What should I consider when I buy Family Tree Maker?
I've owned Family Tree Maker for over 15 years. I realized early that I wanted to take advantage of a computer program to help me organize all those names, dates and places that I was uncovering. You should probably start by asking yourself some questions. This process is a great idea whenever you are thinking about buying computer software. The questions I've listed below are just to start you thinking about the benefits of using the right genealogy product to document your families quickly and efficiently. Choosing properly can make the difference between a fun hobby and a dreary chore. Get a pen and paper and start by listing these few questions and then add some more of your own:
- Do I really need to purchase a genealogy program?
- Do I know the benefits that the software will provide?
- Are there special features that I need to have?
Next, list the answers beside each question. You might even make a chart showing not only the answers, but also take the time to rank them based on how important the feature is to you. When I purchase family tree software I took the time to research some of the features and make a careful note of the benefits. You should do the same. Some of the features and benefits that I thought about before I bought were:
- Should I try a free genealogy program before I buy?
- Do I need to share data with others that already have Family Tree Maker?
- Do I need to upgrade from another genealogy product?
- What other products and services does the developer have?
- Will my computer be powerful enough to run the software I purchase?
- Is the software easy is it to use?
- Are there training programs or on-line help to keep me on the right track?
These are just a few basic questions. You can take this short list and add your own specific concerns to it. Most importantly, rank all your questions and their answers according to their importance to you. Check out my article Family Tree Software – Tools to Help You Research Your Heritage for more features and benefits of a computer based genealogy program and even shows a step by step process to get started.
Selecting the right genealogy program for you is very subjective. Once I honestly answered and ranked each of the questions on my list I discovered that my choice of software was obvious. I've tried numerous software packages over the years and Family Tree Maker was a great investment. It has literally saved me many hours of recording and printing reports about my ancestors. Although this article only scratches the surface of the important issues I am sure that it provides the clues you need to consider before you make your purchase. If you have already researched enough I recommend that you click here to buy your own copy of Family Tree Maker. You'll be able to take advantage of the software and devote more time to research. Your family will see the benefits immediately.
