New Review!!! Graphics Toolbox!

 Check out my welcome post here.

 

About the product/service:  As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received a free download of Graphics Toolbox for the purposes of this review.  According to their website, "Graphics-Toolbox® is a powerful, multi-purpose graphic software program used by people of all ages. Students, hobbyists and professionals alike enjoy using the fast and easy tools to create expert results for their daily graphics needs."
Here are just some of the things Graphics Toolbox can do:

• personalized cards and invitations
• science diagrams
• photo editing
• posters and business flyers
• photo cartoons
• scrapbook pages
• blog headers and buttons

What are the pros of this product?  This is a very versatile program and does a TON of cool things.  I can't think of anything it can't do graphics wise.  Take photo editing, for example.  If you don't like the color of your shirt in a picture, you can change it.  (Or maybe get rid of those crows feet! LOL) Want to add a frame or text to a photo?  You can.  Would you like to take a pic of your family and then make it look like you are in Egypt in front of the pyramids or on a glacier in Alaska?  No problem! 

Also, if you get overwhelmed, you can get personal one-on-one online training for $65 per hour.  If you don't need (or can't afford) the one-on-one training, you can also watch tutorials on the Graphics Toolbox website. 


What's not to like?  It's very detailed, and there is so much you can do.  You might become overwhelmed, especially if you're over 30!  LOL 
Also, I have to say, the cost is a bit much.  I honestly don't have the money for things like this, and since most homeschoolers are single income families, money tends to be tight.  However, for a family that is into art or graphics, this could well be worth the money. 

The Crazy Mom take:  I think I'm really slowing down with age.  I worked my little heart out on this and learned a lot, but I never got the point where I could pull it all together to make something worthy of posting here on my blog.  (I still have high hopes of creating a new blog header.)  I would have had my kids figure it out, but they are already familiar with several other programs, many of them free, that do much the same thing.  They just were not motivated to want to learn a new program.

One of my sons, Ren, does a lot of graphic work for our church.  Another, Woggit, loves to manipulate photographs.  He's done all kinds of cool stuff with other programs.  All of the software they use is free.  I honestly have to say that when looking at this, I didn't see anything Graphics Toolbox could do that they weren't already doing.  This doesn't mean that it doesn't have features other programs don't, it just means that I don't know of any features it has that we don't already have here as part of another program.  (Wow, that was a long sentence.  Sorry!)  I'm just not familiar enough with these kinds of programs to make an honest comparison. 

I guess for us, this is not something I would lay the money out for.  Like I said, I have a son who is really into graphic design and he uses other programs he has downloaded off the Internet for free that serves his purposes just fine.  However, I'm no expert, and to be honest neither is he.  So, for our family, it might not be something we really need, but for another family, it just might be perfect.  The only way to know is to check it out yourself!


 
What's the bottom line? $149 - 1 User License Discount for 2+ users

I am going to give Graphics Toolbox 3 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out! http://www.greatsoftwaretools.com/

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/769911/  



*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.
 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.
 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.
 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Disclaimer!!!  I reviewed this product because I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew.  I was given the product by the vendor to use and evaluate in my home so that I might share my insights with others.  Other than receiving the product, which I kinda have to to be able to assess the product, I am not compensated for my reviews in any way.  I am in no way obligated to give a positive review.  I do try to point out negatives when I see them, though I am admittedly a pretty easy going gal!  What you read are my honest assessments of the products I receive. 

As with all products, you must do the research before buying.  Please visit the the other crew members' blogs, the vendor websites, and any other review sites you might find before buying.  I can't guarantee that a product will work for you.  You must decide what will fit with your teaching style, and your child(ren)'s learning style(s).  I do not judge anything other than the educational value of the products I review.  I am not qualified to make judgements as to the safely of any product, and I make no guarantee that the products I review are safe for you, your family, or anyone else.  I am simply giving my opinion; only you know what is best for you and your family.

Don't use your blow dryer while you sleep or take a bath.  Don't read my reviews in the tub either, and please do not read them when you are asleep, though I do not guarantee that you won't fall asleep reading them!

Copyright 2010 Ramblings from the Crazy House

Five Points Just for Showing Up!!!

My two oldest, First Born and Ren, go to the local community college where they are honor students.  Sounds impressive, but I have to wonder.  It doesn't seem like it takes all that much to stand out these days.  I keep hearing stories about all ways they can earn extra credit.

