Customer Reviews

Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition 9.8 (DVD Style Case) New

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't know what Chris was talking about, it sounds like he was predecided to not like it, and probably didn't give it enough time to learn 123. I've been using Smartsuite since '98. The company I worked for had a guy custom build a comprehensive MIS system in Approach, and I got to learn Approach along while he was building it. It was used for everything from estimating to invoicing to labor tracking. I suppose the same type of system could be done in MS Access, but I've tried working with Access, and it doesn't compare to the ease of using Approach. Lotus 123 is basically the same as Excel, except for few of the command keys, and a couple of other things. I grew to like 123 better than Excel, probably just because I got used to it. I will admit that Lotus WordPro is a bit confusing, so I'd give the preference to MS Word, but I don't use word processing much. As for the other things like the web building stuff, I haven't tried it much.
Overall, especially considering the price difference between the Lotus and Microsoft packages, I'd prefer Lotus.

I do not understand why IBM (current owner of Lotus) cannot produce a version for 64 bit, Windows 7 OS. I ended up having to load Windows XP OS within Windows 7 to get it to work. I love this program as it has many advantages over Excel.

Lotus Smart Suite - My order was received quickly and the program works great. The price was amazing. I'll come back to Azazon for future needs. Thanks!

For anyone who has old .lwp files this program is for you! Works with new Windows and saves you loads of time in transferring 10 - 15 year old files into todays technology.

Installation: If you choose to install the full software, it wont even give you the option of choosing which directory or drive to install it into. You can bypass that only by choosing to install individual components and selecting them all.

The Next time I switched the computer on, Lotus had dominated the screen with a menu bar with all components of Smartsuite, and the startup menu with its component buttons. I searched its help to find a way to remove it but the instructions were wrong...click on Start, then Settings, etc. Well, after clicking on Start, there isnt a Settings. To the designers of this product...please learn one word "OPTIONS"....and options which the user can easily find and execute.

Lotus 123: Printing:

(1) You cant define an area to print unless you keep the entire range highlighted. The print menu allows you to choose to print the Workbook, the sheet or the range....but then it doesnt allow you to select sheet or workbook.

(2) sometimes the print areas overlap - a part of the last page mysteriously appeared on part of the first page and some other pages with no discernable sequence.

(3) the print menu with tabs are a nuisance...whenever changes are made, you have to go back to a specific tab to see the preview.

The other components of Smartsuite might be wonderful but after this experience with Lotus 123 I didnt want to spend weeks to figure it out anymore. I gave up and uninstalled the software.