> (for a Windows/Pentium setup) but feel reluctant to take the plunge
> on something sight unseen. I would be interested in list members
> opinions. I guess something suitable Australian observing is
> desirable, but a world database is definitely required.
>
To put in a further plug for Simon Bennett's BirdInfo program, which I'm
a long term user & fan of, he will send it to you "on approval". That
is, if you like it, send him the $$$. If you don't, then be honourable
& completely remove it from your PC, and send it back without incurring
any cost or obligation.
Others have spoken of the simple listing functions, but my favourite
part is the survey analysis & reporting module. I can retrieve &/or
analyse all my site-specific survey data (after many hours of
inputting!!) on a site, location, habitat zone, long/lat defined area,
year, etc. basis. Very powerful, and really useful. All those years of
observations begin to mean something when you can manipulate the data in
quite straight-forward ways.
Of course it's also great for frivolous things like year lists, life
lists, birds seen through the binoculars backwards lists (Phil Hansbro
style), etc. ......
I'm not on Simon's payroll, just a very satisfied user of the DOS
version. I need to buy a new PC in order to use the Windows version
(ie. one with some memory & a viciously fast processor). On that topic,
if contemplating BirdInfo for Windows, aim for a brutish Pentium chip
and 16 - 32 MB of RAM. The power of the re-indexing functions etc. used
in chopping & changing the taxonomy & sequence do make the application
rather resource hungry.
Lawrie Conole
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
http://yarra.vicnet.net.au/~birdsaus/painted.html
http://www.xnet.com/~ugeiser/Birds/TripReports/JavaBali96.html
|
