WhiteSmoke version 2009 - did anybody try it recently? Thread poster: DocteurPC
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DocteurPC 
Canada
Local time: 04:40
English to French
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I got an offer from Proz (Advertising Partner) for a discount on WhiteSmoke which is a bit like Antidote but in English- the offer expires today (I find 2 days is very short for such an offer) and takes off $20 from the "normal special offer new 2009 version pricing". By curiosity, I downloaded the trial version of the software. The recommendations were good, but when I clicked "apply" in the WhiteSmoke windows, my text either disappeared, changed fonts to something weird like symbols or Times N... See more I got an offer from Proz (Advertising Partner) for a discount on WhiteSmoke which is a bit like Antidote but in English- the offer expires today (I find 2 days is very short for such an offer) and takes off $20 from the "normal special offer new 2009 version pricing". By curiosity, I downloaded the trial version of the software. The recommendations were good, but when I clicked "apply" in the WhiteSmoke windows, my text either disappeared, changed fonts to something weird like symbols or Times New Roman (which I NEVER use). Is it a quirk on the demo version to force us to buy the full version, which is shooting themselves in the foot (does software have foot/feet? ) or is the full version as quirky? By curiosity again, I tried it on this message. It gave me the right correction (I had made a mistake on purpose) it asked about Proz since it is not in the dictionary and when using "apply" the text did not disappear. Maybe it's only with my version of Word (97). Did anyone try the full version recently? Did you find the same thing? Did you use it on a different Word version? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:40
Flemish to English
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| A lot of smoke... | Jan 16, 2009 |
No and I am getting fed up with the "White Smoke" spam I get in my inbox every day. I do not need the product, yet every day there is a mail about WS.
[Edited at 2009-01-16 17:49 GMT]
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I am using the full version of WhiteSmoke 2009 and no problems so far with it. Maybe it is adapted for MS Word 2007 which I am using.
I agree with the thread mentioned below that WhiteSmoke is primarily aimed at amateurs, but can assist you when you are in a hurry, for example, during e-mail correspondence (spell checking, synonyms etc.).
[Redigerad 2009-01-17 10:22 GMT]
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DocteurPC
Canada
Local time: 04:40
English to French
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TOPIC STARTER | Thanks Kemal | Jan 17, 2009 |
I had done a search on WhiteSmoke before posting this request, and did not get anything recent!? In any case, the "special offer" has now expired, so I guess I'll pass on this one
| | | | | OpenOffice + LanguageTools | Jan 17, 2009 |
[quote]Ulf Norlinger wrote:
I am using the full version of WhiteSmoke 2009 and no problems so far with it. Maybe it is adapted for MS Word 2007 which I am using.
I agree with the thread mentioned below that WhiteSmoke is primarily aimed at amateurs, but can assist you when you are in a hurry, for example, during e-mail correspondence (spell checking, synonyms etc.).
rad 2009-01-17 10:22 GMT]
I haven't tried white smoke, but from what you're saying it appears that OpenOffice.org 3 + the LanguageTool extension will do most, if not all, of what you require without you having to pay a cent for it.
Regards,
Piotr
| | | | DocteurPC
Canada
Local time: 04:40
English to French
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TOPIC STARTER | last episode (and a cheaper version) | Mar 12, 2009 |
As mentioned before, I had downloaded the trial version.
They kept offering cheaper and cheaper versions "for those who have downloaded the trial version."
When it hit $29.95US, I decided to bite (or is that to smoke?)
and order it, particularly since they take PayPal, which I much prefer to giving my credit card info.
The process went fine and there was a message that a representative w... See more As mentioned before, I had downloaded the trial version.
They kept offering cheaper and cheaper versions "for those who have downloaded the trial version."
When it hit $29.95US, I decided to bite (or is that to smoke?)
and order it, particularly since they take PayPal, which I much prefer to giving my credit card info.
The process went fine and there was a message that a representative would contact me to finalize the order. I then get a further email saying that they can't reach me at the phone number I have provided (I had used the phone number of the university where I teach) and could they get another phone number to call me?!
I refused to supply another phone number (never heard of having to phone someone in order to finalize an order on the net?!) and I asked for an immediate refund.
Within minutes, my PayPal account was credited with the full sum, which is more that I can say about Nuance Communications which kept the $25 "delivery" fee despite a non-delivery.
When I de-installed the trial version, it tried to connect to their url address (but I always do installs/deinstalls offline).
If having somebody call you in order to finalize an order does not bother you, I suggest that you download the trial version and wait for the "special offer". It's bound to come back.
