Manage your house with PerfectHome

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&amp;amp;sectionId=0&productId=25806">http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&amp;amp;sectionId=0&productId=25806</a><br /><br />I've been awaiting the final release of this software, and after using it for a few minutes today, this might become one of the most-used programs on my Pocket PC. As a new home owner, I have a huge number of things to keep track of, and PerfectHome will help me do that. The UI is fantastic!<br /><br />The only downside I can see is that the desktop version won't come out until late March, which is unfortunate because the lengthy data entry for home inventory will be painful on a Pocket PC. I also question how useful room dimensions are when you can't create specs for each wall - up here in Canada, our rooms aren't perfectly square. ;-) These minor quibbles aside, PerfectHome looks like a winner. I'm really interested in knowing what others think of the product...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.twopeaks.com/images/screenshots/PHPPC_Today3.gif" /><br /><br />• Easily manage and organize every important detail about your home or apartment.<br />• Home Inventory Manager: Track information about all your valuable assets for insurance or reference purposes. Never forget warranty expiration dates, serial numbers, appraisal values and such important details.<br />• Shopping Lists: Quickly create and edit handy shopping lists for everyday purchases.<br />• Rooms and Locations: Get help when shopping for new furniture, carpets, curtains or paint. PerfectHome enables you to track dimensions, paint colors, and other details about every area in your home.<br />• Home Improvement/Management Task Lists: Easily create Task Lists for keeping up with maintenance projects in your home. Projects can include home improvement, efficiency, security, repair and more.<br />• Loan Analyzer: Use the powerful Loan Analyzer feature to perform various calculations and what-if scenarios with your home mortgage. View amortization tables, compare loans for refinancing, see the effects of early payments etc.<br />• Personal Video/DVD Library: Create, personalize and track your personal Video, DVD, or CD collections.<br /><br />PerfectHome can be <a href="http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&amp;amp;sectionId=0&productId=25806">purchased from Handango </a> for $19.99 (affiliate link).

[mel]

Although we've tentatively announced the Desktop Edition's release date as late-March, it will most likely be available long before that, somewhere between Feb 28 and Mar 5.

The Web site officially says "late March" because I like to promise late and deliver early, as opposed to promise early and then miss deadlines. "Late March" is a worst case scenerio (for the desktop version)

Thanks for the heads up, Jason.

Mel Sampat
Two Peaks Software

[DarkGypsy]

At the time of this writing, I am downloading the trial version of PerfectHome. Having one place to keep all home information would be great, however, I also feel that until the desktop version comes out, input on the PPC will be tedious. Since I am the "chief cook & bottle washer" (Wife, Mom), I am the one responsible for most of the home information. This program could be a blessing in disguise, as changing from and Excel spreadsheet for chores to a checklist for groceries, to Word or Notes for serial numbers, warranty info, etc. :lol:

[MPSmith]

:lol:

I don't buy software very often (Pocket Informant is the only one the leaps to mind), but I may very well buy this. I'm a new home owner and agree that the numerous projects I have slated need to be organized, and this software could be very helpful. Also, I like the mortgage functions. A home inventory is essential for insurance purposes and the movie list function is cool too! I can't see any big negatives.

$20 may be a little steep for me, but hey, I'm pretty cheap.
First complaint: Would everyone quit releasing programs that make me want to buy a color PPC!!!
Second complaint: My home equity is not as high as the one Jason posted.

:wink:

Mike (IPAQ 3135 owner)

[James]

hmm...that's two programs I might have to buy when I get home, though I agree with everyone about the Desktop client being needed.

[DarkGypsy]

I agree with MP Smith. $20.00 does seem a little steep. However, you get what you pay for. 8)



:lol:

I don't buy software very often (Pocket Informant is the only one the leaps to mind), but I may very well buy this. I'm a new home owner and agree that the numerous projects I have slated need to be organized, and this software could be very helpful. Also, I like the mortgage functions. A home inventory is essential for insurance purposes and the movie list function is cool too! I can't see any big negatives.

$20 may be a little steep for me, but hey, I'm pretty cheap.
First complaint: Would everyone quit releasing programs that make me want to buy a color PPC!!!
Second complaint: My home equity is not as high as the one Jason posted.

