SUPER TOOL (Microsoft Home Publishing Suite 2000)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	Microsoft Home Publishing Suite 2000
Date:	02/04/06 (397 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use.

Disadvantages: None at all.

The reason for writing this review is that five years on from the installation of this program onto my computer, I still get almost daily use out of it, and feel that amongst the publishing programs available, for once, Microsoft got it right. They took aspects of personal use and put them all together in a bundle which is quite a hefty one, and certainly one that no other program has been able to beat in the history of my computer usage.

Installation

Installation of the program is simple enough, and here you get the option of a full version, or a smaller one and I opted for the smaller one and have not regretted it. The difference is that instead of installing all the clip art which you would not use all of the time, you keep this on a disc, and as and when you need it, are asked to insert the disc. I don't find this too onerous and would recommend this method of installation since it takes less space. 221 Mb of space is sufficient for the minimal installation.

There are over 10,000 clips on CD's and no real reason why you should have these on the computer taking up valuable space, and I find that on CD, inserting the CD as and when prompted works fine for me. The quality of the clips is amazing, from gifs (moving pictures), to photographs, to cartoon characters. I have never really needed another source for clips as the range is so extensive.

What the program does.

I have split this into various areas because some users will only want specific information in the area that interests them and it saves them having to plough through a load of review to find their specific area. Here the items are listed as follows :

1.Website creation and online fun things to do.
2.Creative Ideas.
3.Occasions and activities.
4.Blank Projects.

Website Creation and online fun things to do.

I was new to using a computer when I first had this program, had little idea about what website creation was all about, and using the simple step by step instructions, I managed to create my own website on a very amateur Geocities database. What the program allowed me to do was to chose my own illustrations, and how many pages I wanted my website to have, giving me a choice of buttons which take you cleverly from one page to another. It was actually a very enjoyable experience and one that took me through every process that helped me understand how a web page was created. Here, really it depends upon the web hosting service that you chose how effective the web site is. Mine was not that effective, because I was learning, and needed to know more at the time about search engines and the like, though for someone starting out, the program is made to suit those with no experience whatsoever. Within one week of ever having Internet access, I had learned to make a website for myself, and thought that was some achievement.

In this area as well, there are neat cartoons that you can send by email to friends and relatives, which are more than just pictures. These are split into different categories and you can chose a cartoon to suit whatever the event may be. I found that these really are fun, although do irritate some people when you send them because apparently they take time to arrive at their destination.

You also learn how to make postcards to send to friends, and what I like about this area is that you can use your own photographs and do not have to stick to the illustrations provided with the program.

Creative Ideas.

The creative ideas section of the program is very useful when you are beginning to use computers, because the detail it gives you is enormous. Here, it shows you how to create cards, stationery, calendars, newsletters, and there is a very good help section and a link to the Home Publishing site where all the latest ideas are shown. From flyers to posters, badges to newsletters, all of the detail is there, ready to help the user to understand how things work.

This is the section that I first consulted before being able to understand the function of other areas and is a starting point for those who are new to the idea of home publishing.

Occasions and activities.

Now here the program comes into its own. I have never found one as good as this one is. I use it for Christmas cards, and birthday greetings, and here if I receive a card that I think is particularly good, I scan in and keep it for future use, and creating cards becomes easy, with steps letting you chose the size of your card. Here for me the cards folded in four are the most professional looking because they fit regular envelopes purchased in the shops. Every event that you can think of is covered here, and even the ones that you think should be can be made by inserting your own illustrations and text. It is simplicity itself and very enjoyable.

If you have children that have school projects to do, this program helps them enormously and in an easy fashion to create games and masks, cut out toys and labels for their gifts, and encourages children to learn how to make things relevant to their lives such as kids' newletters and family trees.

Party invitations are simple and the amount of designs available is astounding, but what I like most is the fact that you can customise so much.


Blank Projects section.

Here is where I use so much of what is available on the program. For example, creating letter headed paper, banners, calendars, cards, crafts, envelopes, and what is pretty good about this is that Microsoft have catered for the use of standard stationery such as sticky labels made by Avery and Kodak which are so easily available on the net or in local computer shops. Here, I have fun making certificates for fun events, and as with the rest of the program, easy step by step instructions let the user feel that they are in control of their experience.

I use the calendar area a lot, because it lets you create either a yearly, monthly or weekly calendar and I find that by creating a weekly one, I can keep a note of all my appointments for the week, without having to cram information into small spaces that are available on bought calendars.

Price wise, I have seen the product sold on its' own on Ebay for as little as twenty Pounds which to me spells exceptionally good value for a product of this caliber. I really do believe that as opposed to other Microsoft programs which became cumbersome and awkward to use, and which can and have been replaced by more suitable programs by other manufacturers, in the five year period that I have owned this program, I have never come across one that gives me better value for my money. Mine was part of Works Suite, and to me is the most valuable tool that Microsoft offered me.

I hope that my review will interest someone enough to try the program. It really is great fun, and a wonderful introduction to creative pastimes on the computer.

Works with Windows 98 onwards. I have used the program with both and it responded equally quickly with 98 as it did with XP. Plus there really is no noise when using it, and when going from one area of the program to another, the response time is quick, with no glitches. The program has never stalled or given me reason for concern.

It's a superb program and well worth checking out.

Summary: A super program that takes some beating.

Reliability:
Ease of use:
Installation:
Noise:
Speed:
Variety of features: