2005 Mac Bible Software Survey

2005 Mac Bible Software Survey

Let us know your thoughts about Mac Bible Study Software.

by David Lang (Posted: 5/1/05, Closed: 7/31/05)

The 2005 CMUG Mac Bible Software Survey is officially closed.
We'll be Releasing a Summary of the Survey Results Very Soon!

For two years now the Christian Mac Users Group has been conducting a survey of Mac Bible Software users, and the results of that survey have always been instructive. In some cases, developers have responded to the feedback by improving their products, and at least one Mac journalist habitually points to the survey results as the best way to learn about the Mac Bible Study programs available.

Our third annual Mac Bible Software Survey comes at a time when dramatic changes are afoot in the Mac Bible software market. Two commercial Windows developers have promised to port their products to the Mac this year: QuickVerse is scheduled to be released in June, and Logos has been promised for December. Of the programs currently available for the Mac, Accordance Bible Software has released several new products and a series of free program updates, MacSword and Bible Reader Free have received incremental updates, and iLumina has begun offering a "Parents and Teachers" edition.

How do all of these new developments affect you, the Mac Bible Software user? How aware are you of the different products that are available? How well do they meet your needs? That's what this survey is designed to find out.

So please take a few moments to fill out the form below and click the Submit button. I'll compile your answers into a follow-up article, and I'll personally contact the various Mac Bible Software developers and urge them to listen to your feedback.

CMUG's 2005 Mac Bible Software Survey

Name:	E-Mail:
(Please include a valid e-mail address in case we need to ask you a follow-up or clarification question, and so we can notify you when the survey results are posted. We will not use this information for any other purpose, nor will we share or sell it to any third party)

How did you find out about this survey? Have taken it in previous years CMUG Web-site/Mac-Ministry List Mac News Site Weblog Bible Software Developer Friend/Colleague Other (Please describe below)
If you chose "Mac News Site," "Weblog," or "Bible Software Developer," please specify which one below:

Ministry Involvement: (please check all that apply) Pastor/Professional Minister Missionary Biblical Scholar/Professor Paid church/ministry staff Lay minister/ministry volunteer None Other (Please describe below)

How do you use your Bible Software? (please check all that apply) Personal Study Sermon Preparation Lesson Preparation Scholarly Research As an aid in writing Occasional verse/word look up Visual aid in teaching/worship/presentations Other (Please describe below)

*Which Bible program do you primarily* use?** Version #: (e.g.: 1.0, 2.5, etc.)
If you chose "Internet Bibles," "Palm Software," "PC Software," or "Other", please give the specific program or site(s) used:
In which platform do you use this software?
When you study the Bible using your computer, how often do you turn to this software?
What do you like best about this software?
What improvements would you like to see in this software?
Are there any specific resources (e.g.: Bible texts, commentaries, study aids, maps, etc.) you would like to see made available for this software?

*Which, if any, Bible program do you use in addition to* your primary Bible program?** Version #: (e.g.: 1.0, 2.5, etc.)
If you chose "Internet Bibles," "Palm Software," "PC Software," or "Other", please give the specific program or site(s) used:
In which platform do you use this software?
When you study the Bible using your computer, how often do you turn to this software?
What do you like best about this software?
What improvements would you like to see in this software?
Are there any specific resources (e.g.: Bible texts, commentaries, study aids, maps, etc.) you would like to see made available for this software?

Please list any other Bible programs you use, and feel free to make any comments about them.

If a Mac user were to ask you which Bible Software he should purchase, how would you compare the Mac Bible programs currently available? What do you see as their relative strengths and weaknesses?

How would you compare the Bible Software available for the Mac with the Bible Software available for Windows? Mac Bible Software is better than that available for Windows Windows Bible Software is better than that available for Mac Both are about the same Mac Bible Software is better in some ways; Windows Bible Software is better in others I don't know enough to make an informed comparison I couldn't care less! Please explain:

Is there any Bible Software currently available for the Mac that you are interested in using but that you have not yet been willing to purchase? If so, what is holding you back?

If you could give the various developers of Mac Bible Software one piece of advice, what would it be?

David Lang is CMUG's Content Editor. David works as a developer of Accordance Bible Software, and lives in Maitland, Florida with his wife and four children.