Thank you all for trying out Smart Diary Suite using the GAOTD site. I appreciate all your comments - good or bad, and will take into account things mentioned here.

Please note, that perhaps part of the confusion was caused by the fact that during this specific promotion the Home Edition was being up from grabs, not the Ultimate Edition. The differences between the two are clearly stated on the program's site. SDS Home Edition is not a partial program - it is suited towards those who do not need all the functionality of the Ultimate Edition and it costs less, so that people don't pay for things they don't use.

We are planning on running an Ultimate Edition promotion here as well, as soon as possible, to let everyone interested enjoy the full potential of Smart Diary Suite.

You are welcome to contact me if you have any questions about SDS or if you'd like to suggest anything.

just a thought here! Give away of the day, Always great, thank you! here's my thought, SmartDiary looked very cool and I was very excited about the possibilities of this program. but I was very disappointed at its limited use, since this is a "Give away of the day" SmartDiary could have released the full program for use here at GAOTD, I was already telling my friends about it until I realized its limitations. Had it worked fully and was exceptional I would have sent my friends and colleagues to check it out. I believe SmartDiary, made a huge error in releaseing it as a partial program, they could have made a huge impact but now they have actually hurt themselves. you have to spend money to make money. Sorry to say but SmartDiary dropped the ball!
L.R. Nelson

Great idea, but falls short of being usuable. Interface if not intuitive and there are very few options to customize the application to personal preferences. It's quicket and easier to track Rx info, health data etc in spreadsheet or on a calendar program.

Okay, the SmartDiary-Giveaway-Day is over, however, sometimes a user comes back to find an alternative to the Giveaway. I just remembered this :

http://www.programming.de/superdiary.php

Though it is shareware you can use it without limitations.
Quote from the developer:
...
* That means: you can try the program as long as you like.
* The program is not limited or crippled in it's features in the trial version and the trial version does not expire.
* There are no disabled features, no annoying popup windows, no hidden spyware or adware features (the only difference is a splash screen, asking you to register if you use it regularly).
...
Unquote

graylox

Its a good program but I need the Medication part of it in the Ultimate edition,I'm disabled and do not have $70 to spend.I do like the part on Fibromyalgia,the programmers either have it or a loved one of theirs does.I wish more people knew of this disease,it would make my life easier.

I agree with Dr. Olaimi's comments about what this program needs. I also agree with many other comments regarding the medical module. I will not even try out the program without the medical module.
Thanks,

It's ok for what it is. As I've never experienced a PIM before its ok for me. I don't need the medication part yet. But thanks anyways. Always good to try new things.

DEVELOPER RESPONDS

Hello Brenda,

Yes, it's possible to upgrade the Home version offered on the Giveaway of the day site to the Ultimate version - just send me your registration information and I'll send you a link that you can use to purchase the upgrade for the price difference of $30.

I will offer the Ultimate edition on that site later as well (maybe in one or 2 weeks, depending on their schedule).

Thank you for the suggestion!

It is also possible to reduce the $30 to $15 by using our Special Offer 1 mentioned here - http://www.sdiary.com/special_offers.php (if you wish).

Best regards,

Dennis Volodomanov

Comment #2 said "you can get many diary programs for free elsewhere on the net" which ones are good?

Installed great, registered easily. I have the same issues as many others. Without the full program, why bother. I would love to use the medication and some other features but not going to upgrade especially without being able to sync to my palm/phone.

@2
Agree totally


The advertising blurb from that accompanies this program makes a big deal out of health benefits and ancillary items. That is in the advertising blurb. To meet the goals being advertised, medication module should definitely be part of the program. Knowing that, the authors at "Programming Sunrise" have used that module as a come on to purchase the next edition up. I would feel a need to be on guard and scrutinize a "program's features" if I were to consider purchasing anything from this company. Since this is a one program company I would start with "Smart Diary".

Whoops, their product failed. From the company's homepage they show their product. Having only one edition. You are only told about other editions, such as the "Ultimate" edition, after you press the "buy now" button.

This companie's bait and switch tactic is one of the most blatant infraction that I have seen coming through Giveawayoftheday for some time.

