DebbieV76 0 Report post Posted May 9, 2008 I've used this software for many years, but in no way to the extent of its capabilities! I was fortunate to have found TMG before I tried anything else...back in the days when the program came on floppy disks. I was just trying to figure how long it's been and what version I started with. Is there any history of Wholly Genes and TMG and the history of the revisions and versions? Silly question I suppose, but I guess I love history in all its many forms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Virginia Blakelock 0 Report post Posted May 9, 2008 There was an article in Genealogical Computing a few years ago about Bob Velke and the beginnings of Wholly Genes and TMG. You can read it here. To go way back, see this page. Virginia Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Talbot 0 Report post Posted May 9, 2008 There was an article in Genealogical Computing a few years ago about Bob Velke and the beginnings of Wholly Genes and TMG. You can read it here. To go way back, see this page. Virginia Thank you, Virginia! Many of the questions that I had, but hesitated to ask, were answered. Another question: What were the release dates of TMG 4.0 and 4.0b? Thanks again, Mike Talbot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry Reigel 0 Report post Posted May 9, 2008 Mike, I find these from my e-mail files: Bob Velke wrote in Jul 2000: -------- TMG's update history off the top of my head : Feb, 1993 v.99 pre-release free Jul, 1993 v1.0 DOS $99.00 (initial retail purchase price) Nov, 1994 v1.1 DOS free Feb, 1995 v1.1b DOS free Apr, 1995 v1.2 DOS free Nov, 1995 v1.2a DOS free Oct, 1996 v2.0 Windows $29.95 (or free w/i 3 month grace period) Feb, 1997 v2.3 Windows free May, 1997 v3.0 Windows free Apr, 1998 v3.5 Windows free Aug, 1998 v3.6 Windows free Sep, 1998 v3.6a Windows free Dec, 1998 v3.7 Windows free May, 1999 v4.0 Windows $29.95 (or free w/i 6 month grace period) Jul, 2000 v4.0a Windows free (pending) ------- v4.0a was announced 15 Aug 2000 v4.0d was announced 20 Feb 2001 v5.0 was announced 12 May 2002 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sam.m 0 Report post Posted May 10, 2008 Also see here "TMG Release History" on the following page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:The_Master_Genealogist Just noticed that the main article of tmg links to one on Bob Velke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Excalibur 0 Report post Posted May 10, 2008 While my math skills might not be as good as they once were, I find it refreshing to note that if a person jumped on the TMG bandwagon 15 years ago they would have paid for a grand total of five (5) releases, plus the original purchase price! HOLY MOLY! AND, after the initial purchase, each subsequent upgrade release has been for the insane price of $29.95! Double HOLY MOLY! That's a grand total of $248.75 I would have spent for TMG since July 1993. I spend nearly that much for cable bills in two (2) months. How does Bob and crew continue to do it? Check around on some of the other genealogy software out there and find out what the cost would have been over the same period of time. Lesser products, more costly products, and nowhere near the support that TMG offers. It is no wonder that Bob has, what might be, the most loyal following of users of any software product out there. All that AND there is never a bug or problem or new thought or whatever that Bob and crew does not listen too or try to fix. Hate to insert these ramblings with this thread, but it just seems like a good place to let these thoughts escape from my old head. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GenerationGoneBy 0 Report post Posted May 10, 2008 Tom, Good lord, how many channels do you get! Thank goodness we gave up cable 4 years ago. Think of the genealogy money I have saved! Not to mention my kids have no idea who Hannah Montana is. I certainly use TMG more than I do the TV. I'm thinking Bob needs to come up with cute little ancestor dolls that sell for around $10. We could then use the special code to log onto a website where we could interact with other people's ancestors. The website would be free, you'd just pay if you bought an ancestor doll. -now why hasn't someone thought of that??? Sorry, I digress. Yup, TMG is a real bargain. Even owning all the Roots programs and all TMG programs since 4.0, I still have spent less than I would have with another more popular program who will remain nameless. Now Tom, about that cable bill... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Excalibur 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2008 Hi Teresa, My um-m-m-m-m cable bill includes cable TV and internet. I'm getting ready to knock another $14.00 off the bill, but it will still exceed $100.00 per month. How many channels do I get? Hm-m-m-m, 60 or 70 I would guess. How many do I watch? Maybe, 4 or 5 ... especially the Discovery channel (my fav I guess). I like your "Ancestor Doll" idea! I'm not sure how I would use the web site, but I like the concept. In addition to your comment about the cost of another unnamed product, there is one other huge thing that TMG has going for it. People! Yep, people. I cut my genealogy software teeth on the other unnamed product. On their support boards, everybody seemed distant, removed... like I (or anyone) was just another ho-hum number or the duty dummy. No so with TMG. Over the last few years I feel like I know or live down the street from some of you. I've written personal emails to some of you and you to me. I've disagreed with some of you, only to come back and agree with you about something else 10 minutes later. There is never any residue hostility from a disagreement. My problems have been self-generated (99% of them), yet I've always gotten help. When we laugh at our mistakes, we all laugh. We are not made to feel like some kind of idiot -- well, except for me, because being an idiot is a sign that I have been recognized for something in my life. Sheeeeeeeeeeesh, I could ramble on and on. Bob needs to get this stuff for his advertising. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GenerationGoneBy 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2008 Tom, Yes, that's the great thing about TMG users. We disagree, agree, somewhere in between, but still get along. The Ancestor Doll idea is not totally mine. Webkins beat me to it. But I still like the idea. Wish a few TMG users did live down the street. We could hang, discuss the program, work on research together, but it wouldn't be near as fun as the discussion I have with our Aussie friends online when I can't sleep. Off to watch one of our 5 channels show the thunderstorms that are headed our way. 3 of them will go off the air once the storms get closer. Ah, but they are free. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HalWhitmore 0 Report post Posted May 13, 2008 I knew I started with the DOS version, so I'm surprised to see that it was as recent as the early 90's. I would have guessed mid to late 80's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toocats 0 Report post Posted May 22, 2008 IIRC, Bob Velke wanted to develop a genealogy software program asked for input at the old CompuServe Roots forum on what people wanted to see in a genealogy program. I think the thread was called The Ultimate Genealogy Program. I think that was in 1990. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
