Don Tolson
04-27-2005, 05:15 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-header.jpg" /><br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> ‘Packaged’ software<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <A HREF = "http://www.thaddeuscomputing.com/" target = "blank"> Thaddeus Computing </A><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <A HREF = "http://www.pocketpcmag.com/cd" target = "blank">Pocket PC Magazine</A><br /><b>Price:</b> Demo CD $15 USD or free with 2 year <i>Pocket PC Magazine</i> subscription. Software Package $280.00 USD.<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> Most of the software included will work with Pocket PC 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 or 2003 SE. You’ll need to check with individual vendors regarding versions to work with Pocket PC 2000.<br /><b>Specifications:</b> Desktop PC with ActiveSync 3.7 or above installed is required to review the CD and to download demos, etc. Pocket PC.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Huge selection of award-winning software;<br /><li>Vendors supply the latest version their software;<br /><li>Automated website makes it easy(ier) to register the packages you want;<br /><li>Lots of freebies on the CD and with the registered package<b>Cons:</b><li>Pricey, but worth it, if there is software there you want;<br /><li>Varying methods of registration, depending upon vendor.<b>Summary:</b> Have you been waiting on that ultimate <i>deal</i> on pieces of software you’ve thought of getting, but just couldn’t afford? Well, Thaddeus Computing’s <b><i>2005 Best of Everything CD</i></b> may be just the answer. Here, in one place, are 100 of the top name applications which were judged to be the ‘best of breed’ in their respective categories. The initial investment is significant, but if you’re looking to add a number of new applications to your Pocket PC, this may be the most economical route available.<br /><br />Read On for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Introduction</b></span><br />In the summer of 2004, the staff of <i>Pocket PC Magazine</i> and 80 Windows Mobile experts reviewed over 2000 Pocket PC applications, looking for the best in each of 70 separate categories. After narrowing them down to 435 nominees, the experts voted to determine winners and finalists in each of the categories. The list of winners and finalists is available on the <A HREF = "http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/nominees_2004.asp" target = "blank"> Pocket PC Magazine website </A>. Now, Thaddeus Computing is making 100 of the winners and finalist applications available in one place – the <b><i>Best of Everything CD</i></b>.<br /><br /><span><b>So What Do You Get?</b></span><br />Well, it depends upon how much you spend.... For $15 USD, you get the Demo CD, with demonstration/trial versions of all the winning software titles, plus a bunch of free software, themes, utilities, e-books and movies. You can also get the same demo CD free with a 2-year paid subscription to <i>Pocket PC Magazine</i>.<br /><br />If you buy the Software Package for $280 USD, the package of stuff increases dramatically. The picture below shows what came to my door.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-package.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 1: The ‘Software Package'.</i><br /><br />The package includes:<li>The Best of Everything Demo CD;<br /><li>A CD containing 5 years of Pocket PC Magazine in MS Reader format;<br /><li>The 2005 Pocket PC Buyer’s Guide;<br /><li>A coupon worth $25 at <a href="www.usedhandhelds.com">www.usedhandhelds.com</a> ;<br /><li>A 1-year subscription or renewal to <i>Pocket PC Magazine</i>;<br /><li>A 1-year subscription or renewal to the MS Reader version of <i>Pocket PC Magazine</i>;<br /><li>Microsoft’s Pocket Streets 2005;<br /><li>A metal combination stylus/pen/laser pointer, with two sets of batteries;<br /><li>A registerable copy of Pocket Mechanic from Anton Tomov Software In addition, a letter is included with your user ID and password to access the registration website, where you can request full copies or registration codes for any of the award-winning software included on the disk. The retail cost of the extra gifts provided (beyond the CD itself) is about $130 USD, so you’ve got a good start toward the $280 value. However, what really matters is the software on the CD.<br /><br /><span><b>What’s On the Disk</b></span><br />From a list I took off the registration website, I counted just over 100 award winning and finalist applications. They include games, PIM replacements, calculators, databases, e-wallets, DVD players, mapping/navigation tools, financial tools, image viewers/enhancers, etc., etc. -- the list goes on and on. And these aren’t cheap knock-off applications from ‘Joe and Flo’s Software Emporium’, but the full-powered, most recent versions from known, respected vendors like Spb Software House, WebIS, Landware, Ilium Software, and PDAMill, to name a few. I won’t list them all here, but a little later in the review, I’ve attached a spreadsheet provided by Thaddeus Computing that you can use to see what’s included and see if getting a registered copy makes sense for you.<br /><br />The Demo CD contains demo versions of each of the programs, which are either limited in functionality or will expire after a certain number of days or runs. In all the cases I looked at, the demo versions and periods were more than sufficient to give you a good feel of how the program worked and whether it would meet your needs.<br /><br />Also included on the CD is a large collection of free software, including games, utilities, e-books (in MS Reader format), movie trailers, short-subject movies, audio books and themes.<br /><br />Most of the free games are Pocket PC versions of ones we are familiar with from the desktop (Minefield, Tetris, etc.). The movie trailers are from fairly recent bigger releases, such as <i>Alexander</i>, <i>Alien Vs. Predator</i>, and <i>The Day After Tomorrow</i> and are provided in .wmv format. The e-books are classics (Dickens, Huxley, etc.) which have long been in the public domain. The movies are short subjects (about 8 or 9 minutes long, again in .wmv format) are from recognized directors. Most are rated PG for thematic content.