OrchidWiz............

[tucker85]

Is OrchidWiz the best orchid data base to subscribe to? Do I need the full data base or is OrchidWiz Express good enough? Is there a better service available?

[orchidsarefun]

not sure how much detail Orchidwiz goes into or what you need, but I use this site
The International Orchid Register / RHS Gardening
and its free

[glengary54]

Originally Posted by tucker85

Is OrchidWiz the best orchid data base to subscribe to? Do I need the full data base or is OrchidWiz Express good enough? Is there a better service available?

Tucker - Here is the comparison that Alex @ Orchid Wiz sent out, the answer to your question depends on what you need for the program to do. Hope this helps you decide.

Comparison of OrchidWiz Express 2012 versus Encyclopedia 8.0
Express 2012

1. Registration Database
2. 30,000+ Species
3. 4,000 Images
4. Hybrid/Cross Look-up
5. Orchid Journal
6. Basic Cultivation Data (Light and Temperature)
7. All Genealogy Charts
8. Print Reports
9. Print Labels
10. Genus Search & Members
11. F1 Offspring: Progeny
12. Registrant and Originator
13. Primary Hybrids
14. All Aliases / Name Changes
15. "Explain" Sander vs. RHS
16. One (1) Computer Only
17. Charles Baker Habitat Data Only (No Charts)
18. Annual Upgrades

Encyclopedia 8.0

1. Registration Database
2. 30,000+ Species
3. 80,000 Images
4. Hybrid/Cross Look-up
5. Orchid Journal
6. Extended Cultivation Data (Baker Descriptions)
7. All Genealogy Charts
8. Print Reports
9. Print Labels
10. Genus Search & Members
11. F1 Offspring: Progeny
12. Registrant and Originator
13. Primary Hybrids
14. All Aliases / Name Changes
15. "Explain" Sander vs. RHS
16. Two (2) Computers
17. Charles Baker Full Data (Including Charts)
18. Annual Upgrades
19. Quarterly updates
20. Award Data (85,000 Awards)
21. "Cousins" analysis
22. All Illustrations
23. Image References (Sources)
24. Species Geographical Data
25. Top-Menu Lists ("Most Awarded," etc.)
26. Class, Subgenus, Section
27. My Awards
28. Show-Plant Registration
29. My Album

[tucker85]

Great information. Thank you.

[silken]

If you go for the smaller program, it might be worth seeing if you can upgrade later for a smaller fee than the new purchase price of the full program in case you like it and want more.

[keithrs]

The upgrade from express to 9.0 is $200

[isurus79]

I absolutely loved my OW and can't say enough good things. Unfortunately, I got a Mac and OW is not compatible Just one more reason I hate my Mac...

[Bud]

get a cheap laptop with windows7 and put it there...the cheapest I saw in the marker is $350

which is the same amount if I decided to buy the "wiz"...

[silken]

I really like my OrchidWiz and use it as my main reference for culture info and to look at pictures of plants I might want or just for fun. One thing that is a shame, is the AOS will not allow OrchidWiz to use their photos so while there are tons of photos, there are lots of other orchids that don't have a photo-yet. They just made an agreement with I think it's the Taiwan Orchid Growers (TOGA) for their photos or awarded plants. I used to have to pay $10.00 for 3 Baker's culture sheets and they are all included. Also the lineage etc. etc.

[glengary54]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I absolutely loved my OW and can't say enough good things. Unfortunately, I got a Mac and OW is not compatible Just one more reason I hate my Mac...

Steve - There are programs out there that are not that expensive that allow you to run Windows based programs on your Mac without rebooting. Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion are but two.