Iris, I am sorry, but you are wrong about the AOS program. I am sure that others will respond as well. It is purchased as a CD which is activated online and updated by way of the internet, but the program resides on your computer's hard drive. You do not go online to access the information when in use. Also, for us Mac users, with the capability of the new Macs to run both Windows and Apple software it works just fine and (at least in my experience) presents absolutely no problems.
I am familiar with OrchidWiz (though I have not purchased it) and it seems like a very useful program. However, while OrchidWiz and the AOS Awards Program share some similar aspects, as the AOS gets caught up with scanning and updating the entire body of official award photos it will only improve as the most important resource for judging and referencing AOS awarded plants. Dave Horak <As far as I know, they still have it. The big flaw in the AOS program is that <it is strictly online, and it is only for Windows. This means that every time <you access it, you theoretically open your computer to the possibility of <virus and other unwanted guests, even if you do have antivirus protection. Also, <what is to prevent a clever hacker from getting in there and changing <something? Maybe I'm looking for bugaboos under the bed, but I'm suspicious. Of course <the big advantage of the AOS system is that it is up to date. I'm a confirmed fan of OrchidWiz. It comes on a CD (soon a <DVD) and resides <in my Virtual PC, which is not connected online. OrchidWiz is updated & <corrected four times a year, which is good enough for me, not being a commercial or <an orchid judge. It would be interesting to know how many judges & other active <orchid people use OrchidWiz & how many use the AOS system. <Iris _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
