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Collectorz Book Collector Pro
by Loopylooploo
As a librarian, (you will not be surprised to discover) I am obsessed with everything about books - and that includes cataloguing them. There are many resources out there now that allow you to catalogue your personal collections. Indeed, a couple of weeks ago I did another review on an internet site called Librarything.com, which is ... web-based so you can access your book collection anywhere, anytime.
Book Collector is a very similar idea, but this time it is based on your desktop/laptop. It is provided by Collectorz, which also sells other cataloguing software for games, photographs, DVDs, music, comics and MP3 music files.
(This review was written using my own experiences and the Collectorz website for verification)
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What is Book Collector?
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Well, I've already mentioned this briefly, but to reiterate, it is a piece of software that automatically catalogues your books by instantly downloading details and cover images from the web. It is ideal for keeping an eye on your books (if you lend them to people), prevent duplicate purchases, and is loads of fun! The details and other information are downloaded prominently from sources like online bookstores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Powell's, but also include the National Libraries of various countries, such as the British Library and the Library of Congress.
If you don't fancy downloading, or the information isn't complete, or you simply don't have access to the internet, there is the option to enter all the details manually, so you can make your library as personal to yourself as you like. For example, book covers change over time. You may end up downloading a book cover that isn't identical to the one you have. Personally, I like my database to look like my physical collection. So, basically, you can scan your book's image on to your computer - if you have this facility - and then load it from your files into the software. Even if you don't have a scanner, you can download images, say from Google Images, and save it to your files and then drop into the software.
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What details and information can you include?
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You can include as much or as little as you like. I actually don't think I can do it justice here, but the following are some of the areas that can be provided:
* Main book information: author, title, ISBN, publisher, publication date, format (e.g. paperback, hardback, or e-book), genre, subjects, series, edition, dimensions, original title, original languages, and so on.
* Personal information: owner of the book; purchase information such as RRP and actual purchase price; reading details such as whether it's been read, how many times you've read it, your rating of the book, etc.
* Other bits: characters; translators; editors; plot summaries; chapter lists (if edited collections)
* Collection Status: to indicate whether you have the book, or it's on your Wanted list, On Order or For Sale.
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How can you get Book Collector?
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* You can sign up for a free trial (limited to 100 books) and it is downloaded via an e-mail link. This also includes a set-up guide. I did it through this way originally and it was so simple to use and by the time I hit 100 books (within less than an afternoon) I was ready to buy the actual product!
* Sign up through TrialPay and get Book Collector Standard Version free. Please note that I have not come across TrialPay before and therefore cannot really comment/recommend this route. I think that it may link in to a third party.
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What versions can you buy?
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Should you decide to buy this product, there are a couple of versions, which differ slightly.
Adapted from Collectorz.com:
1. Book Collector Standard Edition
The main features of this edition:
* Add books by typing ISBNs or by typing the author and title.
* Add links to e-Book and audio book files, as well as links to relevant websites, such as author blogs
* Browse your database as a list or in Cover Images View
* Download details and images automatically
* Print simple lists
* Sort and search your database
2. Book Collector Pro Edition
Pro Edition provides the above abilities, plus many more, including:
* Ability to keep track of your books by the 'lending' feature, a.k.a. the Integrated Loan Manager.
* Ability to print customized lists
* Export to HTML, iPod Notes, Text (CSV) and XML formats
* Graphical statistics for information in your databases, such as total spent on books, total RRP price etc.
Both editions can be delivered to you either through e-mail or CD-ROM. You will receive a Personal Licence Key, which will be needed to activate your edition. Only the Pro Edition comes with a backup CD.
Depending on the version of the edition, you will get free updates until the next version, where you will have to pay - but the choice is yours and such version updates are not regular. So, the current Version is Windows 6.2.1 or Mac 3.0.1. Thus, I will get a free upgrades for improvements to levels 6.2.2, 6.2.3 etc. I will only need to pay again if I choose to go to version 7.0.0, if and when that comes out. Collectorz do not cut you off for having an earlier version!
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Are there any extras that you can buy?
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If you buy the Pro Edition, you can also combine it - for an extra cost - with a barcode scanner. This will save you loads of time if you have plenty of books and with the Opticon scanner you do not actually have to move the books from the shelves!
You can purchase the Pro edition with a CueCat Scanner, which means all you need to do is swipe the barcode, instead of typing. This is the cheaper option of the two scanners. The other one, the Opticon scanner, uses laser-scanning and is cordless. It's worth noting that the current difference between the two offers is £100.00.
I will emphasise that while useful, scanners are not essential parts of the software, so no one needs to feel obliged to obtain one, certainly not at that cost.
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Is it easy to use?
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Like with any new thing, it takes time to get familiar with it. However, I will say that I found it very self-explanatory and have rarely turned to the manual. I don't think it is beyond anyone's capability to get their books into their own database and be personalising it within a short space of time. The interface, I think, is very user friendly and accessible.
