Presentation Manager Professional

[stecas]

Hi
Does any know Presentation Manager Professional?

What you think about it?

Stecas

[Gina]

yup, been using it for almost a year. It's ok, I guess. It can be a bit tempermental, probably like other software. Is there anything in particular about it that you're dealing with?

[stecas]

Hi I have a demo of it. it seem ok but I will like to try out a full version before we buy.

Thanks

Stecas

[frank]

Originally Posted by stecas

...I will like to try out a full version before we buy.

This page on their website says, "If Presentation Manager is not installed this download will function as a fully featured demo for 30 days." So download the trial and you're good to go

[ABTarasoff]

Hello and Welcome,

Our church has been using the PMPro for over a year and I feel that it is the best and easiest to keep up with. They always strive to work on the software issues and updates are regular. No fee involved if you have a licensed package. Let me know what I can be of help and maybe work you thru some of the bugs I encountered.

[docdigit]

I've only been using PMP for a month or so but I can tell you that I already love it. Just the fact that I can split my screens (using an extra video card) and do text over live video are enough for me! All of the other bells and whistles are just icing on the cake.

Doc

[MrMayor]

We've been using it since April 2005 (version 5) and if I had made the decision, knowing what I know now I would NEVER have bought it. My latest rule in software acquisition is, if they don't have support forum you can visit before purchasing, don't purchase the software.

Any vendor that is confident in their software, should provide a place where the users can discuess problems and possible solutions. With Presentation manager, I feel we are the only boat on the ocean.

As for the reason I wouldn't buy it: I have not been able to use any of the version 6 point releases for more than 15 minutes without discovering a bug. (I just subbmitted 4 bug reports on the latest version 6.117 today!) Some of these bugs look like they are caused by fixes to bugs I previously reported.

While I'm a 'power' user, the volunteers that setup and run the presentations are not and they would end up crying with the bugs I've found. If I could return the product, I would however they will not accept a return of it and only allow an free upgrade for a year, so since I did not upgrade due to bugs I found, I will have to pay to upgrade. Hmmmm figure that.

[ABTarasoff]

I have a question for you, what system requirements are you running for your PC? Have you looked at what the minimums are from their site?
I have been using their latest version (6.117) and only found one bug with regards to SongLog and they are working on the problem. A new update will be out in a few weeks.
Could you expand on what bugs you have found? Thanks.

[MrMayor]

Presentation Manager version: 6.117

Computer:
Dell Inspiron E1405
T2300 @ 1.66Ghz
1 Gig Ram

Operating System:
Winows XP Pro SP2
================================================== ======
Problem 1
Description:
DVD usage causes hangs, slow downs, and causes PM to stop responding
================================================== ======
In several tests of PM using PM 6.117, on our new machine, DVD processing is SLOW, crashes, and just doesn't work.

For example, following your tutorial that is on your website, it says to use the DVD,
1) select build
2) drag the DVD icon to a playlist
3) edit the playlist
4) select the DVD Navigation tab
5) select the navigation tools to select the part of the movie you want to play.

steps 1-4 work fine, except nothing ever shows up in the navigation tool, the buttons are there, but not the info about the movie.
================================================== =====

Presentation Manager version: 6.117

Computer:
Dell Inspiron E1405
T2300 @ 1.66Ghz
1 Gig Ram

Operating System:
Winows XP Pro SP2
================================================== ======
Description:
Can stop the DVD from playing and other unpredictable effects
================================================== ======
1) Start PM
2) In the Image Control, select '2 DVD'
3) Click the 'Live' tab
4) When DVD starts playing, in the Image Control, select '1 DV'

Result: not predictable. In one case, the movie kept playing and the only way to stop it was to quit out of PM. In another case, the movie went away as did the presentaiton window, the tab bar at teh top was there, but the window was gone, so nothing could be displayed on monitor two. Only solution Quit out of PM
================================================== ======

Presentation Manager version: 6.117

Computer:
Dell Inspiron E1405
T2300 @ 1.66Ghz
1 Gig Ram

Operating System:
Winows XP Pro SP2
================================================== ======
Description:
DVD window always remains top most
================================================== ======
1) Start PM
2) select build
3) drag the DVD icon to a playlist
4) edit the playlist
5) select the DVD Navigation tab
6) Start up NOTEPAD or anyother application

Result: the DVD navagation window remains on top of Notepad even though Notepad is the active application. It Notepad (or whatever other application is chosen) should be the top most window
================================================== ======

Presentation Manager version: 6.117

Computer:
Dell Inspiron E1405
T2300 @ 1.66Ghz
1 Gig Ram

Operating System:
Winows XP Pro SP2
================================================== ======
Description:
DVD Help screens missing
================================================== ======
1) Launch PM
2) select build
3) drag the DVD icon to a playlist
4) edit the playlist
5) select the DVD Navigation tab
6) select HELP
7) select Video Overviews
select DVD Overview
Result: The page can not be displayed
================================================== ======

Granted, this is not being run on our production machine, that is much faster, but there is no way I will update from version 5 till I can run version 6 for a half hour and not fine any bugs. Even if it is as simple as a help screen being missing, that tells me it is not ready for prime time. I did technical support for 20 years and would rate version 6 as beta software. It might eventually make it to final, but I think we will be using something else by then.

[ABTarasoff]

Here are the minimums from their site:

To use all the powerful features of Presentation Manager we recommend

2.2Ghz Pentium 4 Processor
512 RAM
However, if your church will not be using movies or live video for backgrounds a much less powerful system is needed.

1.0Ghz Pentium 3 Processor
256 RAM
In addition, certain hardware is necessary

A dual display graphics card, or dual display compatible laptop.
A video capture card (optional for a live video feed).
A single computer monitor and a second output device (Projector, TV etc.)

Have you tried to disable your antivirus? This may cause some of the problems you are facing. Also, in an earlier statement they had mentioned that the program may not work as well with a 1G Ram.

At looking at PMPro site for their selling system , this is what they have,

Intel® Core™ Duo processor T2500 (2MB Cache/2GHz/667MHz FSB)
512 RAM
Microsoft Windows Home

80GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
DVD ROM

15.4" Wide Screen XGA Display
128MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1300 HyperMemory™

I am still thinking about the other situations that you posted and I will write them later.

[MrMayor]

Yes I have turned off antivirus. This testing was done on a brand new laptop we got in for a new hire. Before I turn it over, I thught I'd try out the ver 6.117 on a machine with a DVD and discovered the bugs I mentioned. And now for the latest.

Presentation Manager version: 6.117

Computer:
Dell Inspiron E1405
T2300 @ 1.66Ghz
1 Gig Ram

Operating System:
Winows XP Pro SP2
================================================== ======
Description:
Trying to uninstall PM from a computer, the uninstall does not work
================================================== ======
1) Go to Control Panels - Add Remove programs
2) Select Presentation manager and select REMOVE
3) Follow the directions

Result: Although it acts like it is removing the software, if you reboot the machine, and start up PM gain, it's still there!
================================================== ======

[ABTarasoff]

I would suggest that you download other presentation software to demo and find one that suits your needs. I guess that PMPro has failed in your eyes and that is fine.
Good luck with your search and testing of others.