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Archiver > TMG > 2002-04 > 1018358399


From: "Ronald Boyd" <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] Version 5 Cruelty
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 07:20:08 -0600
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.2.20020409070754.00a6ad40@mail.btinternet.com>


Ken,

About a year ago, I was enticed by advertising touting this
"state-of-the-art" genealogy program -- The Master Genealogist v4.0. After a
miserable experience getting it "jammed" into my Windows 2000 operating
system and lurking in this mailing list, I have the following observations:

1. TMG v4.0 (and all bug fixes) was "state of the art" at some point prior
to ten years ago. It was written for Windows 3.1 and only marginally
performs on newer versions of the Windows operating system. Marginally in
that it uses very few of windows features (as the "hidden" [Mother] button
in [Person View] constantly reminds me. And don't get me started about the
Mouse Wheel irritation.)

2. Despite what everyone says, it is not a very complex program... it is
merely complicated. Now understand that "feature" has tremendous
attractiveness to that wonderful group of Americans, the Tinkerers (bless
their hearts). This keeps them busy and makes the rest of us believe it is
our fault the program doesn't work properly. I, however, prefer my computer
to act like my telephone does -- when I pick up the handset to place a call,
I don't have to struggle with understanding the technology behind my action
or how I can "customize" it to work properly.

3. I was not impressed with FTST. Here, we have a program written for
Windows 95 -- State-of-the-art" eight years ago. Sure it looks good, but
consider what you are comparing it to. Right now I have an antiquated
Windows 2000 machine over in the corner whose only function is to allow me
access to TMG. (The experience of installing TMG on Windows 2000 prevents me
from attempting the same on the Windows XP machine.) Of course, the two
computers are networked together so I can more easily get the reports into
modern version of programs. I am convinced that by the time TMG v5.0 arrives
(if it resembles FTST), I will have a similar situation.

Just to be clear, the future of computers is now. For example, go to
http://thesaurus.plumbdesign.com/index.html and when the words "loaded.
click to launch" appear in the upper left hand corner, you may click there
to launch and start using the Visual Thesaurus. Or better yet, go to
http://thebrain.com and look around. And even better go to
http://www.thebrain.com/products/personalbrain/support/tutorials/pbtour.html
for a "Knock your socks" off demonstration. (Click on "Learn More" after the
rather noisy introduction.)

You may also wish to read today's article by Marshall Loeb of CBS
MarketWatch at
http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?siteid=mktw&dist=nwhsense&guid=%7B
985E13AD%2DA9B0%2D448F%2D9360%2D2AD6AF3454F2%7D. (Yikes! That is long so you
may have to cut and paste)

And finally, it is good to remember the words of that great American
philosopher, Will Rogers -- "Even if you are on the right track, you'll get
run over if you just sit there."

But, in any event, no pressure from me.

Ron

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Clarke [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 12:15 AM
To:
Subject: [TMG] Version 5 Cruelty

We are now into the second quarter of 2002 and there still seems to be no
sign of Version 5. Are we really going to see it this year? Having been
using FTST as a front to my TMG 4.0d I have been given a taste of what is
in store for us when version 5 eventually appears - but it has made me
impatient to have the whole cake. It is such a nuisance having to
continually leave FTST in order to make small amendments to my data in TMG
and then re-import, why is Bob Velke being so cruel!

Ken Clarke


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