Mac OS genealogy programs

[John]

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

But I've spent the last few weeks moving my home base
of operations to a MacBook running Leopard, and don't
want to look back to Windows ever again.

What do people recommend for a good native Mac genealogy
program? None seem up to the professional capability and
standards of TMG.

I considered running under Wine or Crossover Mac but
the support for these two programs isn't encouraging,
and I want to do genealogy not systems programming.
And I don't want to use Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp
because they require a Windows license and installation.

Thanks, John

[Gerry]

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

But I've spent the last few weeks moving my home base
of operations to a MacBook running Leopard, and don't
want to look back to Windows ever again.

What do people recommend for a good native Mac genealogy
program? None seem up to the professional capability and
standards of TMG.

I considered running under Wine or Crossover Mac but
the support for these two programs isn't encouraging,
and I want to do genealogy not systems programming.
And I don't want to use Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp
because they require a Windows license and installation.

Thanks, John

I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

They have a ReunionTalk forum where users can ask questions and share
their experiences with the product. There is Reunion demo you can
download from their web site <http://www.leisterpro.com/index.php>

[Gerrit Schippers]

Gerry <[email protected]> wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

But I've spent the last few weeks moving my home base
of operations to a MacBook running Leopard, and don't
want to look back to Windows ever again.

What do people recommend for a good native Mac genealogy
program? None seem up to the professional capability and
standards of TMG.

I considered running under Wine or Crossover Mac but
the support for these two programs isn't encouraging,
and I want to do genealogy not systems programming.
And I don't want to use Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp
because they require a Windows license and installation.

Thanks, John

I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

They have a ReunionTalk forum where users can ask questions and share
their experiences with the product. There is Reunion demo you can
download from their web site <http://www.leisterpro.com/index.php

I also recommend Reunion. You can import and export GEDCOM files. In my
database I have about 10000 individuels.
The Webpage you find under the URL

<http://www.gschippers.homepage.t-online.de/>

Gerrit Schippers

[Doug Chadduck]

Gerry wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

But I've spent the last few weeks moving my home base
of operations to a MacBook running Leopard, and don't
want to look back to Windows ever again.

What do people recommend for a good native Mac genealogy
program? None seem up to the professional capability and
standards of TMG.

I considered running under Wine or Crossover Mac but
the support for these two programs isn't encouraging,
and I want to do genealogy not systems programming.
And I don't want to use Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp
because they require a Windows license and installation.

Thanks, John

I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

They have a ReunionTalk forum where users can ask questions and share
their experiences with the product. There is Reunion demo you can
download from their web site <http://www.leisterpro.com/index.php

I Second that recommendation big time. BIG time.
BIG time.

[John Hill]

Gerry <[email protected]> wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

But I've spent the last few weeks moving my home base
of operations to a MacBook running Leopard, and don't
want to look back to Windows ever again.

What do people recommend for a good native Mac genealogy
program? None seem up to the professional capability and
standards of TMG.

I considered running under Wine or Crossover Mac but
the support for these two programs isn't encouraging,
and I want to do genealogy not systems programming.
And I don't want to use Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp
because they require a Windows license and installation.

Thanks, John

I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

They have a ReunionTalk forum where users can ask questions and share
their experiences with the product. There is Reunion demo you can
download from their web site <http://www.leisterpro.com/index.php

I, too, add my vote. Reunion is the only REAL contender for the Mac.
John.
--
Please reply to john at yclept dot wanadoo dot co dot uk.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Hugh Watkins]

John Hill wrote:

Gerry <[email protected]> wrote:


In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:


I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

But I've spent the last few weeks moving my home base
of operations to a MacBook running Leopard, and don't
want to look back to Windows ever again.

What do people recommend for a good native Mac genealogy
program? None seem up to the professional capability and
standards of TMG.

I considered running under Wine or Crossover Mac but
the support for these two programs isn't encouraging,
and I want to do genealogy not systems programming.
And I don't want to use Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp
because they require a Windows license and installation.

