Microsoft Access 2003

Rating:
Summary: their is something much better
Review: After trying access (xp version) and reading several books I still wasnt able to create much of a usable database. Now that I tried Filemaker Pro 7 I will never ever attempt to use access again. Save yourself and your sanity; get Filemaker Pro

Rating:
Summary: License agreement includes internet activation?
Review: Hi folks.

I bought MS Access 2000 3 years ago. Then I upgraded to their next version MS Access 2002 upgrade but it had a policy of only working on the first computer you installed it on due to internet activation. I had two PCs(one a test PC that tends to get reimaged a lot) so that didn't work out too well and I switched back to Access 2000 and dumped the 2002 CD as my refund date had passed.

Does this new MS Access 2003 have the same policy? If so I won't buy it. Also does this new version have any "gotta have it" features or is it just the same old application made a little prettier?

I'd need a good reason to buy MS Access 2003. Lately I've been looking at other products like Star Office. Unfortunately their 6.0 version didn't have as easy a database as MS Access and Star Office didn't document that part much. I haven't seen their 7.0 version yet.

I gave this review 3 stars because I'm pretty sure Access 2003 will meet my needs if it's anywhere as good as Access 2000, but I don't like Microsoft's licensing policy and internet activation. If they have that, I won't buy. So please post a review and let me know.

Rating:
Summary: Access to Hell
Review: I've never had the misfortune to use a less-user-friendly, less-intuitive, more complex, more erratic, more frustrating, more aggravating and ultimately less-useful program in my life. It may be great for database programmers and software engineers, but if you're just a person running a small business and you want to set up a simple database, Access is a sure way to lose hair, turn your neck muscles into steel cables, and reduce your mind to mush while you stay up all night trying to figure out (with the help of multiple books on Access, Microsoft's Online Support, and several forums) how to do the simplest thing to fill in a single blank on an individual form. If you can possibly arrange your life in a manner that will let you avoid Microsoft Access, do it. Run from Access as you would run from a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Rating:
Summary: Puts data in motion for any company.
Review: This new version of Access is also XML integrated, enhanced features such as extraction of data from multiple tables, Access 2003 also improves Smart Tag integration. The ability to design solutions within the program makes web services a powerful resource for the enterprise; the flawless integration with Microsoft SQL makes information sharing a productive experience. This makes data storing and retrieval an easy way to control how data is implemented across many scenarios using personalized solutions, allowing your information to have a stronger impact across the Enterprise.

Rating:
Summary: Access may or may not be for you...
Review: To answer the one reviewer's question, yes -- you need to activate this product (and all products in the Office 2003 suite). Does that suck? Yes. Is it real life and will all the companies who haven't done it in the past start to do it? Damn straight. So that issue, although being one at this point will be all but commonplace a few years from now except for smaller vendors (shareware, etc.) but sooner or later they'll all do it because it's the only way to stop people from copying, copying, copying -- I personally think they should at least give you 2 licenses at a minimum, because you know that's for individual users and small biz owners, but not in this case.

As far as usability and feature-comparison to Access 2000, for a novice user or someone who doesn't "code" (program using computer code) in Access -- I don't recommend the upgrade -- you won't find much of an advantage. There are some nice templates and samples, but they never seem to get you where you want to go for an actual project -- so I recommend sticking w/ 2000 in that case. If you're a programmer and you deploy web sites with Access on Win2K Svr and/or Svr2003 then there are some nice add'l features that make it worth purchasing (which you'll probably get as an upgrade because you already have 2000 and/or complete Office Pro) and it's more stable and reliable than ever before (which isn't saying a lot going back to the older versions), but you've got to upgrade if you fit that category. Quite honestly, if you're building a front-end app in Access then you're going "old school" because it's much more efficient to use a web-based app with Access as the back-end (or SQL, Oracle, etc. for higher-end solutions) -- MySQL is another good option and also runs on different platforms, but you think Access' interface is lousy, don't even bother w/ MySQL then.

If you're a novice looking for a simple database, try some web-based solutions -- chances are the database you're looking for may be out there already. There's completely customizable QuickBase (Intuit product -- makers of Quicken, QBooks, etc.), contact management such as SalesForce.com, among others -- again, not low-end solutions but still options for small biz.

To summarize, if you're a developer or experience with programming in Access, get 2003 (chances are, you already have it) -- if you're a novice or not familiar w/ Access and have 2000 -- not much of a need to upgrade. If you want a version and have a choice between 2003 and 2000, 2003 does have a more polished interface, better wizards, etc. -- it's not easy and intuitive, but still an improvement over 2000 (they have a ways to go). If you're in no rush, just wait until you buy your next PC (probably through Dell, like most of us), and get the Office Pro or Small Biz version with the machine and you'll save hundreds over buying it new -- and don't buy it individually or they really get you with a high cost.

Hope that helps.