04-27-2005, 05:15 PM
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Thoughts Media Review Team
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 749
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2005 Best of Everything CD Review
Product Category: �Packaged� software
Manufacturer: Thaddeus Computing
Where to Buy: Pocket PC Magazine
Price: Demo CD $15 USD or free with 2 year Pocket PC Magazine subscription. Software Package $280.00 USD.
System Requirements: 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.
Specifications: Desktop PC with ActiveSync 3.7 or above installed is required to review the CD and to download demos, etc. Pocket PC.
Pros:- Huge selection of award-winning software;
- Vendors supply the latest version their software;
- Automated website makes it easy(ier) to register the packages you want;
- Lots of freebies on the CD and with the registered package
Cons:- Pricey, but worth it, if there is software there you want;
- Varying methods of registration, depending upon vendor.
Summary: Have you been waiting on that ultimate deal on pieces of software you�ve thought of getting, but just couldn�t afford? Well, Thaddeus Computing�s 2005 Best of Everything CD 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.
Read On for the full review!
Introduction
In the summer of 2004, the staff of Pocket PC Magazine 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 Pocket PC Magazine website . Now, Thaddeus Computing is making 100 of the winners and finalist applications available in one place � the Best of Everything CD.
So What Do You Get?
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 Pocket PC Magazine.
If you buy the Software Package for $280 USD, the package of stuff increases dramatically. The picture below shows what came to my door.
Figure 1: The �Software Package'.
The package includes:- The Best of Everything Demo CD;
- A CD containing 5 years of Pocket PC Magazine in MS Reader format;
- The 2005 Pocket PC Buyer�s Guide;
- A coupon worth $25 at www.usedhandhelds.com ;
- A 1-year subscription or renewal to Pocket PC Magazine;
- A 1-year subscription or renewal to the MS Reader version of Pocket PC Magazine;
- Microsoft�s Pocket Streets 2005;
- A metal combination stylus/pen/laser pointer, with two sets of batteries;
- 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.
What�s On the Disk
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.
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.
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.
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 Alexander, Alien Vs. Predator, and The Day After Tomorrow 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.
Figure 2: One of the free movies.
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.
Figure 3: Fiji Dawn �free� theme.
Figure 4: Lighthouse Sunset �free� theme.
Figure 5: Fractal Explorer �free� theme.
How Does Registration Work?
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 Registration website. 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.
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.
Figure 6: A �mini-ad� from the Registration website - Click the image above for a larger version of the screenshot.
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.
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.
Is It Worth It?
Again, it really depends on what you need, and whether it�s on the CD. Thaddeus Computing provides a handy spreadsheet 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.
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:
Figure 7: List of products I would use from the CD.
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!
Support
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.
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.
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.:-(
Conclusions
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�.
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!
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04-27-2005, 08:47 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 298
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Maybe I'm a little thick, but...basically you if you purchase the full package, you get full versions of the software on the CD?
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04-27-2005, 09:14 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,162
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Newsboy
Maybe I'm a little thick, but...basically you if you purchase the full package, you get full versions of the software on the CD?
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You get a password for the site and then you get the full versions or activation codes from the individual vendors.
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04-27-2005, 10:18 PM
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Thoughts Media Review Team
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 749
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jacob
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Newsboy
Maybe I'm a little thick, but...basically you if you purchase the full package, you get full versions of the software on the CD?
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You get a password for the site and then you get the full versions or activation codes from the individual vendors. |
...and as I mentioned in the review, most of the vendors responded within hours of me registering on the web site. In all cases, I ended up with the latest 'full' versions of their software from the CD.
__________________
/drt
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04-28-2005, 12:24 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 256
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Check out Hewlett Packard's www.iPaqCHOICE.com and their points system. Possibly an even better deal and of course you only pay for what you use. I now get most of my software from iPaqCHOICE ....
Dom
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04-28-2005, 01:18 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1
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I don't see any mention of the $15 demo CD on the website. Can anyone provide a link to it. All I see is the order full price and cancel within 30 days offer which always scares me.
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04-28-2005, 03:56 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 58
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Hi,
I am the person that put the Best of Everything Demo CD and The Best of Everything Software Package together. I think Don wrote a clear, fair assessment of the package. It was a huge effort, but a lot of fun to partner with 70 vendors who live in places such as Siberia, Hanoi, Tokyo, Moscow, Czech republic, and all throughout the U.S. (We're in small town, rural Iowa).
In answer to a question, http://ppcmag.com/store/asp/product.asp?product=75 is the URL for just purchasing the $15 CD. (The CD by itself is not something, we promote. Normally, the CD comes as a freebie with the two year subscription, www.PocketPCmag.com/subscribe or comes with the Package.)
Another comment just to clarify. Almost 50% of the registration or download information for products are delivered immediately, since we have the reg codes or downloads. The other 50% come directly from the vendor. In most cases, our partners have automated the process, so that registration also comes quickly.
I'll monitor the thread if anyone has questions they would like to direct to me.
Hal Goldstein
Publisher, Pocket PC magazine
[email protected]
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04-28-2005, 05:32 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 58
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I just received a private E-mail question, and I thought it would be of general interest.
" Hal, I have a couple of questions,
1. Are the softwares included in this bundle up to date? I know that Pocket Breeze and Cash Organizer has been updated fairly recently, will we have access to this update and updates coming up before the CD expires?
2. When does this deal end?"
Our arrangement with the vendors is that our upgrade policy parallels the policy of the vendor. So, suppose you bought our Software Package in April. If in May a vendor comes out with a newer version, and he upgrades his customers who bought in April, then you, the April buyer of the Software Package will receive the upgrade. In addition, we attempt to alert uses of major upgrades when they click "Register." So, for example, Developer One has come out with major upgrades of CodeWallet and Agenda Fusion since our CD was created. Customers are alerted of the change when the click register.
The deal will end in November or December. Jan 31, 2006 is the last day you can register a product on the CD.
Hal Goldstein
Exec Editor
Pocket PC magazine
[email protected]
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04-28-2005, 05:33 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1
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best cd
hal,
I have a couple of questions, 1. Are the softwares included in this bundle up to date? I know that Pocket Breeze and Cash Organizer has been updated fairly recently, will we have access to this update and updates coming up before the CD expires?
2. When does this deal end?
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05-03-2005, 11:42 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Well, I got my package today, but got a set of retractable earbuds instead of A metal combination stylus/pen/laser pointer, with two sets of batteries  I wonder why Hal didn't mention that its just a random gift From UsedHandhelds. I really had my heart set on that combination stylus But at least I got my CD and password!
__________________
Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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