Phrase Express Autotext

4.0 stars

"Nagware"

January 24, 2008  |  

Version: Phrase Express Autotext 4.1.14

Pros

This is an excellent program for automating typing tasks, such as entering your address, signature etc as well as for entering commonly used phrases. You can also set it up to start programs by just typing their names-for example, npad for notepad (you can type on the desktop, without opening any blank file). The program is very intuitive to use, and easy to set up.

Cons

The help files are a little difficult to decipher if you need to use macros and other advanced functions. My main grouse about the program is that it advertises itself as freeware, but is actually a nagware. It has a built in mechanism for calculating how much money you have saved by using the software, and once the amount adds up to $20, it starts popping up messages asking you to buy the program because it has detected that you are "using it like a commercial software." Each time you have to wait for 5 seconds to click on the No button. If you click on Yes, it takes you to their shopping page, which asks you not to buy anything at present as they are planning to launch version 5 soon.

My overall recommendation therefore, is to give this software a skip even though it is very versatile, as it is a real nuisance with its nag screens.

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1.0 stars

"Phrase express is bugged"

December 29, 2007  |   By birdbook1

Version: Phrase Express Autotext 4.1.14

Pros

IT DID NOT RUN WELL. THE COMMERCIAL NETWORK VERSION IS WASTE OF MANEY AND ONCE YOU BUY IT THEY WILL NOT REFUND YOUR MONEY. EVEN YOUR CREDIT CARD CAN NOT GET YOU YOUR MONEY BACK.

Cons

FULL OF GLITCHES. IT IS HARD TO PROGRAM. CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE ONLY AFTER YOUR MONEY "THE HARD WAY". MPONEY HUNGRY AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY. ONCE PAID FOR, YOU ARE STUCK WITH A USELESS FILE OCCUPYING EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE ON YOUR HARD DRIVE BASEMENT.

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5.0 stars

"Versatile, easy-to-use program saves time, effort, and fights tedium!"

December 20, 2007  |   By bitchinmona

Version: Phrase Express Autotext 4.1.14

Pros

I originally downloaded this program with the intent of using it merely to insert pre-defined snippets of text into emails or web forms. I sorely underestimated the power and panache this software has! Not only could I define the keyboard shortcuts I would use to insert myriad phrases, but I found I could use this application to perform other tasks as well! I can set it to insert the current time and date in any format I choose, enable hotkey combinations to launch applications, and even charge the program with the duty of spelling things out for me, thereby allowing me to be fabulously, ludicrously lazy. For example, if I frequently close my emails by saying "Please send me a text message when you're on your way home", I can instruct PhraseExpress to insert that entire sentence if I type, for example, "txt". There are probably additional features I haven't fully explored, but as if all of this wasn't enough, there is even a built-in time savings calculator wherein you set your hourly wage and your average typing speed, which is used to extrapolate the dollar amount you have saved based on the number of phrases you have inserted using this tool. Finally, one quick visit to the software publisher's website shows an active user community forum, conscientious and thorough responses from site administrators, a visually and textually descriptive user manual, and even video demonstrations of how the program works.

Cons

The only difficulty I have encountered is that the program is *occasionally* a little slow, meaning there is a lag of about 4 seconds when inserting some of my phrases. Even with a lag time of 4 seconds, though, I'm saving a ridiculous amount of time because the text I'm inserting would undoubtedly take me significantly longer than 4 seconds to type. I'm confident, however, that I will be able to have this issue sorted out by the manufacturer, given that they've proven so responsive to the myriad user inquiries on their website.

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