Thanks, John

I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

They have a ReunionTalk forum where users can ask questions and share
their experiences with the product. There is Reunion demo you can
download from their web site <http://www.leisterpro.com/index.php


I, too, add my vote. Reunion is the only REAL contender for the Mac.
John.

an intel Mac can run any Window progam too

FTM 16 and FTM 2008 sp2 beta >> on WinXP Sp2 on Parallels 3.0 >> on Mac
OS 10.4.10

Mac OS 10.5.* will boot directly into Windows

In either case you need a Windows Install disk to set up the secondary
OS - I got mine from a build your own computer shop

Hugh W





For genealogy and help with family and local history in Bristol and
district http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Brycgstow/

http://snaps4.blogspot.com/ photographs and walks

GENEALOGE http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[Ron Walcik]

In article <1i7x6js.1dz5eugqtkykmN%[email protected]>,
[email protected] (John Hill) wrote:

Gerry <[email protected]> wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

But I've spent the last few weeks moving my home base
of operations to a MacBook running Leopard, and don't
want to look back to Windows ever again.

What do people recommend for a good native Mac genealogy
program? None seem up to the professional capability and
standards of TMG.

I considered running under Wine or Crossover Mac but
the support for these two programs isn't encouraging,
and I want to do genealogy not systems programming.
And I don't want to use Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp
because they require a Windows license and installation.

Thanks, John

I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

They have a ReunionTalk forum where users can ask questions and share
their experiences with the product. There is Reunion demo you can
download from their web site <http://www.leisterpro.com/index.php

I, too, add my vote. Reunion is the only REAL contender for the Mac.
John.

Another vote for Reunion... It's the ONLY way to go!

--
Ron Walcik
Killeen, Texas

This email address is not checked. If you want to contact me directly, send to:
firstname at lastname dot net.

[Robert Melson]

In article <[email protected]>,
Gerry <[email protected]> writes:

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

snip
I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.
snip

With all the encomia for Reunion which follow this and, admitting
I know less about OS-X than I do about Gates' Universal Computer
Virus and Alpha-quality-operating system, I'd like to ask a possibly
_really_ dumb question (TM): what other genealogy programs are
available natively for OS-X? I somehow have the impression that
Reunion is the one and only.

Bob

--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable
reason so few engage in it. -- Henry Ford

[saki]

[email protected] (Robert Melson) wrote in news:13k99sjh6aij40
@corp.supernews.com:

With all the encomia for Reunion which follow this and, admitting
I know less about OS-X than I do about Gates' Universal Computer
Virus and Alpha-quality-operating system, I'd like to ask a possibly
_really_ dumb question (TM): what other genealogy programs are
available natively for OS-X? I somehow have the impression that
Reunion is the one and only.

There's Heredis:

http://www.myheredis.com/

There's a free download of a simple format (input up to 50 names); you can
upgrade to a full version at $69, cheaper than Reunion.

I did a trial of it before I bought Reunion, which I preferred, but Heredis
has some nice features.

----
[email protected]

[Steve W. Jackson]

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Robert Melson) wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Gerry <[email protected]> writes:
In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

snip
I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.
snip

With all the encomia for Reunion which follow this and, admitting
I know less about OS-X than I do about Gates' Universal Computer
Virus and Alpha-quality-operating system, I'd like to ask a possibly
_really_ dumb question (TM): what other genealogy programs are
available natively for OS-X? I somehow have the impression that
Reunion is the one and only.

Bob

I don't know of any other commercial application, but there are some
freeware and shareware products. Visit VersionTracker.com or your
favorite software site and give a try.
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama

[Steve W. Jackson]

In article <[email protected]>,
Hugh Watkins <[email protected]> wrote:

I considered running under Wine or Crossover Mac but
the support for these two programs isn't encouraging,
and I want to do genealogy not systems programming.
And I don't want to use Parallels, VMware, or Boot Camp
because they require a Windows license and installation.

