bit-tech Shopping: Sage ACT! 2008 Premium (Upgrade)

• Microsoft Windows 2003 Server
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Rating: 8

Time with product: 8 Weeks

Strengths: Speed is back.

Weaknesses: Doesn't work with 64 bit processors

Summary: I followed the installation video included from the place I bought it, and it worked great. I bought a new computer as a part of the ACT upgrade, and had to take it back when I saw one of the points in the install video that 64 bit processors don't work with ACT (and as it turns out, a couple other apps I use), so I had to exchange the new laptop for one with a 32bit processor.I'm figuring out the dashboard, and I'm glad they didn't change the user interface much from ACT 6.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths: So much faster than ACT 2005. Connected easily to Outlook 2003.

Weaknesses: Had to uninstall ACT 2005, reboot, then install ACT 2008

Summary: I am so happy we upgraded. The system is so much faster. Converting our 8,000 contact database was simple and took less than 15 minutes. The system is working great with Outlook 2003. We use Microsoft SBS 2003 Server and Windows XP workstations. We had a consultant help us for a couple of hours to make sure we did it right and while we made them several hundred dollars, we did not run in to any of the issues we had we I installed ACT 2005 several years ago. It seams like ACT has finally got it's ACT together.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths: Faster, great Dashboard, syncs work, easy queries

Weaknesses: Big program - likes memory

Summary: I have been an ACT user since it was a DOS product. I struggled throught the 2005 upgrade because my database in ACT 6.0 got too big and I constantly had to reindex and fix the database. Plus syncs failed, and I lost data. Putting contacts in a group took 45 minutes. 2005 was very slow, but I struggled on. I upgraded to 2008 because I needed Office 2007 support. Wow, what a refreshing surprise. It's faster (oh so much faster). My lookups blur past me and the dashboard is my favorite. I live there every day now. It took Sage a couple of tries but this time they got it right. Awesome. I can't imagine running my business without this product.