Review: Bento 2

#1 Macworld

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 10:35 AM

Post your comments for Review: Bento 2 here

#2 Jeter2Fan93

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 10:48 AM

While the cost for the program is low, I don't recall any information regarding Bento 2 prior to the release. Basically, customers that purchased Bento recently are stuck with the 'old' version unless they want to pony up the additional $49 for Bento 2.
With that said, I've owned a license since Bento first arrived and I've been happy with it. I've downloaded the new demo and the great news is that if I don't want to purchase it, I can discard it and still use my older version with no problems. 29 days to decided I guess!

#3 vinny2cubes

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 11:06 AM

I just bought Bento v1.0 two weeks ago for $49, and I'm p*ssed off that they aren't offering an upgrade for the suckers that bought the first version. Why in the world would I invest $49 more for a few extra features that probably should have been in the first version? It's not worth $99.00

#4 ldenning

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 11:21 AM

It's absurd that no upgrade policy exists except for very recent buyers according to several accounts I read on the Filemaker website. I didn't buy Bento 1 and I'm very hesitant to commit to a product where the developer has little commitment to their existing users who greatly helped make the first version a success.

#5 jrandersoniii

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 11:22 AM

Tried the trial v1. Yes it was easy to use. But frankly, I just don't see the point. Maybe if you want someplace to store recipes or something. The file sizes are huge. And it needs a bit more flexibility in how data is stored. All style over a little bit of substance. But then again, it's only $49. There is greater crapola out there for a lot more.

#6 cabuck

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 11:23 AM

But does this version fix the bug where all the dates are still recorded as the year 1945? That should've been in version 1.1, which never came out.

#7 Penner

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 11:28 AM

I was astonished to find that text could not be formatted in Bento 1 -- no italics, no choice of fonts, colors, or styles (except "large" and "small" etc.) Can Bento 2 do this? Since you didn't mention it, I'm guessing no. So Bento remains completely useless for, say, my collection of movies or books whose titles need to be italicized or underlined. I stand flummoxed that FileMaker (née Apple) would not have put in this capability.

#8 pcharles

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 11:41 AM

If you purchased Bento 1 between September 14, 2008 and October 28, 2008, you are eligible to receive Bento 2 free!

Go to the Promotions page.

#9 Core2

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 11:46 AM

Quote

Apple uses the same Model with iLife and Intuit with Quicken, I don't necessarily like it but it is better than charging 100.00 upfront and offering the upgrades at 50% off for existing customers which is what most other companies do.

A

#10 stsk

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 11:52 AM

Let me add my voice to the chorus of disappointment over the no-upgrade policy. Having purchased a Bento 1 family pack as soon as it was available, I'm ticked that Filemaker doesn't throw the early adopters a bone. Poor customer relations policy - it's much cheaper to retain old customers than to acquire new ones...

#11 MrYmath

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 12:11 PM

There are three kinds of software developers. Those that ask you to pay a moderate fee once and get all upgrades free for life; those that offer lower upgrade costs on new versions, and those that give you the bird and ask you to pay full price for each new version. So I guess Apple (owns Filemaker) and Microsoft have more in common than otherwise thought.

#12 dfs

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 12:38 PM

I agree that the lack of an upgrade path stinks (and it will probably cost FileMaker a lot of money, as many v.1 owners will pass on the upgrade. Go figure, I used to imagine that businessmen were businesslike). And I agree about the lack of a security feature. Bento is marketed as a cool place to keep personal information, but in the absence of some such feature there's a lot of information that many users will refuse to entrust to it. Another complaint is that, given the purpose for which it is marketed, it is too weak in the area of managing personal finances. At very least, it ought to have a checkbook template.

#13 repete_7

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 12:41 PM

Ummm...no. Apple does bugfixes free of charge. For example, iPhoto is at 7.1, Bento was at 1.0. Big difference.

#14 pawolverine

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Posted 15 October 2008 - 12:48 PM

After searching the Filemaker Website, I did find that there is a free update to Bento 2 if you purchased Bento 1 after September 14, one month before the new release. I unfortunately bought my copy on September 3 and therefore have to pony up the full "low price" of $49 if I want to update. Seems a little "expensive" for just 44 days of use before I have been outdated. Guess I just have to wait till Bento 3 so I at least feel I got my money's worth from Bento 1.