At least, you now know what to expect. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | WhiteSmoke 2009 - excellent grammar check | Mar 24, 2009 |
The grammar check is so much better than the standard on on Microsoft Word. English is my second language (I am originally French) and find the suggestions that Whitesmoke gives to be very helpful and effective. The user interface is also very simple to navigate, which was important to me because some of the other programs I considered seemed too cumbersome.
The program occassionally makes some suggestions that don't make much sense, with both grammar and style. But, they are usua... See more The grammar check is so much better than the standard on on Microsoft Word. English is my second language (I am originally French) and find the suggestions that Whitesmoke gives to be very helpful and effective. The user interface is also very simple to navigate, which was important to me because some of the other programs I considered seemed too cumbersome.
The program occassionally makes some suggestions that don't make much sense, with both grammar and style. But, they are usually really obvious and are just bugs so its easy to ignore. Plus the system seems to be improving and catching more errors than before (its an internet-based database) ▲ Collapse
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kasiamaja (X)
Local time: 04:40
Japanese to English
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| Result of my research on the internet: NO. | Mar 31, 2009 |
Greetings,
Reasons for my hesitation in buying Whitesmoke (i.e. warning signs):
1. I had to enter my e-mail address to see any details and price information on their website.
2. The last day of the sale was always the day I visited the site.
3. I'm getting a _lot_ of spam from them now.
4. Interesting comments about them from other users... An example of a negative comment was that the positive comments were written by Whitesmoke people - but who can you actually tr... See more Greetings,
Reasons for my hesitation in buying Whitesmoke (i.e. warning signs):
1. I had to enter my e-mail address to see any details and price information on their website.
2. The last day of the sale was always the day I visited the site.
3. I'm getting a _lot_ of spam from them now.
4. Interesting comments about them from other users... An example of a negative comment was that the positive comments were written by Whitesmoke people - but who can you actually trust when dealing with the internet? http://www.dailywritingtips.com/whitesmoke-software-review/
I was curious, but finally decided to stop my research and not purchase this.
Kindest regards,
kasiamaja ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Excellent English Enhancement software | Jul 23, 2009 |
I have tried the software!!!. Should I say, I have downloaded the product and use it all the time.
It corrects my spelling, punctuation and grammar as I write. It works on all profiles on the computer. A great feature are the templates that are built-in. What to do? Simply chose a topic and either press to insert or copy and paste. Easy as anything. Press of the key.
I had no problem with the downloading. Had to call support for one quick question, and they were extremely helpful. ... See more I have tried the software!!!. Should I say, I have downloaded the product and use it all the time.
It corrects my spelling, punctuation and grammar as I write. It works on all profiles on the computer. A great feature are the templates that are built-in. What to do? Simply chose a topic and either press to insert or copy and paste. Easy as anything. Press of the key.
I had no problem with the downloading. Had to call support for one quick question, and they were extremely helpful.
I am impressed so far. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Question is: did someone at Whitesmoke just shoot themselves in the foot? | Aug 19, 2009 |
Stan11 wrote:
I have tried the software!!!. Should I say, I have downloaded the product and use it all the time.
It corrects my spelling, punctuation and grammar as I write. It works on all profiles on the computer. A great feature are the templates that are built-in. What to do? Simply chose a topic and either press to insert or copy and paste. Easy as anything. Press of the key.
I had no problem with the downloading. Had to call support for one quick question, and they were extremely helpful.
I am impressed so far.
I'm impressed, "Stan"! You created a ProZ profile for the sole reason of raving about this software? Can't help thinking that's your job. But to do it right after this post...
kasiamaja wrote:
4. Interesting comments about them from other users... An example of a negative comment was that the positive comments were written by Whitesmoke people
Too obviously, too!
| | | | | More work on the grammer (sic) needed | Aug 19, 2009 |
Stan11 wrote:
A great feature are the templates that are built-in.
Hurry back to your office, Stan, and tell your paymasters that the either the product still needs work (if you used WS to write your message), or that they need to find people who can in fact write English to plug their product if they want to make the right impression.
Is there really "no such thing as bad publicity", one wonders?
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| I'm in no way connected to WhiteSmoke | Sep 3, 2009 |
Hey, if I was connected to the software, I suppose I would not have made the mistates you picked up.
I simply like the program and am always willing to share good things with people.
WhiteSmoke has helped me with my writing of letters, with the tutorials that I am learning from and gaining a lot.
I like it and tell you all out there, that it is worth downloading.
| | | | | If this is the kind of sentence you produce using WS... | Sep 3, 2009 |
Stan11 wrote:
WhiteSmoke has helped me with my writing of letters, with the tutorials that I am learning from and gaining a lot.
I think I'll pass. It would be more useful hiring a child straight out of primary school.
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