Research Shows Speed Differences in File Management Software for Digital Photos

Digital photos have become very popular, yet the means of managing them are often stuck in the past. In this research, 5 different usability tests demonstrate speed and usability differences between the top file / photo managers.

Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) April 14, 2006 -- Research shows speed differences in file management software for digital photos.

Digital photos have become very common on consumer level computers and a prime driver for hardware upgrades. However, many are still using file managers that are not specifically designed for digital photos or digital media.

According to Jasper Carlson, Instructional Designer and Author at IntroAnalytic:

"Often users seem to think that a photo file manager is not really a separate application as they have become accustomed to using Windows Explorer, which is essentially free. Its only after showing them other photo managers that many users even consider these as alternatives."

Based upon its research, IntroAnalytic now recommends analyzing how you intend to use your photo manager before you make a selection. This is because the different products have significantly different capabilities. For instance, if you intend to move photos a great deal than a photo manager with a file manager heritage would be a good selection. However, for display, a product such as Picasa2 would be more appropriate.

File Managers for Photos Performance Matrix (all times in seconds, lower scores are better)

                        Cost    Photo Photo     Photo
                                Move Find     Display
                                Test Test     Test

Window Explorer (in XP) Free    21     19     20
Picasa2                 Free    N/A     5     11
Extensis Portfolio 8    $199.00 N/A     6     12
ACDSee 8 Photo Manager $49.00 18     16     13
WinNC.Net 4.4         $40.00 35     18     18
iRider 2.21             $29.00 32     N/A     16
NoteTab Easy Imager     $34.95 30     N/A     33

                        Photo Export Memory
                        Resize EXIF    Usage
                        Test    Test    Comparison
                                        (in megabytes)

Window Explorer (in XP) N/A     N/A     24
Picasa2                 24     N/A     31
Extensis Portfolio 8    21     22     18
ACDSee 8 Photo Manager 11     13     75
WinNC.Net 4.4         N/A     N/A     30
iRider 2.21             N/A     N/A     19
NoteTab Easy Imager     23     12     18

Speed and Usability

Part of the reason for the differences demonstrated above have to do with the ambient speed of each application. Of the file managers tested, Windows Explorer was the slowest and NoteTab Easy Imager was the fastest on the non-indexing software packages when it came to refresh and general operation. Picasa2 and Extensis Portfolio 8 are both indexed. That is, the programs create an index of a group of photos before any operations can be performed on them. However, we noticed that more important than speed is the functionality and ease of use of each product. Precious seconds are taken up by users trying to find functionality.

Greater research detail, methodology and a graphical performance matrix are available at:

http://www.introanalytic.com/FileManagementPhotos.pdf

and at:

http://www.digitalphotomanagement.com/FileManagementPhotos.pdf

Contact: Thomas Sinclair
Company Name: IntroAnalytic
Telephone Number: 650 557 2192
Web site address: http://www.introanalytic.com
All press/media releases can be found at http://www.introanalytic.com/mediareleases.html

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