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Bento the database for your MAC life

Do it better with BentoPre-designed templates, downloads from others, and custom forms make it easy.What's your passion? Selling products, building client relationships, booking your band, organizing volunteers, running marathons, collecting coins? Whatever it is, Bento can help you do it better - the fast, fun, and easy way!
Choose from 35 pre-designed templates included with Bento, download and import templates from others who share your passion, or design your own custom forms using beautiful themes designed by Mac artists. (Description via: Bento)

Cons: 
  • I would have liked the ability to…export to html and view smart collections on the iPhone app, which would complete the package.  Another problem noted with Bento is its total lack of security.  It needs to do more to make sure that your important information does not fall into the wrong hands!
  • The applications total lack of focus may make it difficult for people to grasp its usefulness at first.  Overall perhaps its amazing amount flexibility is its primary weakness because people can't immediately see what use they would have for the program.
  • Overall not very many things not to like I would recommend this any student who wants to keep all data in one easy to use application.
Pros: 
  • Bento is loaded with templates to create databases of people, places, or things using nice-looking graphics. The interface takes some time to get used to, but with a little poking around), the true power of Bento starts to materialize. Bento is a solid database program made easy by a largely WYSYWIG interface.
  • Bento can be used to catalog just about anything in any number of ways. Comic book collectors could use the program to catalog their collection, for example, complete with pictures, short summaries, and more, all in an aesthetically-pleasing interface. Really any sort of collector or person trying to catalog similar items could find a use for this program.  The ability to sync with my Address Book and mobileme is a real asset.
  • Bento works seamlessly with Excel and Numbers making it possible to import information to fill out your templates. You also can import contacts and your personal calendar to display the information in unique ways. Plus, you can share Bento databases, allowing others to add information to your template, making it great for collaboration on a project. Bento comes with a large number of templates that cover many hobbies and business-related activities, and there are more user-made templates you can browse through at the Web site.
By: 
David A. Warnick
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