SplashShopper vs. HandyShopper ??

[andrewcoffin]

I use HandyShopper now, and am mostly pleased with it--especially for a free program! The interface is not that pretty, but otherwise it's fine...

I'm tempted to convert to SplashShopper, however, because I like SplashID so much, and the program design looks a little nicer. But is it worth $20? Has anyone used both that can compare the two?

Thanks...

[DeleteTheUDT]

I have both and I use SplashShopper over HandyShopper.

[Narniahopper]

I was just thinking about making the switch myself. HandyShopper is great, but without a good way to sync with the desktop, and little support, I just don't think it wins in a head-to-head matchup. It is free though.

[DeleteTheUDT]

Originally posted by Narniahopper
I was just thinking about making the switch myself. HandyShopper is great, but without a good way to sync with the desktop, and little support, I just don't think it wins in a head-to-head matchup. It is free though.

The desktop application for SplashShopper can be very handy.

[cbulock]

I really like HandyShopper, but have never tried SplashShopper. What does it have over HandyShopper?

[breegenie]

The included desktop app is what makes SplashShopper better. Also, it handles items with multiple stores/prices a lot better, too.

HandyShopper is great (used it for two years), but the desktop app that someone else developed wasn't very user-friendly when I tried it.

Also, if you want to switch:
The SplashShopper desktop app can convert HandyShopper .pdbs smoothly. I only had 1 out of 13 fail.

[Jennyfer]

I have both and I prefer Splashshopper.....I like the weekly groceries list and/or recipes....it just works better for me.....

[hherbzilla]

I don't know if this is true, but I read here that they are the same program. HandyShopper is basically reselling SplashShopper under their name. However, as mentioned above, SplashShopper has the desktop component. I have SplashWallet suite and think that the products are great. In particular, I'm always using SplashID and SplashShopper. I'd say go with SplashShopper.

[jomoco5]

Handmark is reselling SplashShopper (& other products), much like they do Wordsmith, et al.

HandyShopper is freeware.

[curious]

breegenie wrote: The included desktop app is what makes SplashShopper better. Also, it handles items with multiple stores/prices a lot better, too.

Could you go into more detail? How is SS's handling of multiples stores/prices better? Thanks :)

Also, for anyone who's interested, www.infosync.no has a new review of SplashShopper up.

[breegenie]

Originally posted by curious
Could you go into more detail? How is SS's handling of multiples stores/prices better? Thanks :)
[/B]

In HandyShopper, under the "stores" option you could check off more than one store, but that was it. There was still only one category or price option, not matter how many stores you checked off.

In Splash Shopper, under Stores you select "MULTIPLE" and it takes you to a screen where you can select up to 8 stores for that one item. I find this useful because I shop for Groceries at a price club and a local supermarket. At the price club, you can buy much larger quantities, but at higher prices. I can enter the different price, and when I sort my "need list" by store, it uses the correct price for that store. I find that easier than having separate entries for the different sizes (Example: 4 pack of Crest $4.69 vs. single box of Crest: $1.99). That way, I have an ideas of how much I am spending at what store. Also, if I don't find the right item at the price club (their stock rotates constantly), I just switch to my supermarket "need list" and it shows the lower price.

My only wish is that SplashShopper would also support different aisles for stores, but I actually use the Category to sort by more thatn aisles, so it isn't that much of a need.

I can't say enought about having a desktop app, as it is much easier to enter new items en masse. Entering my 30+ item Thanksgiving list was a breeze compared to last year! I'm also considering keeping my inventory of my books and videos in there, since it can import spreadsheets.

[rldunn]

Originally posted by breegenie
In HandyShopper, under the "stores" option you could check off more than one store, but that was it. There was still only one category or price option, not matter how many stores you checked off.I'm not sure when this changed, but it's definitely not true of the latest HS version. If you click on stores, you can specify which stores for each item, with store-specific aisles and prices.

I've tried SplashShopper a few times, but I always found it lacking. HS has a lot of features for a freeware app. It's jog dial support is amazing, allowing you to check/uncheck items using only the jog dial. I love this feature when I'm shopping with my infants sons, who are pretty grabby. And it's a very customizable app, so it's easy to set up a grocery list in the ideal way, then have a different type of list set up in a different way. For example, my wife makes detailed lists for Christmas presents that quickly adds up the amount spent on each person (persons are categories in that list). And when we finished our basement, she had a list that had prices and quantities of the items we needed for the various phases of the project, and quickly summarized it so you could see total expenses and where the big hits were to the expense. I can definitely understand why some would prefer SS for the desktop component, but personally it's something I would never or rarely use. When I need to add something to my list, I don't want to go turn my computer on, put it in, and then sync. I just grab my Clie, enter it, and I'm done.

Someone earlier said that HS isn't being supported/updated, but that's definitely not true either. I'm on the beta team, and there are pretty frequent updates, on average one every couple of months. Right now, he's finishing up a separate program that will allow editing of the icons used in HS and can also be used on DB5/Agendus.

[SamuraiCatJB]

Thank you Rldunn, I'm upgrading now
I fell behind on Handyshopper somehow
I have not the features of which you speak
I have reason to get them, reason to seek.

[rldunn]

SamCat, I hope the rhyming medication wears off soon!! :)

[SamuraiCatJB]

oh my, oh my, the mod spoke of this too
must I remove it from my handshopper list& "to-do"?
It's easy to stop me, just check the poll
tape me up tight, just like a fine troll. :)
one request form a mod sooner or late
I'll obey anyone with power that great.

[rldunn]

SamCat, you're too much!!

[Galley_SimRacer]

I registered SplashPhoto for $9.95 several months ago. Recently I got an offer from SplashData to upgrade to the entire SplashSuite for only $19.95! It's very tempting, as SplashShopper would be nice to have, even though I wouldn't need SplashMoney. I use InfoSafe Plus for storing data, although SplashID is a great product.

[Jennyfer]

You can also use the jog dial to check/uncheck items on Splashshopper also.....just fyi.
:)

[notmuch]

Originally posted by hherbzilla
I don't know if this is true, but I read here that they are the same program. HandyShopper is basically reselling SplashShopper under their name. ....

Not true. Handyshopper existed long before Splash, and has always been freeware. They are completely different programs.