One note to keep in mind about PastPerfect 3.0:
We are currently using PP 2.6x and it does all we ask of it and more.
We currently do not envision going to 3.0 unless we also plan to spend money
upgrading every single computer we have.
The system requirements are a minimum of a Pentium 600mhz+ and boucoup hard
drive space.
Museum software recommends a _minimum_ of a 1.0 ghz processor, 256 mb ram
and at least 20 mb hard drive space.
In other words, they advise that it is a memory hog. We run the 2.6 version
of Past Perfect on machines that range from P75 mhz to P133mhz, P200mhz and
one that's about 300mhz. Our databases are small enough so that searching
does not take that long, but on the slower machines, even searching through
just 5,000 photo entries creates a lag. The more you input, the slower the
search time will be. Which means 3.0 could be a real dog on older, slower
machines. If you can't afford to upgrade your systems to the new
processor/memory requirements, (which should be available right off the
shelf nowadays) you'd be better off with the previous 2.5/2.6 versions,
which I think are still available. I did not see many features offered in
the 3.0 upgrade that would prompt me to say we need it (over 2.6)

Scott D. Peters
Research Director/Archivist
Ocean County Historical Society
26 Hadley Ave., P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, NJ 08754-2191
(732) 341-1880
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"Telling the Stories of Ocean County"

Historically Speaking
ALHFAM -FPIPN vice-chair for trivia, errata and miscellany
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"The ordinary distinctions in society are often vague, and imply no just
pre-eminence: rank and titles are
adventitious things and instead of designating merit or virtue, are
frequently the baubles of imbecility, or
the sparkling decorations of meretricious pageantry"

William Griffith, on behalf, and by order of the New-Jersey Society for
promoting the gradual Abolition
of Slavery, Twelfth Month (December) 20th, 1803
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tina Reuwsaat" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2002 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: PastPerfect 3.0


> I have entered hundreds of  artifact records from the collections of two
> diverse museums using Past Perfect. I find it fast, simple, flexible and
> user friendly. There is an option to catalog items as history or art, and
> plenty of room for provenance, source information, maintenance records,
etc.
> Accession cards are also linked to the objects, searches can be set up in
> countless formats and there are even options I haven't used yet.  Digital
> image scanning and download are a breeze. Other than the potential for
> complete computer melt-down, I am unaware of any archive issues. (Make
> back-up discs!) We certainly haven't thrown out the old hard copy system
> though, just in case.
> I give Past Perfect an A+.
>
> Tina Reuwsaat
> Smithsonian Associates Masters Program
> Washington, D.C.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> > I am the Collections Manager at the St. Louis Science Center, we are
> currently
> > interested in purchasing the PastPerfect 3.0 software for our
Collections.
> I am
> > curious to find out information on how current users feel about this
> product.  I
> > understand it has some issues with archives but overall how is it for a
> diverse
> > collection?  >
> > Melinda Frillman
> > St. Louis Science Center
> " (without the quotes).
>
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