Thanks, John



an intel Mac can run any Window progam too

FTM 16 and FTM 2008 sp2 beta >> on WinXP Sp2 on Parallels 3.0 >> on Mac
OS 10.4.10

Mac OS 10.5.* will boot directly into Windows

In either case you need a Windows Install disk to set up the secondary
OS - I got mine from a build your own computer shop

Hugh W

If you really want to continually preach using Windows on a Mac, that's
your right. But you should first consider the fact that the OP
specifically inquired about Mac OS programs (as indicated in the quoted
text) and *not* being required to have Windows.

The newest machines can be configured to boot into Windows, and that
configuration is a function of the Boot Camp software included in 10.5,
but 10.5 doesn't "boot into" Windows.
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama

[Robert Melson]

In article <[email protected]>,
"Steve W. Jackson" <[email protected]> writes:

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Robert Melson) wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Gerry <[email protected]> writes:
In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.

snip
I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.
snip

With all the encomia for Reunion which follow this and, admitting
I know less about OS-X than I do about Gates' Universal Computer
Virus and Alpha-quality-operating system, I'd like to ask a possibly
_really_ dumb question (TM): what other genealogy programs are
available natively for OS-X? I somehow have the impression that
Reunion is the one and only.

Bob

I don't know of any other commercial application, but there are some
freeware and shareware products. Visit VersionTracker.com or your
favorite software site and give a try.

I should probably have said that I use neither GUCV/OS nor MacOS -
I'm a long time Unix user/admin/afficionado, and use a variety
of Unix/Linux oriented applications, chief among'em phpGedView
and Gramps. My curiosity was piqued, though, and I had been
wondering just what else might be available for MacOS other than
Reunion - which seems to be everybody's number one choice for that
environment.

Thanks, though, for your reply - I'm sure somebody will be able
to make use of it, even if I can't. Same goes for saki's
reply regarding Heredis.

Bob

--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable
reason so few engage in it. -- Henry Ford

[Gerry]

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Robert Melson) wrote:

I should probably have said that I use neither GUCV/OS nor MacOS -
I'm a long time Unix user/admin/afficionado, and use a variety
of Unix/Linux oriented applications, chief among'em phpGedView
and Gramps. My curiosity was piqued, though, and I had been
wondering just what else might be available for MacOS other than
Reunion - which seems to be everybody's number one choice for that
environment.

Have you looked at the new Macintosh operating system Leopard OS 10.5
which like all other OS 10 versions is based on Unix and The Open Group
has just given Leopard its UNIX 03 certification. The article on this
may be of interest to you, and can be found at:

<http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/11/19/unix03/index.php>

[Robert Melson]

In article <[email protected]>,
Gerry <[email protected]> writes:

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Robert Melson) wrote:

I should probably have said that I use neither GUCV/OS nor MacOS -
I'm a long time Unix user/admin/afficionado, and use a variety
of Unix/Linux oriented applications, chief among'em phpGedView
and Gramps. My curiosity was piqued, though, and I had been
wondering just what else might be available for MacOS other than
Reunion - which seems to be everybody's number one choice for that
environment.

Have you looked at the new Macintosh operating system Leopard OS 10.5
which like all other OS 10 versions is based on Unix and The Open Group
has just given Leopard its UNIX 03 certification. The article on this
may be of interest to you, and can be found at:

http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/11/19 ... /index.php

I knew OS-X had been derived from the FreeBSD base system, but
not that it had received certification. Dunno what the
certification costs, but I'd bet a dollar to a donut that it
is not inexpensive - which makes it hard for the free or
mostly free volunteer developed systems to attain certification.
Most of what's in _their_ pockets is lint and, even then, they're
not terribly deep.

When the time comes for a new computer I'm likely to investigate
Apple and MacOS, tho' I suspect I'll stick with FreeBSD in the
end, maybe upgrading to a 64-bit processor architecture.

Thanks for the comment and the link.

