Customer Reviews

National Geographic Presents: RedShift 5 Planetarium Software

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

 

 

I too, have installed lots of software but I'm not impressed with this one---firstly, I tried it on Win98se---message: "Redshift 5 has encountered an error & must close". To which it closes & refuses to run at all. Tried it on WinXPsp1. "Redshift 5 has encountered an error & must close". Got a brand new P4 with a 250GB drive & a fresh copy of WinXPsp2. "Redshift 5 has encountered an error & must close". I can run it with the cd & even though I do have my key/activation code, I can download *limited* updates, but only for certain spacecraft--no galaxies or stars. No meteor showers at all. If I take the cd out of my dvd drive & try to run it, "Redshift 5 has encountered an error & must close". Even if I put the cd back in. In fact I have to delete every single entry of it in the registry & Windows or it will not reinstall---which is very irritating when you've customized it because you have to reinstall the entire program again from scratch!!! They have the WORST support site I've ever seen, not a single faq on Redshift at all! The switching back & forth to a pointer & a sky drag cursor rather than having an "adaptive" cursor like StarryNight, is a Drag as well. I was psyched & really looking forward to playing with it when I ordered it but I expected a lot better too. Not good with 2 thumbs DOWN! "Redshift 5 has encountered an error & must close".

I actually have had great succes with this product. I recieved Redshift 3 as a Christmas gift when I was in middle school, and now I'm a Teaching Assistant for an Astronomy class at the school I attend. The class comes with some planetarim software, but it's no where near as capable or user friendly as Redshift. Starry Night is another popular one, and I would certainly recomend it too, but it's more expensive than Redshift, so this is a good economic choice. As for the technical support, I actually have Redshift 5.1, which I was unable to update from the website. I e-mailed the tech crew and within a few days they responded by letting me know that Redshift 5.1 is the already updated version. In addition, I was able to download any of the add-ons that I wanted from their website and I found a list of FAQs which helped my solve the initial trouble I was having with my serial number.

Hi,
I have installed lots of software, but Red Shift 5.0 has me stumped! I tried on-line to register my SN, but it keeps giving me a 'error'. Also no email support! I tried there on-line web support,but it said my probelm did not fit a certain creteria so had to just give up. I might add I can run the program if I use the CD each time, but since I couldn't register I now won't be able to update any of the comets data, etc. I had expected better!
Wally..

I have Red Shift 2 but it had its limitations. Red Shift 5 is out of this world by comparison. Not only is it like the older version but it has vastly improve upon it. I have traveled back in time to see what the sky looked like as the British Regulars marched out of Boston to their fateful encounter on Lexington Green, and in so doing knew why that night was chosen, because the Moon was just past full and the Moon would light their march.
Likewise, I checked out the skies at other dates as well of history and even went to the future to see what the skies would be like the day the Mayan Calendar come to an "end". (Nothing special.)
I like , though I haven't used the feature, that you can go on-line and get the data up-dated so as new objects are found they can be added to the catalog of objects already there.
There is so much that I have yet to learn about RS5 that I haven't done it all. It is one wonderful program for your computer and when you want to know what that bright star is then you go to RS5 and find out. What a fantastic tool for amateur astronomers to use.

This software is very easy to use and quite intuitive. It works well for beginners and more seasoned star gazers. Kids seem to be able to negotiate it with a bit of help and I recommend it especially with the low price and the quality of the application. Buy it.

I tried to use this software in a school setting and it simply would not work for long. I got the same error message as others have gotten. If it was reliable it would probably be an excellent educational reaource. Too bad.

What a piece of crap. The Start-Up/Welcome movie plays on an endless loop no matter which of the three installations you choose and the only way to kill it is Control/Alt/Delete which, then, kills the program as well and then you start the whole game all over again. According to the manual, you will always need to use the CD to access the software unless you use the CD Key, yet you are never allowed to get that far because you will be forever stuck in the tedious ten minute Welcome loop.
Save your money. Do not but this. It is worthless. Spend the extra money on Starry Night or something that isn't a complete rip off.