From: rfh3273@galileo.rtn.ca.boeing.com (Dick Harrigill)
Newsgroups: rec.collecting
Subject: Re: CARDS: Computer software for card collector.
Keywords: cards, software
Date: 2 Sep 92 16:04:35 GMT
Organization: Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, Seattle

In article <ward.715405372@eole.ERE.UMontreal.CA> ward@ERE.UMontreal.CA (Ward Patrick) writes:
>I would like to know the pros and cons about the computer software
>"The Card Collector" from AbleSoft.
>Are the databases complete and accurate ? (Anyone using the hockey
>database ?)
>Another software (and databases) to suggest ?

I'd definitely look at LINEUP instead.  LINEUP innovated, Ablesoft copied.
LINEUP has been on the market for 5 years.  Ablesoft entered last fall.
Both programs store the data in separate files, one file per set.

LINEUP is faster yet the execuatable is 100K smaller.  LINEUP's data files 
are more compact (about 30% less than CC), yet hold more data.  LINEUP has more
features.  

DATA ELEMENTS:

               LINEUP                    CC
Card #         Yes                      Yes
Name           Multiple 17 character    Single 20 character
               (for cards with >1
                player)
# Conditions   3                        3
**Values       1 per condition          1 per condition
               to $2 million            to $99999 
Quantitiy      1 field per condition    1 field per condition
Team           yes                      no
Flags          Rookie                   Rookie
               Special                  Special
               No Update                No  Update
               Wanted                   Wanted
               Variation                1st Card
               Tradable/Sellable
Buy/Sell data  yes                      no
*Value Adjust% yes                      no

*The Value Adjust Percentage is used to automatically adjust values for reasons
such as Canadian exchange rates.  LINEUP also has a rounding feature when
this % is not 100% so you don't get goofy values like 82 cents.

**Both programs store a mint value, with the other 2 values being a percentage of the
mint.  The percentages and condition description are changeable at the set level.

EXTRA DATA:
CC has exactly 20 "extra" cards per set to define your own stuff.
LINEUP allows as many or as few as you like.
  
SETS INCLUDED:
Both programs offer data for all the "major" brands.  I believe there are a few 
small sets CC has that LINEUP doesn't and visa-versa.  However, the offering seems
comparable.  Both programs allow you to create "custom" sets where you provide
your own data.

VALUE UPDATES:
Both offer monthly updates.  CC's updates come in the form of multiple "value"
files, one per data file, which are copied to your disk.  The program then
reads the values into the main file.  LINEUP's update comes in the form of a
single executable where all values are "built-in" to the update.
CC shows a little up or down arrow when cards change.  LINEUP generates
a change report telling you what cards have changed and by what percentage.
Both programs include new data sets with their updates.  LINEUP includes a new 
version of the program with each update; I don't know if Ablesoft does the same.

REPORTS:
I don't think that CC generates any reports LINEUP doesn't.  However, LINEUP
can do the following that CC can't:  Report with selection criteria based on
more than one flag (e.g. ROOKIE AND WANTED, SPECIAL OR ROOKIE); team reports;
Value Update change report; buy/sell reports; set statistics. 

BUY/SELL:
LINEUP provides the means to track investments that CC does not.  If this feature is
used, LINEUP generates an additional data file to hold this data only (so as not to
clutter up the database for those who don't).

GENERAL LAYOUT:
CC looks a bit more "traditional" in its menu layouts.  Menu items are chosen from
a pulldown.  The mouse is supported for menu selection, but scroll bars are not used
so you must arrow down when the list is longer than the menu shown (or type in the 
selection).  LINEUP uses a "map" of the F-keys as its menu and you either press the
key or point and click.  When the menu is too long, LINEUP uses a circular menu
traversal approach.  For most things, you will find LINEUP to use fewer keystrokes.

DATA ACCURACY:
Both programs contain their share of typos and spelling errors.  Neither program can
fix/change names on their value updates.  However, LINEUP does have a name change
program available if you ask.  The problem, however, is it may fix errors they found,
but overwrite problems you found and they didn't.  Both programs allow manual name
changes.  It is interesting, however, that when CC first came out, they had many of
the same typos in their data that LINEUP had. Hmm...

CURRENCY OF DATA WHEN YOU BUY:
If you buy directly from LINEUP or Ablesoft, data is current.  However, if you buy
from a store, LINEUP includes a free update coupon that Ablesoft does not.

UNIQUE:
Ablesoft's ads tout the "Unique Card Separator tm".  However, it does nothing more 
than LINEUP's Card Saver has done for years.  CC's box states "Another Quality 
Ablesoft Product", yet CC is their ONLY product.

QUICK CARD SEARCH:
Both programs have a quick search mode to find random cards.  However, LINEUP again
uses fewer keystrokes in this mode which is important when needing fast access.

COST:
Suggested price of LINEUP is $20 more than CC on the full baseball package. I'm
not sure about Hockey.  The LINEUP ad shows LINEUP with all Hockey data to be
$59.95.  The Ablesoft ad shows CC at $49.95 for baseball with Hockey as an ad-on.
You'll have to call to get the hockey only cost.

GUARANTEE:
Both programs offer moneyback guarantees if not satisfied.

LINEUP'S Number: 800-222-1233.
   
---

Finally, I admit that I do know the LINEUP people and have a personal interest in
their product.  However, I hope my evaluation was fair, and encourage a response
if I've missed the boat in any area.


-- 
Dick Harrigill, an independent voice from:     Boeing Commercial Airplanes 
M/S 9R-49  PO BOX 3707                       Renton Avionics/Flight Systems
Seattle, WA  91824                                  Computing Support
(206) 393-9539    rfh3273@galileo.rtn.ca.boeing.com    CDP, PP-ASEL
Newsgroups: rec.collecting