| Modified Product List | July 19th, 2008 |
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Hi everyone - just a quick note to mention that I have recently updated the product list thanks to a great comment/idea by Marion. The Product list is now a table that shows all the products currently up for review, their review status, price and platform. Thx again to Marion for this stellar idea.. and please keep the comments coming!
I’d also like to thank everyone for the “word of mouth” that I’ve been hearing feedback from. The best way for me to generate traffic to this site is from folks like yourselves that read the reviews and tell others about them. So, please continue to spread the word on forums and newsgroups.. I do greatly appreciate it!
Thx!
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Thanks for the product list update format.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
You are quite welcome.. thanks again for the suggestion - it really makes a bit difference!
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
This is a great source of DAM info but I too would like a big ‘best buy’ style comparative table with a matrix of tick boxes or v brief comments.
Why no review of Thumbsplus?
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Thx Robert - appreciate the positive feedback. Yes - I know I have promised it before.. but I am truly working on a feature chart for each program.. just trying to come up with the best way to display it all.
I have been holding off on Thumbsplus because Cerious is currently working on a new version which I am taking part of the Alpha/Beta. It has been completely rewritten in Python from the ground up which was sorely needed given some features that were very much needed (XMP support,etc). I’ve been holding off on reviewing 7.0 because it is several years old.. but 8.0 looks to be months away from a release given its current state. You can be sure I will do a thorough review of this application though as I have been using it myself for over 5 years now.. it is showing its age.. but boy is it fast!
Thx again for your comments.. and please check back soon for the chart!
Thx - Andy.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Thanks Andy,
To give you an example of why i am asking for a coparative chart….
I suppose T+ v7 did/does not compare with ACDsee or Extensis?
I have been a T+ user even longer than yourself and am also on Cerious’ beta programme. The so called IPTC Batch Editor is not even implemented yet in beta v8.
Alas I lobbied Philip for ages about adding a batch editor back in v5, and was disappointed with it when the half hearted last version appeared in v7. Not sure I can wait any longer for the much vaunted v8. Confidence is ebbing.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Hi Robert - Yes.. at this point in the game as a true DAM application, I do not feel that T+ 7.0 is on the same playing field as Idimager, ACDSee, IMatch or Extensis. While it does a great job as an all around image browser and Keyword cataloger - there are many missing holes in the program that many of these others fill (ie: Flexible Web Gallery builder, scripting, downloader, http://ftp...).
It is quite frustrating since I have always pushed T+ as a great program and it does have a lot going for it… but for some reason, Philip hasn’t pushed the product along as fast as he should have. Perhaps he missed the whole Digital Camera revolution somehow.. but single developers like Hert (idimager) and Mario (IMatch) have already developed or are very close to rolling out completely up to date products that meet the needs to todays photographers.
From what I have seen so far in 8.0…. it is a long way from complete - hopefully not too late for them to reclaim some of the market that has moved on to other products (myself included).
Anyway… I promise promise to have the chart completed this weekend and then will ask for some feedback on how it works, etc.
Thx again for posting.. traffic is certainly picking up here the last few weeks so please continue to spread the word! - Andy.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Moving on to BETTER products is in the eye of the beholder. Every product has its strengths and weaknesses. Every user has his or her own demands of a DAM system. In my case T+ is so integrated into my workflow, it would be hard to replace. I know what I need. I just don’t know whether the competition could deliver. That’s where you come in. I have tried IDImager recently. MUCH MUCH too slow. You did say T+ was FAST. How right you are. Philip did not miss the digital revolution, but he certainly took his eye off that particular ball.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
True enough.. which is why my goal for this site is simply an in depth look into the product - but it is hard not to compare any single product to others along the way and recommend products to those who ask with specific needs. In the end - that is why I recommend that everyone take advantage of products with free Demos… even your computer system will affect with product you might ultimately decide to use.
The type of tool that is right for you can only be found by you. For example, take Photo Mechanic - a very fast tool that I find used by many professional photographers. It doesn’t have a big toolset for the price - however - I have found that the many of the folks that use it don’t worry about its database. Take photojournalists or sports photographers - they will mainly use Photo Mechanic for quick culling and metadata handling.. but after a particular shoot - might not use PM as a database to search for images or build web galleries - they are just interested in getting their best shots to their magazines or newspapers by a deadline and for that, PM shines…
So - you are correct that right product is one that works for you. When I first tried Idimager, I just couldn’t get past certain things because it was just so different than T+. After using for a month and really exploring its features.. I continue to be amazed with the ability to manage my images. Yes - it is slower than T+.. however, the feature set makes up for it (at least to me).
One tiny example I came across.. In T+, once you render your thumbnails to a certain size, you are stuck with that size unless you re-render them. So, the % slider simply “zooms in” on those thumbs thus they quickly become pixelated (ie: 130%). In Idimager, the thumbs are re-rendered on the fly! So, moving the slider actually re-renders the thumbs so if you want larger thumbs.. just drag the slider.
On the flip side.. T+ does a decent job of task management in seperate threads (ie: watch folders) without taxing your system or slowing down the program much.
Anyway.. I too hope that T+ 8.0 will get done and be a great product… I’m just not sure when it will and given the loose communication that comes from Phillip and gang… we can only continue to play with alphas/betas until the product is released.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Hello Andy,
I have to say T+7.0 thumbs rendering may be restrictive compared to the sophistication of IdImager, but it’s instant. A BIG plus in my book. IDImager is toooooo slow.
Am evaluating Idimager and Photo Mechanic. I’l post my thoughts there.
Oh and the many comments posted on the few programmes you have so far reviewed are a BIG help. Pull a resume together from them all!!
I see the comparative table idea is not new. Has been around your site since a long time. Hint hint.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Hi Robert - Yes.. stay tuned for the table… the other 2 jobs that pay the bills have taken most of my attention that last few weeks - hence the lack of a table and the lack of any new product reviews. It will be in place soon.
Your take on Idimager running slowly and your issues with PM on your machine are interesting… would you mind posting your PC specs ? I’m curious how it compares to my test machine and my main machine at home that runs both programs very well. When I mention that idimager is a bit “slow”, I’m really referring to things like using the Media Explorer which takes time to traverse./load the tree and perhaps a bit of a slowdown when scrolling through large amounts of thumbs… but the operation of the program is very fast..
My Test Machine:
Athlon 64 3800
1GB Memory DDR2 667
80GB Sata 7200 2MB Cache
ATI Radeon Xpress Video Card 128MB
XP SP 2
Direct X 9.0c
My Main Machine:
Intel Quad Core 6600
4 GB Memory DDR2 800
640GB Sata 7200 16MB Cache
GeForce 8800GT Video Card 512MB
XP SP3/Vista 64 (on Seperate Seagate Barracuda)
Direct X 10
Networked to NAS with 1TB of storage