Mozilla Sunbird, synced with Google Calendar (so you can have it with you anywhere) synced with my cheapo Motorola phone for the win.

Functional and free.

This is great. I use Smart Diary Sweet to schedule my eating binges. That way, I am gorging myself about the same time my paycheck comes in. I have 450 pounds to maintain, and although I hardly need a reminder to eat, this helps me with dessert scheduling. Thanks, GAOTD!

Like some of the folks here I am disabled as well and my memory is not as good as what it used to be. This could have been a good GiveAway for me if it was complete, but Dr. Olaimi on post #13 is right about the lack of customization.

A PIM should allow you to create the information management you need, not a set of hard coded set that requires you to spend more money if you want to add one that is not included in the particular edition you bought.

Besides, I can't afford to pay $35 (I think that is the value after the discount) to buy the Ultimate Edition. I still use goCRM and Notables, two programs that were offered here in the past.

But after all is said and done, I got a kick when I saw that 'Copulation' was listed in the general parameters on the first screen shot. I recently read an article that studied the number of times people copulate in a week in different countries.

The study found that there was only one coutry (I can't remember which one) that is less 'active' in that area than the US. Maybe the US edition should have that entry removed :)

AxCut (ok, AxCute for only for today!)

@TJ
I don't have anything you are asking for, but if nothing else, you can use Excel/Open Office to help you track your blood sugar.

Took me forever, but finally got a full review written on this program:
Click here if you want to read it.

I appreciate GAOTD and Programming Sunrise making this available. However, the "start with Windows" and "minimize to tray" options are entirely useless if you password-protect the program, because it prompts you for one just because the program started.

By the same token, when you cancel the password prompt because you don't want to USE the program right now (just have it running in the tray), that same annoying intro dialog pops up to open a diary or create a new one. Close the dialog? The entire program quits. Guess I might be uninstalling this one after all. [sigh]

What would make this program truly useful is a way to synchronize between laptop, pocket pc and desktop so you could update anywhere and keep things straight. Perhaps a version that would run on a Cruzer jump drive.

Kudos to the developer. Looks like he's produced one of the few, if any, PIMS with useful medical features. Also looks, though, that the medical features seem to be the one feature in this PIM that's truly a necessity for some. In that case, I might suggest you reconsider your pricing structure a little, especially if you don't see sales taking off. Though your upgrade offer is generous, anybody that loses the software, will need to pay $70 to regain something they may have become dependant upon. Fixed income folks might find that too dear a price. However, today's offer seems a powerful incentive. Folks might be wise to consider the download and upgrade.

I don't have the need for medical software myself, and don't feel qualified to evaluate it. However, since I'm concerned about those that need software with similar medical features, I've started a topic over in the forums:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/4312

Don't know if there's any alternatives to post, but if people have any ideas, they can write comparisons to Smart Diary Suite over there. That might even prove that Smart Diary Suite is the best answer. In any case, if you need medical software, you might want to check the forum topic out.

Hope this post helps. :)

Wanted to get a scheduler that would allow me to keep notes and schedule events 30 - 90 days ahead of time with a reminder 1 week ahead. This program doesn't allow you to calculate a date 30 days from now. You have to specify a specific end date. But it does allow you to get a reminder 1 week before the end date. I tested the program by specifying a date 90 days in the future. I then close the program and started it up again. I clicked on this item and I got a message something like "this item is due in 10800 hours." Next I asked to edit the item. It was now scheduled to end in 87 days, not 90 days. I changed the date back to 90 days. I looked again and now it was set to 89 days. So a scheduling program that doesn't keep the correct dates is not much good. I no longer trust it. I'm uninstalling it. I'll stay with Outlook.

Regardless of this software's features, It's one of the rare truly FREE offers. With this one you get a registration key, so if your PC crashes, you can reinstall it and register it again. Some offers just activate the software, with no possibility of registering if a PC crash occurs.

Thank you Programming Sunrise & Giveaway of the day.

It looks nice at first glance even though the USER RATING is quite LOW at the moment (35% UP).


FREE ALTERNATIVES besides EssentialPIM:



1) TOTAL ORGANIZER

http://www.konradp.com/products/organizer/



2) PIM XTREME

http://dgtalize.com/pimxfeatures





You can also find a collection of FREE PIM here:

http://www.freewarehome.com/Business_and_Productivity/Date_and_Time_Management/Personal_Information_Managers_t.html



Cheers from Italy!!

