depth anti-spyware, though it has been getting better.

2. Anti-virus and firewall - I have used either Norton AV alone, or as part of a Norton "bundle". This would be my first choice. Mcafee NAV probably 2nd.
I have not been very happy with Panda, as an anti-virus
w/ firewall. I don't know what it does behind the scenes, but it has a tendency in my experience to suck-the-life out of my pc. [Which is a 3 GHz with 1 gig ram.]

Bit-defender's demo worked quite well. It is an AV product only [I believe]. something to look at as a anti-virus product.

3. Utility suites - I have used Norton systemworks since 2000, along with the prior version of Norton utilities
for both PCs and MACs.
I normally use Norton Systemworks. A second choice would be V-COM's Systemsuite 5.0.
The only downside of Systemsuite 5 is that it's "disk fixer" product often just seems to throw up it's hands and tells you to manually invoke the CHKDSK utility to repair disk errors.

My suggestions:

1. look for TRIAL software from places like Norton [Symantec], PC-Cillin Trend Micro, Mcafee, Bit defender, V-COM, Iolo, Panda.

2. Always be a bit suspect of reviews [on any product here on AMAZON] that simply say general, non-commitive
terms like "It bites", "No good", "useless".
I give much more credibility to reviews that cover, WHO, WHAT, HOW, WHY, WHEN.
Why is something good or bad? What does it do that is good or bad? How is it better or worse than other products?
Why would I recommend or not recommend it? Based on what? When [under what circumstances]
Did it perform good or poor?

Just my .02 cents.

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System Mechanic Professional

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Arcsoft Panorama Maker 4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Arcsoft Panorama Maker 4 is OK. If you have a simple picture series, it will work OK. However, if you start clustering shots with slightly odd angles, it produces a distorted image and not all of the edges align. The software doesn't save the panorama in layers, so you can't hand correct misalignments later. It's a pretty simple program, fun to play, but not a cure-all.

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