Manage updates with the Download AppBabylon 8.0 r38 User Reviews
A newer version of Babylon is available.
Or, Learn More About BabylonSpectacular
-
"License revoked after win7 upgrade"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
Translates words
Cons
My "perpetual" license was remotely deleted from my system after upgrading from vista to win7. No more trace of my purchase on their web site too. I've got my digital invoice and license key, but I don't know how to internationally sue them (yet).
-
"It is a 'nudnick'"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
Reasonable translations but they often lack the subtlety of fine dictionaries
Cons
Since I downloaded I have started to receive unsolicited ads from Babylon in my browser that defeat my ad blockers. That is outrageous and enough of a reason to stay away from the product.
-
"All 5-star ratings made on Sept. 30,Cheap advertisement"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
No question about the software and capabilities but licensing simply sucks. See Cons...
Cons
The only non-terrible ratings are made on the same day by Babylon Ltd. What kind of people are these? They suck. They try every trick to get your money. Don't be fool. I looked for days and I couldn't find a single positive feedback for them
-
"Huge problem with the licensing system"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
Premium dictionaries (with extra charges) that are not developed by Babylon are good
Cons
License expires after changing computer. Apparently the license is tied to a computer.
Summary
Even Micro$oft Windows is not tied to one particular computer (except OEM version). I paid the full price to buy a full version of Babylon 8. A week later I changed computer and Babylon on my new computer. The old computer was formatted and Windows was re-installed, without Babylon in it. 2 weeks later I got a pop-up message saying "Your Babylon software has compliance problem due to an extensive use of your registered license." There is nowhere on the site saying this would be a problem.
I am not going to buy another license, and I am not going to buy anything from them anymore. No matter how useful and how good a software is, if they don't respect customers who pay them real money, I don't think I want to be one of their customers. -
"license disabled arbitrarily"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
It works fine when you are not arbitrarily blacklisted in their end.
Cons
I have installed this software twice in a dual boot machine running Windows 7 and Vista. Now it constantly pops-us an annoying message saying something about an over-usage of my licenses and disabled several payed dictionaries. No answer from support
-
"Worst service ever"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
it works - but so are other products out there
Cons
when you need it most it doesn't work and then you can't get any support. My legally purchased license suddenly stopped working - I've sent 3-4 emails to their helpdesk but got no response.
I tried the competition and found out it's damn good...Summary
Will never install this one again
-
"Ver. 7 was an "XP". This one is the horrible "Vista"."
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
The good thing in ver. 8, is that it's beeing a wake up call for Babylon not to do the same mistakes in ver. 9. Or they are going to be in big troubles.
Cons
The online spelling checker disturbs typing. 8 version is too heavy and less stable then 7 ver. Default instalation puts a Babylon toolbar, change your search engine, change your home page. No normal support. Upgrade costs are too exaggerated.
Summary
The online spelling checker takes all keyboard resource, and some of your typed letters will lost when typing a bit fast. That's is a ridiculous huge bug! When you are in a text field, and pressing the spelling button on the glob, Babylon opens more and more browser windows. Not clear why.
If you typed some word in the Babylon window field, and like to correct it using "Backspace", that's causes a very weird and frustrated behaving.
If you are formating your PC a few times a year like me, Babylon server detects you as a crook that installed Babylon in a multiple Pc's. They will block your program from working, until you contact support and get a new license key. That is very weird, as they can see theat all your installations are done at the same machine. It's better for then to track less their customer, while using our bandwidth for their inspections.
For my taste, ver. 8 is too heavy, too unstable, too colorful. The Glob feature is too big and open to much by any mouse random movment. Too flashy feature.
Default instalation puts a toolbar in you browser, change your search engine and change your home page... That's creazy for a PAID program!
The very convenient words history paging methode has changed in a bad way, and the internet search engine button that were in Ver. 7- was taken out. VERY sad.
The currency tool doesn't recognized "AUD" (Australian Dollar), and some other known simbols. The currencies are not updated automaticallly as they should, so you must do a manual update.
No phone support, no emails answering half of the times. When tehy answering once in a while, they are always signature: "Babylon Team". No name, not ticket number. NOTHING.
Ver. 8 has just a 3 days trail, instead of 30 as other versions had. If you have an earlier ver., you won't have even that 3 days trail. Strange.
If you have early ver. and you decided to by, upgrade costs are way too exaggerated.
Also, a 50% existing customers discount pop up from ver. 7- doesn't work. That's a shame.
I hope ver. 9 and Babylon company will be much better, as basically it's a good program and idea. -
"Licensing, Copy Protection, Customer Support Horrible"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
Good Software. Use it for over 14 years.
Cons
The licensing model is stupid, the enforcement of it ridicules and intrusive. Coupled with horrible customer support and not working support pages on their web site and you will find yourself in a lot of trouble, if you PAID for their software.
Summary
Don't think that buying a stand-alone version or life-time license (if they still have that) saves you troubles. You still need to be connected to the internet and your license that you purchased might becomes invalid over night for no apparant reasons. Then good look with contacting customer support and get help. You will be in for some surprises when they eventually respond. The "automated" tools, forms and pages on their web site are either not working or useless without providing answers.
I made a typo in my original summary. I meant of course "service pack" and not "service back".
Get the cracked version with the all intrusive and ridicules "copy-protection" and "license verification" junk disabled or removed and you got yourself a decent piece of software. A customer how actually pays for the software on the other hand gets all the trouble and no customer support, which is supposed to be an argument, why you should pay for software, isn't it? I usually do not suggest this, but in this case is a crack actually a bug-fix or "service back" (for folks living in Microsoft OS world).
I am not making this up. You can read the full story here: http://www.roysac.com/blog/2009/09/how-to-turn-paying-customers-into.html
Also check the comments. Somebody posted a link to a very interesting forum thread with comments by a lot of "happy Babylon customers".
Updated on Oct 31, 2009 -
"MALWARE ALERT - INSTALLS CRAP IN YOUR BROWSER"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
It does do a decent job of translation, has some good convenient features for quick access.
Cons
A horribly invasive software that installs toolbars in your browser, changes all your search defaults to use their babylon pages for search engines (probably to generate additional revenue for them) and took me a while to remove this junk.
Summary
It does the job for what it does but the installation of all this malware (and other stuff unless you be careful and uncheck) is just completely unacceptable. And it's not like we needed Babylon search home pages instead of Google, Bing or Yahoo and that you've invaded our home pages and search engine preferences. NOT ACCEPTABLE.
-
"a wonderful tool"
Version: Babylon 8.0 r38
Pros
it was so easy to install and use
Cons
nothing in percicular
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
You must be 13 years of age or older to submit personal information to CNET Networks. In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, CNET Networks does not accept name and e-mail address information from users who are under 13 years of age.
All submitted ratings and written comments become the sole property of CNET Networks, Inc. (CNET) and may be used at CNET Networks' sole discretion. Ratings and written comments are generally posted within two to four business days in batch groups, not in real time. However, CNET Networks reserves the right to remove or refuse to post any submission for any reason. You acknowledge that you, not CNET Networks, are responsible for the contents of your submission.
CNET Networks is not responsible for the content of the publisher's descriptions or user reviews on this site. We encourage you to determine whether this product or your intended use is legal. We do not encourage or condone the use of any software in violation of applicable laws. CNET Download.com does not sell, resell, or license any of the products listed on the site. We cannot be held liable for issues that arise from the download or use of these products.
