tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post8894222873037627176..comments2024-03-21T19:08:05.737-07:00Comments on Genealogy's Star: Is a Computer for Genealogy Really Necessary?James Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-4581544496125575302013-08-26T13:20:40.237-07:002013-08-26T13:20:40.237-07:00You use a tool if it will:
a) help you in some wa...You use a tool if it will:<br /><br />a) help you in some way,<br /><br />b) save you time, and/or<br /><br />c) make the task more enjoyable.<br /><br />If there are net benefits to an individual of using a computer for genealogy, then it is worth their while to do so.<br /><br />Each person is their own judge.<br /><br />LouisLouis Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11704667321407909489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-39618761154041832192013-08-26T09:47:23.646-07:002013-08-26T09:47:23.646-07:00I myself use a computer for my research. About fif...I myself use a computer for my research. About fifteen years ago I found a cousin on yes yours truly ancestry. She has done most if our family research by car and at court house etc. She used paper to document all findings being from the hills of Ohio she had know idea how to use a computer until abt eight years ago when I purchase one for her and taught her how to use it. I must say today she us enjoying the wonderful web of research. As I mentioned before I found her on ancesty this was when she started to explore online at her library. I will say she still likes her paper.<br />ChrisAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10441750655943595846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-39067547585901934452013-08-26T06:52:51.503-07:002013-08-26T06:52:51.503-07:00These same people will not order anything online b...These same people will not order anything online because they are afraid their identity will be stolen. Really. I am not exaggerating. James Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-50706506341485796682013-08-26T06:51:45.514-07:002013-08-26T06:51:45.514-07:00I never get tired of comments, especially yours. Y...I never get tired of comments, especially yours. Yes, for the same reasons I drive a car to a store a short distance away when it is 115 degrees in Mesa. You can do it on foot, but the advantages of a car are very obvious. You would think all your arguments would be persuasive, but the resistance to computerization is not rational. James Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-17777637801450391982013-08-26T05:30:21.203-07:002013-08-26T05:30:21.203-07:00
Being in your same age group and just doing genea...<br />Being in your same age group and just doing genealogy for about five years I can not imagine NOT using the computer. <br /><br />Wait till the same people find out they can order things on line....Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714440790407126206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-60806089325410303772013-08-26T04:29:57.468-07:002013-08-26T04:29:57.468-07:00...sorry, I have to chime in here James. You must ......sorry, I have to chime in here James. You must be getting fed up of me by now ;-)<br /><br />Is this question any different from 'do we need a word-processor to write a letter?', or 'do we need Excel to do our small bit of accounting?'. In principle, the answer to these is 'no'. You can easily write a formal letter by hand but it looks so much better when printed, plus you get automatic spell-checking too. Yes, you can add up you figures with a calculator, or even an abacus if you're a real Luddite, but a spreadsheet makes it much easier.<br /><br />With genealogy, the power of online records makes it so much easier to search-for and correlate large amounts of information, and to solve problems that would otherwise take an inordinate amount of time, money, and travel. There will always be data that isn't online but that initial work with online records creates an overall picture that effectively forms a springboard to direct you to those other sources. Unless you're some type of savant, computers can also help you to reach rational conclusions more quickly by ensuring that they do not contradict your own evidence [something that online family trees do not seem to help with].<br /><br />In the area of desktop genealogy software, there's another type of person - those who use the computer but none of the popular products. I fall into this category myself. When I started in genealogy, I kept all my data in a semi-formalised notation using a word-processor. I later decided to develop my own software because the popular products didn't support the types of data is was recording, or the way I was linking it together. Yes, I could have continued using a word-processor but a specialised software program just makes it so much more convenient and consistent.Tony Proctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18330460400737261264noreply@blogger.com