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General discussion

DVD slideshow software -

Feb 1, 2005 5:30AM PST

Read with interest the discussion somewhere in this cyberspace on which DVD slideshow software to use. I registered and then, not having left the breadcrumbs, couldn't find my way back. (I was a stranger and ye took me . . . .in) I have contacted several companies with either negative or no responses. One did forward my "Brilliant idea" to their R&D folks. Therefore since you folks have these products:

need DVD slideshow software that must meet following requirements:

PAL conversion (have 3 generations in UK, 3 in Australia)
capable of multiple "levels" for sub menus:
Title: "Pictures" - has menu of "North America" "Europe" "Family"
Click on europe and get 2nd "Level" menu: "Italy"
"Iberia" "Germany" "Austria" etc.
Click on "Italy" and get 3rd "level" slideshows : "Alps" "rome" "Pompeii" etc.

"North America" will lead to "USA" "Canada" "USN"
"USN" will lead to : San diego, CG-12, or PAtapsco slide shows.
And so forth. Bells and whistles will be nice - but I have app 8000 slides - over 5000 from 76 and earlier (another problem - fading)
Thank you

Discussion is locked

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ProShow Gold...
Feb 1, 2005 5:48AM PST

No comment, just what you should check out.

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Proshow Gold
Feb 1, 2005 6:11AM PST

Thank you. I have sent an email to them - am awaiting a response. am hoping someone with experience can tell me yes or no.

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Odd.
Feb 1, 2005 6:28AM PST

PAL support is noted and you can make menus. It's highly unlikely they will

1. Meet all your expectations.
2. Call.

It's a cheap enough program and the web site does tell what it does. Some expect one-on-one dialogue on such. Today's support costs drive such dialogue to a pay situation and you must...

Read their website and try their demo.

Bob

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previous post:
Feb 1, 2005 6:58AM PST

I do not understand -

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I do.
Feb 1, 2005 7:17AM PST

Today's marketplace has degraded where you can only hope that someone will call you back. However, their web site has the details so you can see if it's close enough to your needs.

I noted this software because... It's about as good as it gets. Not good enough? Keep shopping.

Bob

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reply to "I Do"
Feb 1, 2005 7:34AM PST

none of the many websites I have visited describe the menu system - they all go into great detail about the bells and whistles - Including The Photodex folks - I am not concerned about the bells and whistles - I need to go from menu to sub-menu to slideshow. This really seems like a simple legit question - but extremely hard to get a definative answer. - other than "No" our product won't do that. So I was hopeing some-one who actually had any of the various products would be able to help me with this.

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Then DO, not ask.
Feb 1, 2005 7:42AM PST
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prev
Feb 1, 2005 8:06AM PST

so basically you are not able to answer my question - and all you can recommend is that I get the free trial - which will tie up my phone line for a long time - and then the built-in limitations to free trials - number of pictures - etc, probably won't answer my specific questions.

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What didn't I answer?
Feb 1, 2005 8:50AM PST

I just noted I didn't try to do a submenu. I also noted it does PAL or NTSC. Maybe you just revealed you don't think your time and effort is needed to find your answer?

Not that I disagree with you on that, it's just that for a 69 buck software package, it's very unlikely that you'll get much response unless you call in to their sales desk and pay for the call. Support is now a big cost factor at these companies and the bitter truth is you end up paying for it. Some FLAME about such things.

The "nice" era of service and people who answer the 800 toll free lines seem to be long ago.

bob

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prev sarcastic response
Feb 1, 2005 10:19AM PST

I asked if there was a dvd software that could do two things: Provide PAL output and do sub-menus. All this requoires is: Yes there is - and give the name - or, in your case, : I have photo etc, it does PAL but I don't know about sub-menus. A real simple answer. Unfortunatly, a simple answer was something you seem to be incapable of doing. After many responses from you, I now know that the photo gold program will provide PAL and nothing about sub-menus.
And now you are talking about flaming.

I spent 25 years of my life helping to insure the freedoms including the freedom of speech. when I get the discourteous responses from folks like you, I wonder if I wasted my time. I guess free help is worth what you pay for it.

Where do you come off telling me what I should be doing - you may know hardware - but you sure don't know much about Photo software or, for that matter, how to read english.

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Yes.
Feb 1, 2005 10:29AM PST

Some expect others to dive back in and try something just for them. I know it does menus, PAL, but leave it to you to testdrive the submenus.

It's more than free help. We work together to find the answers. I am not at your service here, I'm just another person that has used it enough to think it's very close for you to go try the demo. I do not know every detail of this software. You're right about that.

Today's support is indeed not as friendly as we wish it were. And certainly not free anymore. I felt that its best to just drag the ugly topic up and if you feel that it was not nice to suggest you call them about it, then so be it.