Bob

--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable
reason so few engage in it. -- Henry Ford

[Hugh Watkins]

Robert Melson wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Gerry <[email protected]> writes:

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:


I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.


snip

I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

snip

With all the encomia for Reunion which follow this and, admitting
I know less about OS-X than I do about Gates' Universal Computer
Virus and Alpha-quality-operating system, I'd like to ask a possibly
_really_ dumb question (TM): what other genealogy programs are
available natively for OS-X? I somehow have the impression that
Reunion is the one and only.

I wasted money on Heredis and Reunion version 8 before I found out how
easy it is to run FTM 16 on my 17" MacBook Pro

some screen shots here
http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/search?q=tree+maker

which version of Mac OS are you running on which processor?

http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/ is a quiet blog with not many
problems to report

I find keyboard short cuts of FTM 16 so familiar and date entry so easy
in the Family View (like a family group sheet) that I cannot be bothered
to change

FTM 2008 Sp2 ver 2 is under beta
and fixes are being made to problems reported

in a year or two when all the problems are fixed FTM 2008 will again be
the market leader

I use FTM because as a newbie I got the big box in the computer store i 1999

Hugh W


--
For genealogy and help with family and local history in Bristol and
district http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Brycgstow/

http://snaps4.blogspot.com/ photographs and walks

GENEALOGE http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[Nigel Bufton]

"Hugh Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

Robert Melson wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Gerry <[email protected]> writes:

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:


I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.


snip
I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

snip> With all the encomia for Reunion which follow this and, admitting
I know less about OS-X than I do about Gates' Universal Computer
Virus and Alpha-quality-operating system, I'd like to ask a possibly
_really_ dumb question (TM): what other genealogy programs are
available natively for OS-X? I somehow have the impression that
Reunion is the one and only.


I wasted money on Heredis and Reunion version 8 before I found out how
easy it is to run FTM 16 on my 17" MacBook Pro

some screen shots here
http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/search?q=tree+maker

which version of Mac OS are you running on which processor?

http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/ is a quiet blog with not many problems
to report

I find keyboard short cuts of FTM 16 so familiar and date entry so easy in
the Family View (like a family group sheet) that I cannot be bothered to
change

FTM 2008 Sp2 ver 2 is under beta
and fixes are being made to problems reported

in a year or two when all the problems are fixed FTM 2008 will again be
the market leader

I use FTM because as a newbie I got the big box in the computer store i
1999

Hugh W

Nevertheless, avoid FTM if you need good GEDCOM compliance to transfer data
in and out. FTM (even 2008) is pretty poor in this respect and is totally
incapable of exporting OBJE tags for media links.

Nigel
http://www.tcgr.bufton.org

[Hugh Watkins]

Nigel Bufton wrote:

"Hugh Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

Robert Melson wrote:


In article <[email protected]>,
Gerry <[email protected]> writes:


In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:



I've been using Family Tree Maker (FTM) and have bought
and installed The Master Genealogist (TMG) which I was
looking forward to learning and using.


snip

I recommend Reunion from Leister Productions. I've been using their
software for many, many years, and have found it an easy program to use
and their support is excellent, they just posted a new upgrade today.

snip> With all the encomia for Reunion which follow this and, admitting
I know less about OS-X than I do about Gates' Universal Computer
Virus and Alpha-quality-operating system, I'd like to ask a possibly
_really_ dumb question (TM): what other genealogy programs are
available natively for OS-X? I somehow have the impression that
Reunion is the one and only.


I wasted money on Heredis and Reunion version 8 before I found out how
easy it is to run FTM 16 on my 17" MacBook Pro

some screen shots here
http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/search?q=tree+maker

which version of Mac OS are you running on which processor?

http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/ is a quiet blog with not many problems
to report

I find keyboard short cuts of FTM 16 so familiar and date entry so easy in
the Family View (like a family group sheet) that I cannot be bothered to
change

FTM 2008 Sp2 ver 2 is under beta
and fixes are being made to problems reported

in a year or two when all the problems are fixed FTM 2008 will again be
the market leader

I use FTM because as a newbie I got the big box in the computer store i
1999

Hugh W




Nevertheless, avoid FTM if you need good GEDCOM compliance to transfer data
in and out. FTM (even 2008) is pretty poor in this respect and is totally
incapable of exporting OBJE tags for media links.

