Ancestry Research

[dancerjodi]

Given my poking at ancestry research from time to time I've wanted to get some kind of apple software to track things in an orderly fashion. I figure, when the bug bites I want to have a good place to keep track of things I've found.

At the Apple store last night, I was looking at MacFamily Tree and Reunion, software for tracking ancestry research. One costs twice the other, and is surely more comprehensive, but seems like it may be more complicated to use.

Does anyone have experience with either of these (or other products)? I've done some google searching, and it seems that Reunion does have way more features, but is not nearly as user friendly. I'm curious if any of you have firsthand experience with them. Thanks in advance! :)

Comments

[sajuka.livejournal.com]

It's probably not much help, but my dad always used Family Tree Maker (I think it's PC only). Might be valuable as a price-point comparison though. He got pretty hardcore about family tree stuff for a while, though I think he's out of that now and into lighthouses. Ah, the retired life...

[disownedheidi.livejournal.com]

I don't know about those products, but I tried ancestry.com, and couldn't find much at all... I don't recommend it at all.

[mydeepbluesea.livejournal.com]

I like both ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker; I use both extensively. One of the pros for ancestry.com is that you can share your password w/ extended family, if you like, so that they can contribute info on themselves and any families that they married into.

[thenetimp.livejournal.com]

Have no experience in either, but you could download the demo versions, and see how they work.

Reunion has a demo version here.
http://www.leisterpro.com/doc/demo/demo.php

While MacFamilyTree has a demo download from their website.
http://www.onlymac.de/html/stammbaum4en.html

[celiskywalker.livejournal.com]

I'll ask the relatives. Grandma and Jon's mom both do lots of geneology stuff.

[snowwand.livejournal.com]

I have no idea about Reunion, we have a Family Tree Maker meeting here at NEHGS every once in a while...let me know if you want to poke around our databases, I can send you the tempuser password.

Stay away from an individual membership on Ancestry.com. They are horrid. A lot of libraries have that database, including the BPL and you can use it for free.

What time period are you looking at? I get bored at work and have done one of my friend's genealogies back to the 1700s or so