Do I need Family Tree Maker v 16 ?

[joanne56]

Had a special offer from Ancestry to buy Family Tree Maker version 16.
Question is, do I need this?
At present I don't use any software at all but I have my tree on Ancestry and on Genes Reunited. I do of course have everything I have found in files too.
What can I gain from having this software and how do other rootschatters store their information?

Please advise,
 
Joanne

[RJ_Paton]

There are almost as many opinions about which software program to use as there are Rootschat members.

As to whether you "need" the program .... only you can answer that one. There are free alternatives about if you wish to use a computer program for this or there are many commercial programs

see http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,158637.0.html for some of the previous discussions.

[downside]

Hi joanne56

You could download a free trial version to see what you might be missing.

I guess the general difference is that you can store extensive notes with a genealogy software program + photographs + media files.  You can also print a multitude of charts and reports.  GR has a limited ability to store and present data and the same is probably true of ancestry.  Incidentally, Family Tree Maker is owned by myfamily.com who also own ancestry.com.

GenesReunited has drastically altered its Family Tree Builder program.  It now looks like a proper genealogy program compared to the bare-bones approach it originally offered.  However, it is a long way from offering all the charts and reports that a bog standard genealogy program offers.

downside