When they took their first class, a few years ago, they got an easy A.  However, had they not been getting that A they could have upped their grades by bringing in old computer parts, writing a public official, or even giving blood!

This year Ren in taking three classes.  One is online, but the other two meet in a traditional classroom.  He takes a programming class and Spanish.   Well, he didn't do as well we we would have liked on his first Spanish test.  Understandable, it's not easy to learn a foreign language.  But the next time he went into class he got five more points.  Why?  Apparently, it is quite common for students to skip the next class after a test.  So, just for showing up he got five addtional points.  This on top of the fact that a full third of his points already come from participation in class and attendance.  Wow!   He tells me the other teacher made the same comment and gave out extra points too!

Is it that bad?  Are students so uncommitted that all it takes is showing up to impress your teacher?  I guess so!  Well, I guess that's just another positive thing about homeschooling.   Kids learn to show up for class.  Mine were so committed they were at school before they even got out of bed!  LOL  :)

Not Me! Monday! February 1, 2010

Dearest Readers, I implore you to please be my bosom friend and check out my sidebar.  Take my poll, become a Twitter follower or Facebook fan, or even subscribe to my blog by e-mail.  It would make me oh so happy.  Be a dear, and take just a quick moment out of your busy day to make mine oh so much more glorious.    

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I suppose it hasn't been a very bad week.  After all, I did NOT get the sixth virus I've had since the school year began.  My fingers I did NOT smash two weeks ago, still do NOT hurt.  I do NOT have a mountain of laundry ready to be folded, organized, and put away on my couch, and I do NOT have a bunch of books in Rubbermaids, all ready to be sorted and put away, even though I only have two bookshelves which isn't nearly enough space.

My kids on the other hand have been such dismal failures.  The younger kids did NOT clean the basement and laundry room.  My daughter Princess did NOT make a pan of brownies, some pudding, and a pie.  Bear, my eight-year-old, did NOT make dinner three days in a row, since I was NOT sick.  Mr. Personality did NOT make $40 shoveling show.  My two oldest, First Born and Ren, did NOT make the dean's list at college.  Ren did NOT get asked to join an honor society.  And finally, Ren and Mr. P. did not pass the final exams for the discipleship class at church. 

On a lighter note, my son Dode Man did NOT just whack me in the face with a legal pad as I typed this all out.  At least one of my kids knows how to act!  LOL

To find out what others have NOT been doing, click here. 

Here's another edition of Five Question Friday.  To participate or read more Five Question Friday entries, check out

http://www.fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/.

1. What is better, growing old with out money or dying young and wealthy?

Money.  What is money?  Of course, I'd rather live a long life.

 

2. Who takes out the garbage at your house?

Ren and Mr. Personality take it out, though we actually forgot all about this past week.  Not a problem for most families, but by the end of the week all six or seven cans are full and there are bags piled on top.  Add a second week's trash to that and my yard looks like a landfill.  Then we have a dog... 

Why did you have to ask that THIS week???

(Oh, and Dode Man wants you to know that he is the one who takes the trash out of the house, the older boys take it out to the curb.)


3. Have you ever had the same dream many times?

Oh, I was just telling someone this.  When I'm sleeping and really, really have to go pee, I always dream of having to pee in my dream and then having to search out a bathroom.  Usually I'm in a large building with lots of halls and doors.  I search and search.  When I finally find a bathroom, all the toilets are filthy and overflowing.  I search some more, finding nothing but nasty toilets.  Sometimes I actually break down and try to use one of the nasty bathrooms.  In my dream, I pee and pee, but am never relieved.  I guess that's good, or I'd wet the bed!  LOL

 

4. Can you play a musical instrument?

I have  very basic knowledge of both piano and guitar.  I took organ lessons as a child and taught myself the little guitar I know.  I hope to keep using the Jean Welles Worship Guitar program I got to review to help me learn to play the better.  I also might take a keyboard class at church.

5. If you owned your own store, what would you sell?

I have no desire to own a store, though my parents did own a party store at one time. Actually, if it weren't for me, they still might. As the story goes, they sold it when my mom got pregnant with me.

But, if I did own a store it would probably have to be either books or techie stuff.  If I went the techie route, my kids could work for me.  I guess by techie stuff I mean phones, computer stuff, and the like.  Boring, huh?