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Newest developments?
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I only use my software on my desktop. However, Collectorz has now devised so that you can put it onto you iPhone or iPod Touch, and have it with you wherever and whenever you like.
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What about customer support?
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Both bought versions do come with customer support to an extent. For both, you can use online FAQs, join the Collectorz.com Forum, and download the manual. Only the Pro Edition comes with personal e-mail responses within 24 hours (for 1 Year).
However, I really feel the need to emphasise this point. I have now had this software (and other ones provided by Collectorz) going on two and a half years and have never had any problems with it. What I do like about Collectorz is that you get regular e-mail newsletters and they will inform you if any problems are occurring / being fixed.
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What about cost?
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I have always found it to be reasonable, on the hold - mind you, I did purchase mine a couple of years ago and costs were slightly lower. I do think you need to consider your options carefully, but I have never regretted obtaining my software. If you are unsure, I strongly recommend testing it out with the free trial.
Currently, you are looking at the following prices:
Standard Edition: £24.95 by e-mail; £44.95 by CD.
Pro Edition: £39.95 by e-mail; £59.95 by CD.
Updates to newer versions are typically £19.95.
Collectorz allows you to pay by PayPal, credit/debit card, bank transfer, and cheque. They also provide a 90-day money back guarantee.
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Are there any online communities?
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As mentioned, there is a discussion forum, but there is also a blog. I have not really used either of these, so do not feel I can really comment.
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Is it recommendable?
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My answer? Yes, definitely! If anyone ever mentions wanting to put their books into a database, Book Collector is the first thing I recommend. I absolutely love this software and find it ideal for my 'library'.
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Guitar Pro 5
by AaronHand
For all would-be guitarists and song writers, this is an essential piece of software. It is specialised for guitarists, but is suitable for musicians of all backgrounds and instruments. It is a multi track tabulature (and notation) editor for mainly guitars, but many other instruemnts are available. A wide variety from trumpets to synth ... leads to pianos and to string ensembles are available.
Its main purpose is to create MIDI sound files, making it ideal for song writing and getting musical ideas into real sound. Using its interface, various tracks and instruments can be incorperated, and using either guitar tabulature or notation songs can be created and listened to. For rough ideas and songs, this is pretty damn good. It has many features to make it as realistic as possbile, such as all guitar techniques like hammer ons, slides and even tapping. All standard musical directions, notations and symbols are also used. However, this means that simple musical theory is required to use this software to its full potential. Saying that though, I myself learned such music theory through this program. Every instrument can be tabbed in guitar tabulature or notation, meaning it is possible for guitarists to incorporate many musical elements usually beyond their grasp into their songs, a very good asset to this software!
Another way to use this software is to learn songs through it. Guitar tab sites such as Ultimate-Guitar will often alow users to submit guitar pro versions of real songs and tabs, which you can download, play and learn through this program! This means you can slow things down, learn it bit by bit and hear how its meant to go. This is very useful.
This software can also import MIDI files and Powertab (a similar free program) files, allowing them to play through this software. You can export all files as MIDI aswell (saved as Guitar Pro files by default).
An add-on for this program is the RSE patches. These are virtual sounds that are better than MIDI and can be mixed using EQ and a variety of different effects. With RSE, the amount of sounds and tones you can get for the guitars, drums and bass is incredible. Almost any sound is possbile. However, RSE can easily sound terrible if not used correctly and often makes your track sound messy, digitalised and awful without the correct mixing. They are worth it if you know what you are doing, and are fun to mess around with though and with the right mixing can sound great! Be warned though, if used with MIDI tracks, a slight delay can be caused between the tracks, not always, but ocassionally.
However, there are some issues with this software. First off, drums are a nightmare to tab when you start using this software. There is no easy way to do these unless you practice practice practice. But after a while, you'll start to get them down and they'll get easier. Also, it is fair to say that the sounds are pretty horrendous and annoying, and they are the same on all instruemnts. But its MIDI, so you shouldn't really expect all that much. Providing you get the right volumes and panning sorted, it shouldn't be too much of an issue if you are just getting rough songs and ideas down. As said earlier though, RSE can help make better sounds, but RSE can just as easily make it sound ten times worse, as I say, it depends if you know what you're doing or not. Unless you're very serious, I wouldn't bother with RSE.
Also, the interface and controls will take some getting used to. As with anything new, just play around and keep trying out things. You will soon get the hang of it and be a Guitar Pro whizz in no time! You'll be pinging out your masterpieces with no trouble at all.
Overall, this is a very neat piece of kit. It allows you to create your own songs, write down ideas and incorperate different elements into your song writing. It also allows you to download other songs and learn them. It is an excellent tool for progressing as a song writer, musician and guitar player. I highly recommend it.
But there are small downsides as I mentioned earlier, nothing major though.
This is genuinely very useful and brilliant. Beats many of its free competitors such as Tux Guitar and Power Tab.
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