The genealogy software marketplace has always been competitive but this week became even more so. One popular genealogy program recently released a new version in which the user interface has been changed significantly. Feedback from that program's long-term users has been mixed.
Family Tree Legends is a different program that serves the same marketplace. Now Family Tree Legends has offered an "amnesty program" to encourage users to try Family Tree Legends at a reduced price.
Here is the new "amnesty" announcement from Cliff Shaw, CEO of Pearl Street Software:
With the recent release of Family Tree Maker 2005, users wrote us saying we need to help all the Family Tree Maker users who feel abandoned by their program. Help is here! We've created a special program for these users called the FTM Amnesty Program. Users of Family Tree Maker can now purchase Family Tree Legends for only $19.95. I think you will find the switch easier than you can imagine. Our FTW Direct Import feature brings all of your data from Family Tree Maker over to Family Tree Legends with one step, even all of your scrapbook items.
Here is the order link:
http://www.familytreelegends.com/home?s=157846
The following link takes you to a tour of the program:
http://www.familytreelegends.com/home?s=157846&goto=Tour
(You must use these links to get the special rate)
I will also point out that I recently wrote a review of Family Tree Legends. In that article, I wrote:
All in all, I am very impressed with Family Tree Legends. This program has matured into a full-featured genealogy program that competes head-to-head with the established market leaders. Version 4.0 is powerful and easy to use. It is also price-competitive. If you are looking for your first Windows genealogy program, or if you are not happy with the program you are presently using, I would strongly suggest that you try Family Tree Legends. The program has a full 30-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee; so, what do you have to lose?
You can read the entire article I wrote at http://eogn.typepad.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2004/10/family_tree_leg.html
DISCLAIMER: I should point out that Pearl Street Software, producer of Family Tree Legends, is a frequent advertiser in this newsletter. However, I always try to write all my reviews from an unbiased viewpoint. I believe that I would have written the same article with the same words even if Pearl Street Software was not a sponsor.
