Cheap Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition (Software) (Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Linux, Unix, Macintosh) Price
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Digital camera buffs will quickly take to Photo Story, wherein they can organize their favorite pictures in slideshow format, add narration, and create a dynamic sense of motion by manually or automatically zooming or panning across each shot. The end result is flowing and compelling and far less stagnant than a standard still presentation.
The program also has plenty of goodies for music fans, including Analog Recorder, a clever utility that transcribes audio in real time from traditional sources such as cassettes and 8-tracks (cables not included), organizes them into playlists, and efficiently removes pops and hiss via technology licensed from respected pro audio veteran Syntrillium Corp. Slightly less impressive is CD Label Maker, which offers a standard selection of CD labels and templates but unfortunately emblazons a Microsoft Plus logo onto each one. Party Mode stretches your Windows Media Player to fill the entire screen and displays customizable marquee announcements and animations, and the aptly named Audio Converter converts MP3 and WAV files to space-efficient WMA files.
Arguably Digital Media Edition’s most disposable feature is Plus Dancer, a selection of minuscule live action pop-up dancers who cavort on command across the desktop. Conversely, the practical Sync & Go allows users of pocket PCs to enjoy their favorite PC content on their portable. Microsoft rounds out this eclectic package with several tidbits and novelties, including a variable interval alarm clock, eight mediocre Windows Media Player skins, and fifty additional transitions and visual effects for Microsoft’s free downloadable video editor, Windows Movie Maker. --Gord Goble
| PLATFORM: | Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Linux, Unix, Macintosh |
| CATEGORY: | Software |
| MANUFACTURER: | Microsoft |
| TYPE: | Computer software (programs), Graphics, Multimedia, Edit (Editing), Image Capture Capturing, Music, audio, Sound Editing, Video, Composting, Effects |
| MEDIA: | CD-ROM |
| ACCESSORIES: | |
| UPC: | 805529196711 |
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Customer Reviews of Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition
Fun, interesting, but not very useful The Plus Digital Media Edition programs aren't really junk, and if you don't expect Microsoft to give you very much for what they charge for these programs (and you shouldn't), then you won't be disappointed. The most interesting program (to me) is PhotoStory, which presents tantalizing potential but at this point is little more than a demo. You can make your own "PhotoStories" with your digital stills using pretty sophisticated pan and zoom effects and add narration and background music, but the program provides limited controls and, importantly, once saved the PhotoStories can't be modified at all -- fun to play with but not really very useful. The music programs all together are less useful than the PowerToys programs that Microsoft (uncharacteristically) gives away for free. If you like to play with little programs like the Sleep Timer, Alarm Clock or Party Mode Function, they can be fun, but don't look for anything very practical. The Plus! Dancers is technically impressive, but hogs an astonishing amount of disk space if you download all the dancers and really doesn't do anything except demonstrate the technical expertise of some of Microsoft's programmers. I don't use MovieMaker 2, so I don't know how much this package adds, but I'm guessing it's a lot less than the hype would suggest. The Sync 'n Go and CD labeler capability might be useful if you don't already have several programs that do the same thing, which most people do. In sum, this is an interesting group of programs, but it seems to me it would have made more sense if Microsoft had made DME available free as a demo to promote more full-featured versions of a program like PhotoStory for sale. Finally, I find it very annoying that the download version (which I purchased) is the same price as what they'll be selling in stores. Considering the savings in production, packaging and shipping costs, you would think they'd give download purchasers a small break. But I guess Microsoft doesn't give anybody a break. (NOTE: like apparently all new Microsoft programs, this thing uses the online activation requirement that precludes installation on more than one computer -- so don't plan on buying one copy and sharing it with your friends.)
Non functional without downloads, Not worth the hassle
Just bought it not worth the hassle
Its not very functional without tonnes of MS downloads so dont buy it if you have a 56kb modem like me. I dont want to have to download a tonne of updates, I want functional out of the box.
Product Activation should not be on products this cheap, its a waste of my time. I have no problem with activation on Windows and Office because theyre high value products and at least you get to try them out before activating... This though is a hassle.
The digital music converion program only converts to WMA, I expect at least one alternative format such as WAV or MP3. Bad software in a pretty box.
Great program
I don't really use most of the programs in this package...except Photo Story. Photo Story is incredible! I have done video CDs for my parents' wedding anniversary, seniors graduating from high school (we have two seniors in our private school and will use the stories at graduation), a teacher appreciation banquet, etc. Just hook your DVD player to a projector, and voila! You're ready to go. The ability to add music really makes the stories moving. My only complaint is that you are limited to one music track, so if the story is long, the song just repeats itself over and over. Hopefully, with the next upgrade, they'll add the ability to use more than one music track. That's the only improvement I see that it needs. Great for creating memories for your family and friends!