I use http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=hughw36 for exported
data - much easier than gedviewetc

I do not merge of swap programs

all this gedcom discussion is irrelevant if you stay with one program


Hugh W

--
For genealogy and help with family and local history in Bristol and
district http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Brycgstow/

http://snaps4.blogspot.com/ photographs and walks

GENEALOGE http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[Terry]

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:53:45 +0000, Hugh Watkins wrote:

all this gedcom discussion is irrelevant if you stay with one program

I haven't found a program that does everything I want to do yet. RootsMagic
is my main program but I also use others for reports e.g. The Complete
Genealogy Reporter.

I also exchange data with others via Gedcom. Are you suggesting that there
should be a monopoly and that everybody should change to some version or
other of FTM

FTM 2008 Sp2 ver 2 is under beta

What?? Its not even 2008 yet! According to http://www.familytreemaker.com
I can buy FTM 2008 now. Are you telling me that they are doing a Microsoft
and selling an unfinished product? Yet another good reason to stay well
clear.

--
Terry

[John]

Terry wrote:

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:53:45 +0000, Hugh Watkins wrote:

all this gedcom discussion is irrelevant if you stay with one program

GEDCOM is an incomplete specification, so it will never really work
between vendors. They all have to "add features" to make it work for
their own needs.

The real solution, which no vendor wants, is to get experts
back at the table and REALLY write a good GEDCOM specification.

Why don't vendors want it? They want you locked to their program.
Why do customers want it? They want to migrate to other programs.
We customers are just not important enough (yet) to care about
because all vendors are in the same boat, and it isn't in their
interest to solve it yet.

If the WiFi wireless specification were as bad as GEDCOM, every
manufacturer would have their own solution and you couldn't connect
to different vendor's APs. Your hardware/software would work at
home, but wouldn't work at your workplace or the library, ...

But since Internet standards are governed by RFCs, it gets done
right (ok, mostly ).

Genealogists can't demand a good standard successfully because there
just aren't enough of us, yet, and there is no clear winner vendor
that would win if they developed a good standard (yet). With WiFi,
the vendor that worked everywhere WOULD have won big, so they *had*
to develop and code to a universal standard.

I haven't found a program that does everything I want to do yet. RootsMagic
is my main program but I also use others for reports e.g. The Complete
Genealogy Reporter.

I did some research and found that The Master Genealogist (TMG) from
Wholly Genes in many, many, people's opinion is the best for serious
genealogists. It has a larger learning curve than most would want.
But you end up with a very capable and configurable program. It was
designed by professional genealogists from the ground up, not by
someones realization that their organizational chart software might
sort of fit genealogy (but poorly).

I also exchange data with others via Gedcom. Are you suggesting that there
should be a monopoly and that everybody should change to some version or
other of FTM

FTM 2008 Sp2 ver 2 is under beta

What?? Its not even 2008 yet! According to http://www.familytreemaker.com
I can buy FTM 2008 now. Are you telling me that they are doing a Microsoft
and selling an unfinished product? Yet another good reason to stay well
clear.

I started with FTM and found things I didn't like about it and that
didn't work. I started asking questions and concluded the company didn't
care. They had most of the market with some broken features, why pay
attention to the few people who need them? Well, I need them so FTM
is out. And that was before they released FTM 2008 which has been a
total fiasco if I'm reading the groups correctly. I have no need
of a company that foists an alpha (not even beta) version on their
customers.

I moved to Mac OS X and love it. I am leaving Windows behind. It is
simply elegant, cutting edge, and brilliantly executed. (now I hated
Macs until OS X, but now they've got me. Always hated Microsoft, but
was a bit stuck in the mud with them. Now, I'm not).

TMG won't run natively on Macs. So I have a difficult decision to make
about genealogy software. I was going to go with the best on the Mac,
which from responses here and elsewhere, is Reunion. But some talks
with TMG users have me leaning toward TMG anyway, under Parallels on
the Mac. I really, really, really, don't want to run any emulation
or any Windows on my Mac. But it seems that the best program requires
it. I think I have to bend because of the features. Sigh. I wish I
didn't have to do that. But if I don't run TMG, I think I'll always
regret not.

