Movie Collector for Mac

User Reviews

• 2nd Class Mac version & NO import

  LanceFrenchAugust 24, 2006

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Movie Collector is a promising catalog program with an attractive interface, many useful features, a vibrant forum, and one or two glaring defficiencies which make it unsuitable for some users, particularly those with substantial existing databases and/or those NOT running Windoze. The import function, if you choose to call it that, is limited to XML exports from DVD Profiler (a Windoze only program) or a list of titles or barcodes from your current collection under "Add Movie" in the "Advanced Mode" (which also works with a barcode scanner, BUT NOT ON A MAC). The "Add Movie" lookup is both powerful and flexible, and with a judicious choice of sites (by the user) returns nearly every scrap of data you might desire about a given disc or tape. However you will still manually have to enter your "Personal" data such as Purchase Date, Store, Purchase Price, etc. If you are just starting your collection this is a minor inconvenience; those with a large collection might , as I have, find it daunting. The stubborn Dutch programmers have adamantly refused to add an import function despite numerous requests on their forum. The forum itself is one of the program's strong points as a number of users there unselfishly offer advice and even programming help for templates, which can be modified by users to change the way the program displays, prints, or exports data. The developers also chime in with usage tips, comments on suggestions, and occasional acknowledgement of a bug or notification of a fix or enhancement. In the developers' own words, "There are some items missing in the Mac editions at the moment (like support for our own Collectorz.com database, iPod export, and Flic barcode scanner support). We are currently working on an update that addresses these issues." You can also do an XML export from Windoze to Mac but not in the other direction. If you are a Mac user running Windoze natively on an Intel Mac and/or have very few movies to enter initially, you might want to consider this program. Although it is the highest priced in its category, the license allows you to run on Mac OS AND Windoze on the same or multiple machines (albeit not simultaneously). Otherwise, if you want a Mac native program with full import capability and a lower initial price, you might try DVDpedia by Bruji, which also has a support forum and developers who are more responsive to user requests.

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• Great Surprise!

  LVWolfmanFebruary 17, 2006

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I bought the Windows version of this program in 2001. I also bought their excellent Book Collector, Music Collector and MP3 Collector programs though to be honest, I really only use the Movie and Book programs. They are the best I found in the Windows world. Now that my wife and I almost 100% Mac, I've been working with DVD Sphere and some other programs trying to decide who gets my money. I'd finally decided to pretty much stick with Movie Collector running under VirtualPC when I discovered that they'd released a native OS X version! I downloaded and installed the shareware version on my 12" Powerbook, and just before buying a key for it, decided that just for grins I'd try the key for my Windows version. It works! When Collectorz.com says "free upgrades to all future versions, I guess they meant it, even across platforms." Due to differences in versions of the databases I couldn't just import my older Windows collection, so I used the XML export/import feature and copied the cover images over on a USB drive. In a matter of minutes all 680 DVDs, VHS tapes, Laser Disks, etc. were cataloged in the Mac version on my Powerbook. The feature list of Movie Collector is long enough that one could almost write a short book about it. It'll search a large number of web based stores (besides Amazon and IMDB), let you set up a queue of titles, codes to search, then come back later and have it add them, handles bar codes and lots more. The 50 movie limit is enough to let you try out all of the features, nothing else is crippled or limited. With over 10X that number of titles, nothing seems any slower so their database engine seems pretty strong. Even if you are in love with another DVD/Movie database package, give this one a fair shot. I feel that you'll like it. It is certainly an example of the best of its kind. BTW, I'm going to rate the Support/Documentation as Excellent only because they constantly update their software. I don't remember ever needing support or reading any documentation or help files.

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• A very good movie database !

  ma011November 20, 2005

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I was looking for this kind of product and found nothing really interesting before I discovered Movie Collector. This product is not just a Windows software ported on the Mac, it's a great software for the Mac, powerfull, flexible and easy to use. Congratulations to the Mac developper.

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• SUPERB!!!!

  legoNovember 15, 2005

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Buggy?...NOPE! Adds movies just fine on my computer! GREEEEEAT APP!!!!! Been waiting for this for some time now. Now all we need are some swedish search sites, like discshop.se....(hint, hint).

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• Buggy

  BobbiStyleNovember 15, 2005

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Looks great, major flaw though, names ALL movies "search results". Useless. Shame, if it works, I'd buy it. Bobbi Style

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