Review

Created: January, 2000

Macmillan Software's Complete Idiot's Small Office/Home Office Suite

By Lowell Conn, Cyberwalker Media Syndicate

The Complete Idiot's Small Office/Home Office Suite is one of the easiest print programs ever.

It is also infinitely satisfying. Small business owners unfamiliar with the complexities of computer publishing will be able to sit down and design business cards, marketing materials and a multitude of other business-specific materials within a manner of minutes, using this affordable $39.95 US ($59.95 Canadian) software.

Sure, some of the forms available in this suite can be designed with pen and paper or photocopied from a book. Others, however, would cost hundreds of dollars in consultant fees.

That the consultants would come up with original-looking material whereas Complete Idiot's software offers only templates should come as no concern, considering each of the program's projects has a multitude of templates to choose from. It is a real long shot that your competitor will wind up with similar looking marketing materials.

The program has three components, each of which comes on its own CD -- Business Form Maker, Business Card & Stationary Maker, and Marketing Materials Maker. In order for a component to work, its CD must be in the drive. Unfortunately, this means that you can open only one component at a time.

When you open any component for the first time, you must enter key business information for inclusion on projects. It's a nice touch; the program remembers this information for future projects. The bad news is that you have to re-enter this information in all three program components. A little more data sharing would be nice.

Despite these drawbacks, you cannot help but like Complete Idiot's Small Office/Home Office Suite. It is so simple to use that you are surprised at how good the results can look.

Designing any project follows the same progressive order, further adding to its ease of use. This program is no slouch: a comprehensive tutorial area provides very adept marketing and business tips for small business people looking to make a splash with their materials.

Complete Idiot's Small Office/Home Office is a real bargain, considering that computing neophytes will be able to design all types of business materials in no time. It is a smart buy for novice computer users.

Reviewer's rating: 4.5 / 5

Comments: Complete Idiot's Small Office/Home Office is easy to use and can produce some nice business and marketing forms and other materials for a bargain price.

Price $39.95 US, $59.95 Canadian