Butler for Mac User Reviews

• 3.0 stars

  "Not so intuitive"

  January 21, 2006  |   By GianMarco Tavazzani

  Version: Butler 4.0b30

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  The bigger problem of this 'must have' is that people can hardly sense all the things they could do with it. It is not only a problem of Buttler, Peter (glaube mir, Jungs sind zu oft peinlich faul und wir haben gegen eine steigende Schlamperei zu kämpfen, aber was solls... ?) and to 'seduce' to use Buttler is becoming now for sure your bigger task.
  I appreciate the efforts done on the 'Help', still now under development and I will push you to go on with trust on this hard field perhaps even attaching in the disk image a little movie of some examples (I found interesting introduction this kind even as podcasts and RSS, exciting new ways to put real 'lessons' online).
  Even the easiness of use could be enhanced (for the pasteboard I still use the OLD version (the dockless one!) of PTHPasteboard... ) but we will talk next about it.
  But you deserve fully your 5 stars! (a sixth next, when I will no more being asked about what to do with Buttler! ;-) )

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• 5.0 stars

  "I yam disgustipated!"

  January 19, 2006  |   By artie505

  Version: Butler 4.0b30

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  binosama's post is offensive in its labeling of Peter Maurer as a "bungler" and inexcusable in all other respects.
  
  I have used Butler since its Another Launcher days, have communicated extensively with Peter regarding all aspects of Butler from shortcomings to features and from bugs to fixes, and have found him to be thoroughly proficient at what he does!!!
  
  binosama has used Butler for more than a year and recommends it with no reservations, so his, her, or its, as the case may be, three star review (Three stars for support [Peter is one of the most responsive and accomodating developers I've dealt with.], features [Butler's's got more features than a fully-loaded Lexus.], and price [Butler is FREE, for crying out loud!!!] are beyond laughable.) and inappropriate labeling of Peter in the face of overwhelming opinion to the contrary for no reason other than that the utility is still beta sound more like the whining justification of a cheapskate than the well considered thoughts of an intelligent user.
  
  I EMPHATICALLY recommend Butler, made my contribution long ago, would consider an additional contribution if Peter would offer an alternative to PayPal, and herewith offer up a rebuttal review of one of the finest, most comprehensive Mac utilities that can be found.

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• 4.0 stars

  "Hate using Macs without it"

  January 7, 2006  |   By vt_comments

  Version: Butler 4.0b29

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  When I get a new Mac, this is the first app I install. So useful and feature-packed -- yes, there is a steep learning curve and sometimes it hangs on startup, but those are minor quibbles. Just the launching features are worth it but when you add in the clipboards, a fast script menu (though, admittedly without contextual switching to display scripts specific to the current app), auto-text entry and more, well, it really is indispensable.

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• 3.0 stars

  "Daunting a bit, helpful YES!"

  January 3, 2006  |   By chiefted

  Version: Butler 4.0b29

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  Again I agree, Butler can be daunting at first. I removed this and wound up purchasing LaunchBar.
  
  But I couldn't let go of trying to get Butler to work properly for me. It became a quest.
  
  Once I got it set up, and tailored to my tastes, I can't imagine not having this installed on either of my Macs.
  It took me probably about 45 mins to get Butler figured out and set up.
  
  It is clean and well just plain WORKS!
  
  I find myself on other Mac (heck even on other computers) trying to launch Butler.
  
  Since this is donationware, I donated. Probably the first program that I enjoyed where felt the need to do this.
  
  If you try and get discouraged, keep at it. You won't regret it.

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• 4.0 stars

  "What did I do without it?"

  January 2, 2006  |   By anhdru

  Version: Butler 4.0b29

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  This app integrates the functions of several other separate applications I had been using, and does all of them better. The customizable search window, the menu for System Preferences, and the universal browser bookmarks menu alone are worth installing it. It runs smoothly and never causes a problem. I have barely scratched the surface of what it can do. Butler makes my PowerBook easier to use and it does it elegently. What more can I ask?

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• 4.0 stars

  "Time Well Spent"

  November 28, 2005  |   By barrom

  Version: Butler 4.0b29

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  I agree, Butler can be daunting at first. I'd qualify that by saying that the interface is probably as clear as it can be for all this app does. Maybe it's more for power users, I don't know. But the bit of time I've spent setting this up has saved me huge amounts of time down the road. If you stick with it, Butler is easily one of the best productivity apps out there, if your looking for such a thing. And it's donation-ware And the author is a nice guy.
  
  Donate to him. Immediately and generously.
  
  For a more complete take on this fine, fine app:
  http://systemsboy.blogspot.com/2005/06/love-affair-with-butler.html

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• 5.0 stars

  "last version"

  October 28, 2005  |   By theBlueLion

  Version: Butler 4.0b27

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  All problems gone.........
  Magnificent program, in combination with desktop manager working with my iMac is wonderful.

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• 4.0 stars

  "Outstanding"

  October 28, 2005  |   By zeph--2008

  Version: Butler 4.0b27

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  An amazing bit of software, especially for those who prefer the keyboard to the mouse. Between keyboard app launching and the universal bookmark manager, I can't imagine computing with it.

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• 5.0 stars

  "Amazing & indispensible & fantastic etc"

  September 26, 2005  |   By natebeaty

  Version: Butler 4.0b26

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
  

  I love Butler and really can't imagine not having it on my machine. It makes OSX blazing fast to open apps, jump to preference pane, control iTunes, jump to a bookmark, pull up a phone number from the Address Book, run Applescripts -- and do all of these in just about any way you see fit.

  One script I trigger with ctrl-opt-s is to toggle the Shuffle mode on iTunes (then ctrl-alt-arrows go next/previous in tracks, ctrl-alt-space to play/pause, ctrl-alt-i to open iTunes -- can't remember which of these are defaults as I've been using Butler for ages)

  Here's the shuffle script I use for iTunes:

  tell application "iTunes"
  	set thePlaylist to a reference to library playlist "Library"
  	if (shuffle of thePlaylist is true) then
  		set shuffle of thePlaylist to false
  	else
  		set shuffle of thePlaylist to true
  	end if
  end tell
  

  It would be nice if it would show some feedback as to whether it's been turned on or off, but this is about the extent of my Applescripting/Butler config abilities. But I use it a lot and thought I'd share.

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• 5.0 stars

  "GREAT - What OS X Forgot to add"

  September 2, 2005  |   By gdw6045

  Version: Butler 4.0b26

  Pros

  Interface is easy to navagate, easy to configure, overall user freindly. And it is FREE !!!

  Cons

  Have not found any yet.

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