John
P.S. I heartily urge any parents considering buying their kids a
computer for the holidays, they should go to a Mac Retail Store
and get one. They will thank you for years to come. And they can
then show you how to get out of the MS mud. (yeah, I've turned
into one of *those* Mac people! But don't knock it until
you've tried it.

[Hugh Watkins]

Terry wrote:

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:53:45 +0000, Hugh Watkins wrote:


all this gedcom discussion is irrelevant if you stay with one program



I haven't found a program that does everything I want to do yet. RootsMagic
is my main program but I also use others for reports e.g. The Complete
Genealogy Reporter.

I also exchange data with others via Gedcom. Are you suggesting that there
should be a monopoly and that everybody should change to some version or
other of FTM


FTM 2008 Sp2 ver 2 is under beta


What?? Its not even 2008 yet! According to http://www.familytreemaker.com
I can buy FTM 2008 now. Are you telling me that they are doing a Microsoft
and selling an unfinished product? Yet another good reason to stay well
clear.

the service pack 2 was withdrawn after a few days

FTM 2008 is for sale but only suitable for newbies with small trees

please sse the Rootsweb lists and boards for the discussions and cries
of pain

Hugh W



--
For genealogy and help with family and local history in Bristol and
district http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Brycgstow/

http://snaps4.blogspot.com/ photographs and walks

GENEALOGE http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[Terry]

On Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:13:34 +0000, Hugh Watkins wrote:

the service pack 2 was withdrawn after a few days

FTM 2008 is for sale but only suitable for newbies with small trees

please sse the Rootsweb lists and boards for the discussions and cries
of pain

Hugh W

Unless I was one to gloat (which I'm not) why would I want to read about
the trials and tribulations of people struggling with a piece of software
I've never cared for anyway.

--
Terry

[Ron Parsons]

In article <[email protected]>,
John <[email protected]> wrote:

Terry wrote:
On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:53:45 +0000, Hugh Watkins wrote:

all this gedcom discussion is irrelevant if you stay with one program

GEDCOM is an incomplete specification, so it will never really work
between vendors. They all have to "add features" to make it work for
their own needs.

The real solution, which no vendor wants, is to get experts
back at the table and REALLY write a good GEDCOM specification.

Why don't vendors want it? They want you locked to their program.
Why do customers want it? They want to migrate to other programs.
We customers are just not important enough (yet) to care about
because all vendors are in the same boat, and it isn't in their
interest to solve it yet.

If the WiFi wireless specification were as bad as GEDCOM, every
manufacturer would have their own solution and you couldn't connect
to different vendor's APs. Your hardware/software would work at
home, but wouldn't work at your workplace or the library, ...

But since Internet standards are governed by RFCs, it gets done
right (ok, mostly ).

Genealogists can't demand a good standard successfully because there
just aren't enough of us, yet, and there is no clear winner vendor
that would win if they developed a good standard (yet). With WiFi,
the vendor that worked everywhere WOULD have won big, so they *had*
to develop and code to a universal standard.

I haven't found a program that does everything I want to do yet. RootsMagic
is my main program but I also use others for reports e.g. The Complete
Genealogy Reporter.

I did some research and found that The Master Genealogist (TMG) from
Wholly Genes in many, many, people's opinion is the best for serious
genealogists. It has a larger learning curve than most would want.
But you end up with a very capable and configurable program. It was
designed by professional genealogists from the ground up, not by
someones realization that their organizational chart software might
sort of fit genealogy (but poorly).

I also exchange data with others via Gedcom. Are you suggesting that there
should be a monopoly and that everybody should change to some version or
other of FTM

FTM 2008 Sp2 ver 2 is under beta

What?? Its not even 2008 yet! According to http://www.familytreemaker.com
I can buy FTM 2008 now. Are you telling me that they are doing a Microsoft
and selling an unfinished product? Yet another good reason to stay well
clear.