Giovanni

This is cool. I suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,which is similar to Fibromyalga,and this program is perfect for monitoring my condition from day to day to see what factors influence it.Once again....cool!

I was really excited to get this program, but found after downloading it, that it wouldn't accept the registration number saying it didn't match the name. any suggestions?

Not that helpful for me. I journal on LJ, so what I really need is a comprehensive way to track my headache. This isn't possible without upgrading, and, as has been noted many times, $70 is a little pricey for a fixed income.

I agree with #2. The features this version lacks are the ones that would be most useful for me and the upgrade cost seems a bit excessive. Kind of feels like a bait and switch. So I will continue to look for a program that does it all and is user friendly.

Has anyone tried closing and then reopening the program only to be asked for registration every time? If you close the request window it quits the program and upon opening again it requires registration information again. If so, how do I get around it?

Downloaded and installed/registered just fine on Windows XP sp 2.
Looks good on screen, easy to use so far. While I love Thunderbird, I do not care for their calender add on so much. This will be much more suitable for me. Thank you to the developers and to GOTD!

In regards to upgrading to the Ultimate Edition, this is what their site has to say:

http://www.sdiary.com/purchase.php
If you already own any edition of Smart Diary Suite and wish to upgrade, you just have to pay the difference! Just contact support and we'll provide you with a special purchase link.

So it looks like you should be able to upgrade from this giveaway to the Ultimate Edition for $30, which is considerably less than the full $70 purchase price for it. If anyone does contact them and try to upgrade this way, please let us know if you were successful.

I could really use a medical diary since I am diabetic. Could someone share some of these free ones that you are mentioning? This giveaway may be ok but seeing how limited it is I think I will pass on downloading it. THANKS GAOTD for all neat programs!

I'll stick to my free Thunderbird Portable :) At least then I can download the calender addon and store the entire email client on my flashdisk :)

Thunderbird Portable

Well this looks like a great program and useful too, but I think that it might be similar to fitday, a program that is free online and only $19.99 to buy, you can plot food eaten and exercise on it, Yes it doesnt have some of the features but if you combine it with advanced diary, it works great for me I lost 40Lbs using fitday, Im going to download and try this out, but I just wanted to comment before I did!
Thanks GAOTD

Its pretty to look at but think I will keep Mozilla's Thunderbird email client. You can download a calendar integration and with a click of a button switch from calendar to email to to-do's. There is even a plugin for weather. Its not a colorful as essentialPIM but very functional.

Download, activation, installation, registration (copy & paste) without any hassle on Vista HP. Uninstalled program after 10 minutes. The main features that I would use would be the medications and it is disabled in the Home Version and would cost me $69.95 to upgrade to the Ultimate Edition. Thanks but no thanks, to pricey. Thank you for the giveaway of the day, maybe tomorrows.

It works to some degree. It is not a complete program. Some of the items that people will want are not in this version.It is in the version you pay for. I would not want to use this since it actually is not mine even if free it still belongs to giveaway of the day. This is a good reason not to get many of these so called giveaways. Not truely a giveaway at all.

Imagine

Imagine if this wonderful software is totally converted to be either MS-Outlook or Thunderbird add-in (add-on)! that would be a true added value.

This software serves an outstanding purpose. The concept is seriously dynamic, and could be used in various ways and for several purposes.

Installation was perfect, fiddled with little more than ten minutes, and "uninstalled it" with a feel of sorry that I would not be able to use it because:

1. not integrated in my computing centerfold application, which are the web-browser and the classic organization of choice (MS-Outlook).

2. could not synchronize and/or import its contents to either applications or machines.

3. Reminders for Medication would've been seriously indispensable if were liked with a PDA device (or the recently hyped iPhone)

4. templates; lack of predefined template (i.e. students, secretaries, freelanced consultants, volunteers, etc.)

5. Backup function is missing

6. Application portability would be awesome feature! Imagine all those functions on your "memory stick"!

Just imagine; all of the above for $40! that would be a true bargain!

