This is a comment posted on a Department56 email group regarding software, from someone who has tried all of them.

"Here's my biased opinion:

Greekbook- used to be the standard for everyone. Avoid like the plague. Has problems with viruses and entry is a huge pain in...... Spread sheet style means tabbing across column after column to enter data.  With my flea brain I loose track of what I'm trying to enter and have to tab back and forth to get all info in. Also have to pay $25 yearly for updates. You can type them in, but hours later, was it worth it? Current problems: No software available to update. I downloaded the mid year releases and lost all my pictures. A personless site. Leave a message and no one ever gets back to you. No fax number. No telephone number.

If you collect the NP then you know what it's like to stand out in the cold.

Collector's Data Base- This I like. One page entry and lots of add on collections to purchase. It is expensive and and the updates are $25/year/collection. Good pictures, but Greenbook was better. Lots of add on collections. Not familiar with support.

Dickens Exchange- Although I love Lynda, there are problems on the horizon. This has been delayed a hundred times. Gossip is that it is pretty simple- that may mean easy to use, or not too sophisticated. I would guess they will have support, but she knows zip about computers and freely admits it. She has the booklet to keep up, a monthly mag, secondary and travels. Who will help you when you have a question? And when is it really coming?

Now MY favorite. Scott Weishair has a great program on the market.

Village Collector-

• Surprise, he wrote it- that's his business-custom software.
  
• Surprise he has a paging email system.
  
• Surprise, he calls you back and walks you through the whole system.
  
• Surprise, it was written for windows and creates it's own window with shortcut icons to the collections YOU choose- that means you don't     have to run through Heritage to get to the accessories for North Pole. (Greenbook)
  
• Surprise, he has the add on for other collections.
  
  
• Surprise....there is no charge for updates, yes no charge.
  
  
• Surprise the pictures are great
  
  
• Surprise both secondary and primary dealers are listed with contact information- no one else has this.....
  
• Surprise you can enter data in the page mode (one page all info) much more flexible than greenbook. Allows entries like shipping and handling and other things you can customize. Big typeface makes life easier for all of us. Then for fast access, click a shortcut to Alpine, click database and you are back to line items to speed through to find an item-if you prefer that format.
  
  
• The reports are easy to read and useful.
  
  
• Of course, I rave about it to everyone. When he called me back, after silence from greenbook for months, I nearly fainted. He is nice and patient.
  
  
  Told you I was biased- and a happy camper!
  
  Happy Villaging!"
  
  Diana

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