I started with FTM and found things I didn't like about it and that
didn't work. I started asking questions and concluded the company didn't
care. They had most of the market with some broken features, why pay
attention to the few people who need them? Well, I need them so FTM
is out. And that was before they released FTM 2008 which has been a
total fiasco if I'm reading the groups correctly. I have no need
of a company that foists an alpha (not even beta) version on their
customers.

I moved to Mac OS X and love it. I am leaving Windows behind. It is
simply elegant, cutting edge, and brilliantly executed. (now I hated
Macs until OS X, but now they've got me. Always hated Microsoft, but
was a bit stuck in the mud with them. Now, I'm not).

TMG won't run natively on Macs. So I have a difficult decision to make
about genealogy software. I was going to go with the best on the Mac,
which from responses here and elsewhere, is Reunion. But some talks
with TMG users have me leaning toward TMG anyway, under Parallels on
the Mac. I really, really, really, don't want to run any emulation
or any Windows on my Mac. But it seems that the best program requires
it. I think I have to bend because of the features. Sigh. I wish I
didn't have to do that. But if I don't run TMG, I think I'll always
regret not.

John
P.S. I heartily urge any parents considering buying their kids a
computer for the holidays, they should go to a Mac Retail Store
and get one. They will thank you for years to come. And they can
then show you how to get out of the MS mud. (yeah, I've turned
into one of *those* Mac people! But don't knock it until
you've tried it.

You should really try Reunion before you decide. It is available from
the web site and the only restriction is the reduced number of people it
will work with until it is registered.

[Hugh Watkins]

Terry wrote:

On Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:13:34 +0000, Hugh Watkins wrote:


the service pack 2 was withdrawn after a few days

FTM 2008 is for sale but only suitable for newbies with small trees

please sse the Rootsweb lists and boards for the discussions and cries
of pain

Hugh W


Unless I was one to gloat (which I'm not) why would I want to read about
the trials and tribulations of people struggling with a piece of software
I've never cared for anyway.

Terry

I am not talking with you alone in a private conversation

this is a group
your "I" is irrelevant to me

I wanted to keep the discussion away from here
because you guys with fixed negative views are as boring as your
president Mr Bush

I was too tired to post links
see:-
http://www.rootsweb.com/

http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.softw ... er/mb.ashx
and
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/surname ... l#FTM-TECH

February 2007 168 messages
March 2007 577 messages
April 2007 167 messages
May 2007 84 messages
June 2007 213 messages
July 2007 1862 messages
August 2007 851 messages
September 2007 911 messages
October 2007 414 messages
November 2007 66 messages

enjoy

Hugh W




--
For genealogy and help with family and local history in Bristol and
district http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Brycgstow/

http://snaps4.blogspot.com/ photographs and walks

GENEALOGE http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ MAIN BLOG

[Terry]

On Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:54:33 +0000, Hugh Watkins wrote:

Terry
I am not talking with you alone in a private conversation

this is a group
your "I" is irrelevant to me

I wanted to keep the discussion away from here
because you guys with fixed negative views are as boring as your
president Mr Bush

Well that's a big relief then that you are not talking to me because I

don't have a President Bush I have a Gordon Brown unfortunately. Please
advise how you manage to tell people's nationality when you don't even know
who they are.

Certainly don't have fixed negative views either. Just don't like FTM and
I'm sure I am not alone in that. Perhaps anybody that doesn't like FTM has
fixed negative views in your opinion, but then do I care about your
opinion? No, because you are irrelevent to me.

You will be pleased to know that I am an Ancestry subscriber though.

--
Terry

[Gjest]

We're Mac users, from the get-go and my husband and sons are all huge
Mac nerds (all in the arts, writing, music, graphic arts etc.). We've
got Reunion, first got it in late 1997, kept it upgraded over the
years. I've always been very happy with it, and had no problems with
it.

If there was something better out there for a Mac, my personal
research squad of Apple fans would have sussed it out.

Mary G.