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-beat_wp.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 2: One of the free movies.</i><br /><br />Today screen themes are provided in non-VGA and VGA formats. Over 180 themes are provided with a wide variety of styles and backgrounds. Some are very striking, but they are all well done and professional.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-FijiDawn.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 3: Fiji Dawn ‘free’ theme.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-LighthouseSunset.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 4: Lighthouse Sunset ‘free’ theme.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-fraxplorer4.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 5: Fractal Explorer ‘free’ theme.</i><br /><br /><span><b>How Does Registration Work?</b></span><br />When you purchase the Registered version, you will receive (via snail mail) a package similar to the one shown above. In it will be a welcome letter, which includes your user ID and password for the <A HREF = "http://www.pocketpcmag.com/viewcd" target = "blank"> Registration website.</A> The initial password assigned is the registration number for your CD, which is cumbersome, so I’d strongly suggest changing it as the first thing you do when you get there.<br /><br />Once logged on, you are presented with your account information, and a list of the award categories on the left side. Clicking on any one of the categories presents a scrollable page of ‘mini-ads’ for each of the applications in the category, with a Register button at the bottom.<br /> <br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-registration-2.gif"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-registration-2-thumb.gif" /></a> <br /><i>Figure 6: A ‘mini-ad’ from the Registration website - Click the image above for a larger version of the screenshot.</i><br /><br />When you click this button, you get a prompt that confirms your registration, and gives details on what will happen next. At the same time, a message is sent to the vendor and an email is sent to your registered email address confirming the registration.<br /><br />What happens next is where it gets interesting. Unfortunately, the vendors have not come to agreement on a single way of dealing with registering their software. Some will send a downloadable full copy of the software; some will send an activation code for the demo version you downloaded from the CD; some will direct you to a website/URL to request an activation code; and various combinations of the aforementioned. It’s a bit confusing, but be patient – it all comes together eventually. Out of the 10 or 12 items I registered, I’ve only had one vendor who was a little slow off the mark. Everyone responded within a day or two.<br /> <PAGEBREAK> <br /><span><b>Is It Worth It?</b></span><br />Again, it really depends on what you need, and whether it’s on the CD. Thaddeus Computing provides a handy <A HREF = "http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-spreadsheet.xls" target = "blank"> spreadsheet </A> to help you decide. Basically, it lists all of the products available and their prices in USD. You go through and mark with an X all the ones that you might want, and the spreadsheet totals them up. If the total is over $280 USD, then you’re in business! I looked through the available software, registered some stuff that looked interesting, and then tallied it up using the spreadsheet.<br /><br />As a reviewer, I get fully functional versions of the software from the vendors, so I already had some of the titles included on the disk. Here’s a breakdown list of what I use/registered:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-apr05-bestcd-registered.gif" /><br /><i>Figure 7: List of products I would use from the CD.</i><br /><br />According to the spreadsheet, if I had acquired all of these individually, it would have cost me over $425 USD! (There was so much stuff I wanted to try, I went out and bought a new 512M CF memory card to hold it!) So for me, even with my rather utilitarian use of my Pocket PC, the Best of Everything CD would be a really good deal. Another advantage of the registered CD is that you have until January 31, 2006 to register any piece of software, so if at a later date you decide to add something else, it’s no problem. Just return to the website, find the package, and hit that Register button!<br /><br /><span><b>Support</b></span><br />In the package which comes with the Registered CD, your letter also includes instructions on how to access the registration site, what’s in the package, policies on refunds, and how to get support and give feedback. There is also a Help file provided on the CD itself, which describes how to access the demo versions of the software, and how to register your CD.<br /><br />If you have any problems at all with the CD or registration process, Thaddeus Computing provides an email address to contact. I’ve had a couple of problems and queries during the course of this review, and always received very prompt replies – usually within a couple of hours.<br /><br />The only real downside for me was that I do quite a bit of hiking around the area with my Cub pack, and none of the mapping applications I tried (Outdoor Navigator and Pocket Streets) had maps for my home town or the surrounding area.:-(<br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />At the beginning, I was a little skeptical that I’d really want enough of the software provided to make the $280 USD investment worthwhile. After looking at what was available, and using the spreadsheet to calculate what it would cost me, I can honestly say that this is a pretty good deal. If you’ve been holding off getting those games, utilities, and other applications for your Pocket PC, take a look at the spreadsheet, then maybe get a copy of the demo CD to ‘try before you buy’.<br /><br /><i>Don is an Associate Director of Systems Development and Project Management with Fujitsu Consulting. Thanks to the Best of Everything CD, he gets even less time on his Pocket PC when it’s at home – his wife and kids all want to play the games!</i>