Customer Reviews

Printmaster - Platinum Version 18 [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(31)

 

 

I have Printmaster 12 and I enjoy it immensely! I wanted to upgrade since I now have the Vista Operating System. It's frustrating that you have to have internet access to be able to use many, many of the graphics. In my Printmaster 12 I physically own all the graphics -- with this version, it will give you a thumbnail pix of each of the graphics but you have to download many of them from Broderbund. I think that should be in the description of this product and I thought many others might appreciate knowing this bit of information before you jump into this one.

Extra Info. About Use With Microsoft Vista ... One of the reasons I bought this is because it's suppose to work with Microsoft Vista. My experience now is that it crashes (shuts down) as does my earlier Printmaster with the Vista. I think they have some bugs to work out before they should be claiming it works with Vista. My daughter uses it on her computer (this Printmaster 18 and the Printmaster 12) which has Microsoft XP and there is no problem. She was surprised to find mine shuts down so frequently, and I was surprised it doesn't give her any trouble!

I, too, have worked in Printmaster for years, upgrading every time a new one was available. I have enjoyed them all, especially PM 16, which fulfilled most if not all of my modest desktop publishing needs. My new computer runs on Vista, which necessitates the new PM 18, and I find it is skimpier than 16 and lacking some of the features I have counted on and used in previous versions.I can still build my page and get done most of what I need to do, but find the program subtly (or not so subtly) pared down in various areas which had produced a more fully-rounded 16. The clip art seems oddly lacking, even with the "Million Dollar Club", which I was unprepared for. Many graphics I have used regularly for years in various versions are no longer available. Furthermore, I ordered PM 18 directly from Broderbund and paid the going price plus postage. I didn't even get a box, just a cardboard mailer containing the PM disk and the one for scrapbooks (not of interest to me). Not a word, not an insert, not a picture, not nothing. I will not buy online from Broderbund again. The boxes illustrate aspects of the program which I might use if I knew what they were. I feel just a tad cheated and disappointed, and find that I crash just as often with this Vista-compatible version as I did with the PM 16. Also I have encountered stubborn printing problems with this version that I didn't have before; i.e., the program just prints on and on and on, long past the number of copies I have asked for. It would print forever if I kept feeding it paper. I have to cancel every printing manually or turn my computer off to stop it from disgorging the same print job unto eternity. I have the feeling that PM 18 was whipped together hastily to get in on Vista as it hit the market, and that newer and better versions will address some of the problems that present Vista users encounter with it.

Honestly, this version of Printmaster or other companies that sell this type of product this is the best one that we've used so far for our small business needs. I am not sure why other people are having difficulties with Broderbund or the internet, but this program by far is better than their competitors for clip art quality/content, text, and web capability. Besides, all the companies that sell these types of software have way more content online than what is included on the Cds. If your looking for a program like this one, I highly recommend this one rather than all of the others out there on the market. Very easy to use and my wife is all about the scrapbooking and greeting program that's also included!

you need to be connected to internet to download any clip art .There are no clip art on the DVD. You can not use this program off line. If you have dial up ,you will not be able to complete your project before you get kicked off line. Other versions of PRINTMASTER had all the clip art on CDs. If you get the free million clip art for one year ,you must sign up and get a password emailed to you, which never comes, You get no help from the company if you purchased elsewere." BUYER BEWARE "

We purchased the Broderbund Printamster Platinum Version 18 since it was alleged to be compatible with our Vista operating system. Many hours of efort notwithstanding, it simply will not install. The help section speaks mainly to the Windows XP system and Version 17. I am NOT pleased.

More than half the images needed to be downloaded, a rip off.
I upgraded from 16 to 18 (DVD) because I thought I could install all the images on my computer and work offline... not so... you need to have internet access to download most of them.
I'm reverting back to 16 so I can put all the images back on my computer.

I have owned many versions of Printmaster and this one is the worst by far. It use to be that the Graphics and already made cards were on the disk. Now you need to go online for many of the graphics and ready made cards. To make matters worse I spent a hour last night trying to download a card and finally gave up and made the card myself. I have more than 10 million graphics on disks and it took me less time to find somthing that would work and make a simular card. Next problem is the animated greeting cards you cannot send them because they contain harmful files. They could have put the grahics on the disk and forgot animated greeting program. Makes you wonder when you go online are they spying on you do they have spyware embedded in the program. Once the put the install files on one disk and the Graphics and work files on another disk and that worked fine. Makes you wonder

The new Printmaster is good. I like the fact that you have the option in this one to create your own templates. It is true that most of the projects are off the internet but if you don't completely rely on the ready made projects and can create your own, it is not an issue. Broaderbund is a completely out of reach company. Yes they have some options on their site but you are completely out of luck if you need to speak to a technician. It is vertually imposible to contact anyone live. For this reason I gave the product 3 stars. The company does not concern itself with the customer whatsoever. Therefore I am moving away from products produced by Broaderbund. Once you have a problem that is out of the box you are out of luck. I purchased Calendar Creator and have never been able to use it because it has issues with IE7 and I cannot contact anyone in person to help me with this problem.

The product is ok, although a little confusing to use if you haven't used Printmaster before. The thing I was most upset about is that you're supposed to get free one year access to the "Million Image Club". Well, I registered and followed instructiong that came w/ the program, but never did get a code to use this feature, and you get NO help at all from Broderbund. I've emailed 'till I'm blue in the face and no one will help no matter what you try.

I had previously purchased the Printmaster Platinum 8 & 16 versions. The first came with the software CD's on in a fold open card to keep them neat. The 2nd came in a hard plastic case that kept them really well organized. This current version comes with 3 CD's in the little paper sleeves in the box. Alot of the pictures are online so if you do not have access to the internet alot of the clipart is not available. Once again they get you coming back for more and then give you less. OkK but not great. Next time I will try another company.