:wink:

Mike (IPAQ 3135 owner)

[Jason Dunn]

$20 may be a little steep for me, but hey, I'm pretty cheap.


I think $20 is pretty good for software that does a lot - this one app will replace several others. Shopping list, DVD tracking list, home inventory, etc.

[James]

I think $20 is pretty good for software that does a lot - this one app will replace several others. Shopping list, DVD tracking list, home inventory, etc.

I'll generally buy things under $20 without much thought. Over $30 and it'd be better do everything I want. Between $20-30, I'll buy it if it falls into that "cool" category :)

$20 is chump change if it replaces all that! I use HanDBase currently for my DVDs, CDs, wine collection, books, and several other lists. It works quite well, but to drop everything into a single app with a cool UI - SOLD! Now, where's that link and where's my credit card...

[MPSmith]

Jason, that's a good point about the software having a multi-purpose. You've got to take that into account when you look at these kind of things. So many pieces of software out there do JUST ONE THING and charge you $5 or $10. This one does MANY things and only charges $20. I'm sold! In fact, I've been telling my PPC friends about it too.

Hmmm... let's see... I won't be able to add that $20 to my mortgage payment this year, so according to my new software, I just added 0.005 months to my mortgage! LOL

Mike

[icatar]

Another plus to buying from them is that upgrades are free for the life of the product! Awesome.

I also checked with them and if you buy one product, they give you a 25% discount on any other product (such as their Car Maintenance program).

The Desktop Edition will also cost extra once it comes out, but it will provide additional functionality.

[James]

Well, it doesn't quite replace everything I was hoping it might, but it will probably make itself quite useful. The big missing pieces for me are Books and my Wine collection :(

[Jason Dunn]

Well, it doesn't quite replace everything I was hoping it might, but it will probably make itself quite useful. The big missing pieces for me are Books and my Wine collection :(


I'm sure the authors of the software are looking for ways to improve it - tell them! :-)

[mel]

Hi James,
Just wanted to point out to you that you can in fact do your books and wine collection in PerfectHome. Just tap New->Asset, and then click the gray box near the category dropdown. From there, add a new Category, and call it "Books" or "Wine". Then add your book or wine under that category. You can leave non related fields (such as serial number, warranty expiration etc) blank.

-Mel
Two Peaks Software (makers of PerfectHome)

[MPSmith]

Mel:

I took sigital photos for my asset inventory, but the resolution is too high. Is there an easy way to reduce the resolution to 160x160, so it can be viewed full screen? Also, I'd like to keep the photos on my storage card, but can't make the software go to the card to find it.

One more thing. Is there a way to print out the asset inventory? Or is that going to be part of the PC verstion coming out soon...

Thanks. Great software! This cheap-skate just might buy it (and that's really saying something!!!)

Mike

[mel]

Mike,
To access files that are on a storage card, you need to create a "My Documents" folder on the card, and store everything under that. For example, you could create "\Storage Card\My Documents\Home Images"

(This is not a limitation of PerfectHome, but something that is part of the Pocket PC operating system).

As far as printing, you're right, the desktop version will allow that.
And as far as the resolution goes, you might want to run the images through Photoshop or an image editor to downsize them.

If you have further questions, kindly take this discussion to the official Two Peaks forum at www.twopeaks.com/forum . PocketPCThoughts probably isn't the right place for me to be providing tech support for our product. Thanks,
Mel

[James]

Hi James,
Just wanted to point out to you that you can in fact do your books and wine collection in PerfectHome. Just tap New->Asset, and then click the gray box near the category dropdown. From there, add a new Category, and call it "Books" or "Wine". Then add your book or wine under that category. You can leave non related fields (such as serial number, warranty expiration etc) blank.

-Mel
Two Peaks Software (makers of PerfectHome)


I was thinking about that, but I capture things like author's name, category, have/have not about Books, and things like year, vineyard, varietal, etc. about my wines. I can get close...but not quite enough. Thanks for the response!

[MPSmith]

You're right. I got a little carried away.

Mike

[wilkinsjme]

This is a few days late but I just got around to downloading the trial. Entering data on the device can be tedious. However, using the remote display from pocketpc.com powertoys makes it easier since you can use your desktop keyboard and mouse to control the PPC
:)
http://www.microsoft.com/MOBILE/pocketpc/downloads/powertoys.asp