The Print Shop Essentials

CNET Editors' note: This is a very large (368MB) file and may take several hours to download via dial-up modem.

CNET Editors' review

The Print Shop has come a long way from the days when heavily pixelated banners printed out on perforated computer paper. Broderbund's The Print Shop Essentials is a next-generation production powerhouse for an extensive variety of projects--newsletters, resumes, greeting cards, presentations--that you create within a shared interface. The Print Shop Essentials is jam-packed with features that offer flexibility over a range of design and production options, such as professional-quality digital clip art, Web-readiness, graphic development tools, and formatting selections. You can scroll between panels and slides on a multipage project using arrows at the bottom of the screen, add custom graphics and effects, and even touch up imported photos. By the time you're ready to choose between regular and professional printing, the memory of the program's slow, cumbersome installation process will have long been forgotten.

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    2.4 stars

    out of 57 votes

    • 5 star: 14
    • 4 star: 5
    • 3 star: 1
    • 2 star: 7
    • 1 star: 30
  • Current version:

    2.3 stars

    out of 55 votes

    • 5 star: 12
    • 4 star: 5
    • 3 star: 1
    • 2 star: 7
    • 1 star: 30
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-10 of 51

  • 1.0 stars

    "Useless waste - remove it"

    February 16, 2013  |   By Kimbolina

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    Absolutely NOTHING.

    Cons

    Took forever to download, then downloaded a PDF creator... Nothign to to with Print Shop at all.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "DON'T DOWNLOAD"

    December 15, 2012  |   By jcl3209

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    NONE - DON'T DOWNLOAD

    Cons

    As soon as I downloaded this my browsers were change to a different search engine WITH ADS and Yahoo had ADS inserted into it ... tried to change but they came back ... finally had to do virus scans and more to completely remove from my system ... I've always trusted downloads from Cnet ... but no more! DO NOT DOWNLOAD!

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  • 1.0 stars

    "FIVE Stars??? What was CNET thinking?"

    March 13, 2012  |   By Recovering_Techie

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    I don't know - I tried to install it three times and still couldn't get it to run. But read on... it gets even worse!

    Cons

    I tried to install it three times but still couldn't get it to run.

    It requires a very intrusive registration before you can use it.

    Trial period is ridiculously short - Only THREE uses.

    Their privacy policy states that they can not only contact you to promote their other products, but can also share your information with other companies.

    Summary

    I'm running Windows 7 and my updates are current, but when I tried to install this software it asked me if I "optionally wanted to install .net framework". Of course I said no - I don't want some third party program messing with my OS.

    The program went through an extended and slow install that finally appeared to be complete. When I tried to run it, it told me that I needed to register in order to start my free trial. Bad idea - why should I have to register something that I may not even want to keep? But because of the five star rating I opted to continue.

    It took me to the next screen which had the option to read the privacy policy. It seems that they have the option to not only promote their other products, but also to share your information with other companies so that they can spam you too.

    Having read that I was inclined to bail out at that point, but since I hadn't given any personal information yet I clicked the button that said I was thirteenirteen years of age and continued.

    The next screen told me that my activation couldn't continue because I didn't have permission to download the necessary files. What's with that? Just to start the installation I had to download a bloated 368 Megabytes worth of files. It also told me to check with the administrator for assistance. I AM the administrator!

    I also noticed that the program had created a Broderbund icon, separate from the installation icon on my desktop, so I decided to click on that to see what happened.

    The icon was the only thing that worked. I took me to the Broderbund web site - a cheesy looking landing page that resembles one of the old dimestore flyers of yesteryear. It was littered with ads for every product they had, tastelessly displayed in bright colors, mismatched type styles and yes, even a flashing button!

    Finally I clicked on the Registration tab and the registration form displayed. It not only requires you to provide an email address - it also asks for your physical address and your date of birth.

    And they reserve the right to share this with others??? I wonder if they ever heard of IDENTITY THEFT

    Shame on CNET's reviwers for giving this nightmare a five star rating! I have to wonder whether they reviewed it after a three martini lunch.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Difficult to use, and not intuitive."

    December 28, 2011  |   By richj120952

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    I could not get it to work, or adequately open older PDS files.

    Cons

    The file format is proprietary in nature unless you export it to PDF or JPeg file formats. It was not intuitive to me on how to get it to open and print in earlier Print Shop file formats. (PDS)

    I believe I can do what it does with other software that is more intuitive and natively saves files in more universal formats.

    Summary

    I can't recommend it to anyone.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "no serial no its absolute waste of time"

    August 10, 2011  |   By rhigos

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    terrible waste of time

    Cons

    yes it must be a con

    Summary

    should,nt be allowed as a download

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  • 1.0 stars

    "DON'T DOWNLOAD IT! DOESN'T WORK!"

    May 4, 2011  |   By manofsteeeel

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    DON'T DOWNLOAD IT! DOESN'T WORK!

    Cons

    DON'T DOWNLOAD IT! DOESN'T WORK!

    Summary

    DON'T DOWNLOAD IT! DOESN'T WORK!

    Updated on May 4, 2011

    DON'T DOWNLOAD IT! DOESN'T WORK!

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Where is the serial number????????"

    December 30, 2010  |   By josil001

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    Nothing, I couldn't try it out

    Cons

    When I open the "free trial" program it asks me to activate it by means of a serial number. There are no options to start the 3 free tryouts. I wouldn't spend even $1 for something I know nothing about. And btw, I am not lying about this.

    Summary

    I would appreciate anyone letting me know how to use the 3 free trial runs in view of the fact that it is asking me for a serial number.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Too many issues"

    October 11, 2010  |   By PrincessM0del

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    i really wanted this even payed for it, had many great qualities

    Cons

    just too many problems and wasted my money

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  • 2.0 stars

    "DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME. LONG DOWNLOAD....FUTILE."

    July 20, 2010  |  

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    NOTHING. DELETED IT.

    Cons

    I CONTINUALLY GO ADDS TO UPGRADE. DELETED IT.

    Summary

    I CONTINUALLY GO ADDS TO UPGRADE. LONG DOWNLOAD. WORST FREE TRIAL I HAVE EVER ATTEMPTED. GOT TIRED ATTEMPTING PROJECT SO I DELETED PROGRAM.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Wouldn't upload"

    July 16, 2010  |   By gottanew1

    Version: The Print Shop Essentials 21

    Pros

    I have an original ( 5 years old ) but this puter won't take it ????
    4* for it when it worked -didi what I wanted

    Cons

    Nothing --all good -when it work for what it was

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Results 1-10 of 51

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The Print Shop Essentials