I will share that outside of the one item (which I will not go to the effort of trying) its one of the nicest packages I've used.

Take out your ire on those that don't care.

Bob

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response
Feb 2, 2005 4:05AM PST

"CNET Networks is dedicated to developing and maintaining a friendly online community, where members of all ages and technical backgrounds feel relaxed and comfortable."

What you don't seem to want to understand is that I asked a simple question hoping to get an answer from folks with experience with the various products.

All you had to do was respond: " I have Photo Gold. It does PAL but I don't know about sub-menus. Hopefully someone will be able to answer that for you."
That is help.
You could have even even offered to check it out and let me know -
That would have been HELP.

Instead you chose to tell me what to do and how to do it - if this is what you consider friendly - I hate to see what you have responded to folks with questions that are actually in your areas of expertise. Do you actually Flame them instead of just threatning?

Take my ire out on those who don't care? what a waste of good ire! And It is not ire, it is more like disgust. I have spent years in customer service - and you sure aren't it.

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I am not "customer service"
Feb 2, 2005 4:16AM PST

And proud of it. I'm just someone that took a moment to tell what I thought would work.

I don't receive any compensation here. If you don't get it that I feel for you in trying to sort out what product may do this, then you missed it. On the other hand why should I pull up this software and try for someone who writes such words?

Best of luck in your travels.

Bob

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response
Feb 2, 2005 5:12AM PST

By choosing to help on these formats, you chose to be a "Customer service" rep of this forum - if you don't see that, then you need to find another outlet for your arrogance.

Again - all I did was ask a question - hoping for a civilized answer - so why didn't you just give a straight forward answer? Why did you feel that you had to tell me how and what to do - particularily when you didn't know whether the product you are familiar with would do what I needed?

And why the threat to flame?

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Not going to happen.
Feb 2, 2005 8:49AM PST

I answered about this and that, but that last item I didn't know since I didn't look. As you feel it's my job to do this for you, I write...

Remember that this is a all volunteer effort. I consider this to be a cooperative adventure in finding solutions. It's you and I looking for a solution, not you demanding that I know it all or run up the application for yet another looksee.

Bob

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Response to non-response weasling out of answering response
Feb 3, 2005 12:53AM PST

I asked one question : does anyone have any knowledge of a dvd slideshow that will out put PAL and will do Sub-menus.

I did not ask ANYTHING of you - nor did I demand anything from you or anyone else. You are the one that started telling me how and what to do -

Is your idea of "cooperative adventure in finding solutions" dictating?
.
Why didn't you just respond? "I have the Photo Gold - it does PAL - and I don't know about sub menus."

instead of going off in your arrogant way telling me what to do.

And I really no longer expect a straight answer from you as to why you did not respond civilly.

I did not expect anything except civility (and a certain capability of reading and understanding English) - and I didn't even get that. You can rant and pontificate all you want - but until you are willing to respond to my question, above, you stand revealed as an arrogant individual who seems to be used to issuing orders from on high and can't handle being exposed for what you do.

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search for DVD slideshow on CNET Downloads
Feb 2, 2005 9:38AM PST
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Downloads:
Feb 3, 2005 1:03AM PST

Thankyou - my problem with downloads in general is a one line dial up modem - can't tie up the line for long periods - but I will definatly check the link you provided.

General Info Dept: Apparently the idea of sub-menus has not been addressed yet by the industry - in the last two days have had three or 4 responses saying basically No but we are working on that or Your Idea is being forwarded to our R&D for action.

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Downloads II
Feb 3, 2005 6:57AM PST

Have done a pelim survey on the link - several of the trial downloads are fairly small in MB. - will give them a shot. Thanks.

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ProShow - a word of warning

Since ProShow has been mentioned in this thread, I thought I'd quickly add a word of warning about it. I've been trying version 2.0 but just grabbed 2.5. They both have the same problem - 16:9 output does not work.

Yes it is really easy to use, and has lots of special effects, etc. I have to say I am really impressed with ProShow... but it simply will not create correct anamorphic 16:9 output for VCD or DVD.

So, if you have a widescreen TV, don't get ProShow. At least not without making absolutely sure they've fixed it in the version you download.

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Pro show Gold resolution
Feb 24, 2005 11:23AM PST

I have just installed Pro show Gold and I had a problem viewing more than 4 slides in the slide bar supposedly because of my screen resolution was set to 800 X 600. Tech support advised me to change to 1024 X 720. I did and everything on my computer got really small. This I was not too pleased with. I guess I was used to the larger icons and text in my internet explorer.

Is this what I just have to settle for? I don't like the smaller web pages view.

Also, the "folder list" on the main page is extremely tiny. The names of the folders are very hard to see. Does anyone else have this issue?

Thanks