My thoughts about the new version of ACT!: ACT! 7.0.
ACT! 7 (called ACT! 2005 in North America) came on the market late last summer. I made a decision to hold off using it until it had been on the market for three or four months. I typically suggest that you hold off upgrading any software (not just ACT!) and let them workout the bugs that sometimes accompany a new release. On January 1st 2005, I started using ACT! 2005 full-time on a computer that met the suggested minimum requirements of 512 MB RAM and a processor speed of 266 MHz or greater.
If you are a long time ACT! user, one new feature may make it worth the upgrade price. But my initial assessment is going to be in very general terms, not specifics. It comes down to one simple determining factor: would I feel comfortable suggesting that a client or friend upgrade to ACT!? Yes or no?
The answer is No. Here’s why:
1.) ACT! 2005 might require you to upgrade your computer in order to operate it properly, which could make ACT! an expensive proposition.
2.) It is very slow. At times, painfully slow.
3.) It is just different enough from previous versions to make it more difficult to learn and implement.
4.) For the average everyday ACT! user, ACT! 6.0 is more that adequate and can still be purchased.
5.) It might render add-on products for ACT! inoperable, or require an upgrade.
There are many things I like about the software, yet, they are not compelling enough to make me feel comfortable recommending it to someone. If you are using ACT! 2005, I would love to hear some feedback whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.
