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Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Still considering buying Synium MacFamilyTree 5?

Written by WA from Port Willunga

Jul 24, 2009

As the adverising says, MFT5 "guides you through genealogy data and lets you graphically create your own family tree. MacFamilyTree 5 intuitively visualizes your relations and the fully animated helps you quickly navigate from one person's familiar context to another." AND IT DOES THAT EXTREMELY WELL. BUT THAT IS ALL IT DOES WELL.

If you want a genealogy program that enables easy access, user-friendly navigation for data entry, this may not be for you. The gee-whizz features get in the way of creating a data-base.

If you want graphical representation of genealogy information, integrated handling of QuickTime media, use of Wiki encyclopedia material (always unreliable for accuracy), good import/export capabilities and .Mac publishing and access to a dedicated Internet publishing service- then this may suit you.

If you want a user-friendly program to use for genealogy research and data entry, then don't buy this program. It is not a friendly beast to use for edit or data-entry purposes.

I was previously using Family Tree Maker9 on a Windows OS laptop before I "upgraded" to a MAC. Windows was excellent for what I do. I found that with software such as CROSSOVER and VMWARE FUSION installed on my MAC I could run Windows programs in a virtual OS- which gave me continuity but eclipsed the value of having a MAC in the first place!. FUSION is excellent but switching from MAC programs to the virtual Windows OS is frustratingly confusing. CROSSOVER does not handle FTM9 at all- bottle that up a sour wine! It is a great pity that there is no MAC version of FTM9+. By the way, REUNION is a MAC genealogy program that is very simple and easy to use but does not handle sources well. Sources are also lost when making loading a GEDCOM file that contains them. So all round, MAC users who are interested in genealogy research and data development are poorly serviced. Once I have finished my research (will it ever?) then MFT5 would be excellent to show the genealogy to my family and to export it to a website.

112 of 122 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Finally a good genealogy solution

Written by RC

Jun 25, 2009

I've bought the online version but they are basically the same except that you have to download the version and install it.

So far, MacFamilyTree has been working flawlessly for me, I am really stunned of all the features it offers while keeping the edit mode simple. Web export to MobileMe has been working very well for me, the generated pages and themes are great.

49 of 58 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Great for Pro or Amateur Genealogists

Written by WR

Jun 15, 2009

I've bought MacFamilyTree 6 months ago and I've been pretty much impressed with the whole application. Data entry is easy and the charts are stunning. Thanks for the application!

20 of 25 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

No thank you.

Written by DT from SMYRNA

Jun 7, 2009

I moved from Windows to a Mac and wanted a Genealogy program to replace my old Family Tree Maker 7.0. MacFamilyTree 5 was not that product. I found it cumbersome to use and difficult to navigate. It has Slick presentations, but really hard to enter data from documents and associate sources. It might be okay if you are interested in outputs and not in the cumbersome input process.

54 of 62 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

MacFamily Tree v5

Written by NG from Norman

Jun 3, 2009

I have been doing genealogy for years on windows. I have recently switched to Mac. I bought this in hopes of using it. It is so confusing and hard to use that I am thinking of buying another PC just to run a genealogy software that is easier to use. I can't figure this one out.

41 of 52 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Easy to use, but two big flaws

Written by AF from Vancouver

May 31, 2009

MacFamilyTree is a very slick and easy to use genealogy database. However, there are two major flaws that make it problematic for serious genealogy research: 1) the program cannot handle double Julian/Gregorian dates that are standard in Britain and its North American colonies until 1752; and b) when you assign a source to an event, you cannot specify a page number or other more detailed information to help the reader locate the exact location of the information. Other programs allow you to create a "master source" (for example, a particular census, or a particular book), but then for each event allow you to specify a specific page number or location within that source. If both of these issues were fixed, MFT would be an excellent product for the serious genealogist.

43 of 49 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Best Genealogy Application

Written by MO

May 26, 2009

Hands down the best genealogy application on any platform. This was the reason for me to switch to a mac after I saw the application on a friends mac.

12 of 22 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Good, but some room for improvement

Written by CS

Mar 6, 2009

I've used MacFamilyTree since Version 5.1. There was some room for improvement in this version, but the developer quickly responded to inquiries and added new features quickly so I am perfectly happy with the product now. The update policy of Synium Software is quite outstanding: I've recieved three major updates so far for absolutely no cost. According to several forum posts I've read the developer only charges for updates every major version in 3 to 4 years. All other updates which include several major new functions and improvements are full free.

Happy customer.

157 of 168 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Superb Application

Written by SH

Mar 3, 2009

We've switched 3 years ago to a Mac and bought Version 4 of MacFamilyTree. We were satisfied with the product but one year ago, Version 5 was released. This has became a top-notch app and we've used it ever since. The developer helped me with some questions and always responded quickly.

73 of 80 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Great!

Written by CG

Mar 3, 2009

Finally, a really good genealogy program for Mac with an Apple-Like Interface. The developer also constantly improves MacFamilyTree for free.

56 of 64 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Don't buy this software!

Written by KC from Haverhill

Feb 1, 2009

I've only just "switched to Mac" and I bought this software very excited that I would be able to transfer my existing tree (in FTM2009) to it and sync it with my iPhone.

The transfer part wasn't too bad once you get the hang of using the software. My issue has been with the syncing part. It worked the first time I tried it and then stopped working. I looked at the forums and wrote to Synium and they've not responded. Eventually I thought I had it sorted but dscovered it only worked once and won't update again.

Oh and the software crashes on me every once in a while. Again I've had no feedback from Synium yet.

I'm not alone with this and other issues though there may be folks out there who have no issues at all. Make an informed choice: visit the support section of the Synium website and read some of the entries there before making your purchase.

223 of 263 people found this useful

Synium MacFamilyTree 5

Not What I Expected

Written by RW from Marietta

May 21, 2008

I have found it so unfriendly, that I am at a loss for words describing the weaknesses!! I cannot get a grasp on how to make this program work for me. I will probably purchase a different program, like ReUnion, and see if that works better for me.

223 of 343 people found this useful