Genealogy Chat

After reading all ..I think I'll go the basic Family Tree Maker, everyone seems to think the deluxe version is not so useful.. I actually bid and won a FTM on ebay (I was a 1ST TIME user of ebay!) , it came with a bonus full years sub to ancestry...It cost me AU 74-50 + $20 postage...RRP $99 + the $200 bonus sub. I was thrilled ..checking the letter box every day. Alas it did not arrive ..after 10working days & 3 unanswered emails I found out that after checking the sellers reputation before purchase and finding it almost perfect: that the last 6 feedbacks were negative and he was no longer a registered member!! So it doesnt matter what version I buy? Aus, English? Does that only apply to the versions with the extra discs? I do appreciate the comments re the cousins marrying...no wonder my GR tree is looking messy! Time to move on... I do appreciate all the help...Im chipping away at it all but slowly Im learning more...have found more relies on the site too..ta!

Oh dear, I hope you got your money back from that one! I am very wary of ebay now since I bought son a moped which has turned out to be a total wreck. ebay didnt want to know, ditto paypal - I shant use them again. Have a look at my-history site or genealogy supplies or S and N Genealogy or dockland ancestors. All these sites are reputable and will send overseas. But I would have thought there must be shops/sites in Aus which would get it to you quicker and who you could contact if you have problems. Why dont you do a google search to see if any aus sites can help. Over here, dockland ancestors is selling the 2006 for £10 with a months sub - I think my-history are saying something on there about 3 months offer to ancestry - but I havent read it all. You dont need the deluxe, just the standard one is sufficient - unless you actually WANT all the extra cds and stuff but I dont think anyone has really used them when they got them! I just googled family tree maker australia and lots of sites come up including ancestrys own one which seems to be offering 90 days sub with a program. I think you need to have a good google before you choose! Good luck.

I am going to disagree with Heather on her comment that you only need the standard version (sorry Heather!!) - although if you have already got an Ancestry sub then she is right!! It might be useful for you to look to see what is included with each edition - would suggest TWR computing as a good place to start - http://www.twrcomputing(.)co(.)uk/ The 2006 deluxe version costs 34.75 pounds - and apart from the fairly useless parish records discs, it does include a 3 month Ancestry sub (worth 20 pounds) and a Getting Started manual which may be of use to beginners. I know that when I first started using FTM (it was actually version 6) the handbook that came with it was extremely useful. The 2006 collectors edition, however, I think is a better buy for newcomers to the program - cost is 56.25 pounds. Again it includes the rather useless parish discs, but it does include a six month ancestry sub (worth 40 pounds) and a full handbook (380 page) for the program (cost if bought separately16 pounds). Now I can imagine that very shortly the cost of these FTM deals are going to rise, to take into account the recent increase in the Ancestry sub - so - at the moment I believe the collectors edition is definitely a good buy for someone new to this hobby.

How dare you Elaine!!! LOL. I think the my history £10 one has some sort of 90 day deal, but havent read it thoroughly. Im just wondering though if in Aus, then a aus edition may hold a lot more of local interest??? There are a lot of aus sites offering the FTM or even ancestry itself. Or amazon? (I didnt know the sub had gone up Elaine - much?)

Hope I´m forgiven Heather!! Wasn´t quite sure whether Lucille is Aussie based - or whether she just saw the Aussie offer on ebay. From my point of view, living outside UK, I nearly always use (and recommend) TWR as their prices include worldwide postage. Ancestry sub has apparently gone up to a few pence under 80 pounds a year (think it was 79.95) I gather it went up last week, although if someone has received an email (sent out before last week) to say their subs are due then the price is still the same as last year 69.95 pounds.

I have to say my sub is due in April and I thought should I take it out again because Im virtually censused out now on my lot but sods law as soon as I cancelled Id find info on a new bunch of them. I dont know, it would seem strange not having ancestry at my fingertips. But £80 is a fair old jump in price isnt it? Perhaps when my current sub runs out I should change my email addy and get a free trial - LOL - I bet they would pick up on my ip address or something. Oh yes twr computing is another good site isnt it.

Its just over a 14 percent increase! Let´s hope there are plans to add more databases which will justify the increase. Like you Heather, I would find it strange not to have Ancestry at my finger tips

Wasnt there talk about having WW1 army records on there? Not that thats a lot of use to me, but I guess to some people it may be. You remember how we all waited with baited breath for the 1871 then the 1861 and 1851 and glory be, the 1841. I had hoped they would somehow miraculously add a transcribed parish registers record - but probably not in my life time. LOL.

Doubled? Have they really? Oh well, I suppose, they added Scotland didnt they? So she is probably right. I never use those census so forgot about that.

.... and don´t forget all those names in the phone books!!

Actually Elaine, I did use that facility and it was helpful in getting full addresses of people in my family! So lets hope they will give us even more goodies to look forward to.

Well my sub was worthwhile. The release of the 1841 proved a crucial point in my wardrobe department at my house.

Did you ever look on Old Bailey online for any of your lot Glen.

Erm No!! Thought they were too respectable to be on there.

Re the ebay matter...I will get my money back eventually, so they tell me....on a brighter point I did manage to buy a 1945 map of London & surrounds for AUD $4-45 incl postage!! which arrived beautifully packaged in recycled wrapping!!! good to see! I also shouted myself a printer/scanner/copier which Im sure I will make gr8 use of once I work out how to use?! I've already practised scanning and copying the map to enlarge it...everything is so so so tiny on it!! + with all the unusual names that as an Aussie I dont recognise easily?! At least Im getting good use out of my new spectacles?!!!! ha ha See...this is what turns my head a bit inside out because I am 1st generation Aus born Brit....I have to research place names to work out who MIGHT be related via birthplaces etc. Heather...you amaze me! you remind me of Santa Claus...able to be so many places in so little time..likie in a time warp! You must be a speed typer and the Queen buff of genealogy...Huge thanks to Linda tooo. Here's a question I've been wondering about.... The ORIGIN & history of surnames...The GR site seems to have a spot for this info but it gets used as a trying to find spot?? with gracious thanx, Lucy