I guess my "wish-list" is the only reason that I liked this software, but it is more like an appeal for the next version to be "perfected".

I will pass on this one (although downloaded and tested it), yet I would be rate it near 7 out of 10, due serving a very nicely served concept.

Cheers

I really want to try this program but after the installation, trying to run it give me the following message "A monitor program has been found running in your system. Please, unload it from memory and restart your program." ... #@"$U£$)=(/()=!"£ *sgrunt* ...
unloaded the antivirus and the firewall but same messages ... uninstalling ...

Looks interisting. I'll give it a try but I could have really used the medication portion of the program. Like everyone else is saying, $70 is way too much just to get the medication and FM portions. I'll check freeware to see if there is an app to track my meds. If I find one then this program will will get uninstalled. Thanks GAOTD, your the greatest!

On the surface, this program looks like a good self-help tool. The registration is a bit of a pain because first time the program fires up you get an introductory set-up wizard that you cannot get around. You have to go through that wizard before the program gives you access to the main window where the register command is. That intro wizard asks for a name, gender, and birthdate. Keep in mind as far as the program is concerned you’re in a trial mode. I wouldn’t have thought too much more about that except after I registered and restarted the program I was alerted by Zone Alarm that the program wants access to the internet. Turned out to be a “check for updates” command that I would highly recommend disabling from the program options ASAP! For a program that someone uses to write down personal and intimate details about themselves this type of behavior left me feeling uncomfortable. I thought to myself that even if I had decided not to register it, I would have already given out my name, gender, and birthdate information that from any marketing standpoint is golden demographic info.

The programs help menu is themed as a marketing tool so any comprehensive support is going to have to come from online sources. Now in these times where internet security is so highly emphasized resorting to going online for help with a program that contains intimate personal details, makes me feel even more uneasy then I already was.

On an endnote: I got a kick out of the download encyclopedia’s that reassure this program is free from adware and spyware. I would beg to differ ;)

Download, activation, installation, registration (copy & paste) without any hassle on Vista HP.
The interface looks good to me. Have not yet explored the whole program, however a short look over the options surprised me very positive. The developer knows Fibromyalgia (FM) and helps to spread awareness of this widely unknown illness. Thank you for that!
The bad thing in this context is that the main features for FM are only in the Ultimate Edition for $ 69.95 - far too much for a disability income.
graylox

Thanks for another free giveaway. However, I will stick with essentialPIM for a few reasons:
The free vesion offers more than this does, unless you want to track your temperature and plot it on a graph.
The ePIM version also offers a year view of the calendar. Very decent on a big screen and useful for swift overview without changing the month you are looking at.
I can import and export html, vcard, treepad, rtf, outlookexpress.
Regards and keep up the good work for free giveaways.

It installed smoothly on XP Pro SP3. Looks pretty impressive! I think I might end up using this package. :)

Hmm, wish there were recipes available for downloading, though. Maybe there's a way to import 'em -- I haven't dug that far into the suite yet. So far it seems stable and well designed. The only oddity is that it forces you to create a diary or open an existing one before you can register the program.

Nice if it keeps all your straight and private.

They do make 2 offers by clicking on the Special Offers. Get 50% off any edition by sending an email testimonial of how the Diary Suite helps you keep track of your life events, or you can complete an offer & get a free copy of the Home Edition.

Looks like an interesting program to experiment with, many features, downloaded and registered no problem

Installed well on XP Home Edition sp3 but not as intuitive as I'd like. I would use this if the Fibromyalgia & Pain features were available in this Home version but I can't see paying $70 for it in the Ultimate version. I didn't find it cheaper to upgrade unless I missed it.

Would of been a great program that I really could of used but the one part of it that really would of been good for me, the medication, is disabled. As for the rest of it you can get many diary programs for free elsewhere on the net. I have a couple and they are just as good if not better then this one, freeware. Would of really liked the medication part of it as I could then keep track of what the different meds are doing to me. I'm disabled and I sure as heck can't and won't pay $70 for the program just to get the medication part of it. Ahh but such is life... Maybe someday I'll find what I need. Thanks anyways .... erased ....

For information, this is the Home Edition, as described on their website: http://www.sdiary.com/features_version_comparison_chart.php