Logos or Accordance? That's Up to You

I'm a  long time Logos user.  I recently reviewed Accordance and loved it.  Here is the result of my review.  As you can see when you read it, I discovered things along the way. This is the thing about the software you choose:  Does it help you do your job?  If not, is it entertaining? Does it draw you into the word of God or distract you from it?  However YOU learn is the issue.

Things I like about Accordance right away

1. The program loads instantaneously once installed.

2.Easy to manipulate how scripture is displayed (text size, hide verses, version, and FONT!!)

Resources:   Fire Bible!, Life Application Study Bible, Archaeological Study Bible, Thompson Chain available!

3.  Speed

4.  More Mac shortcuts, possibly more intuitive.

Once you are in “readings” its nice that the visual filters are automatic

Resource palette, toggle on/off good thing

5. Forces you to focus “around” Scripture….takes time getting used to.

6. Customizability of Highlights,

7. merge notes

8. Command-U for starting a note. (but not in a non-Bible)

9. “Reference List” looks promising, can’t drag selection over, but can click to add to it. (still trying to see if I can look up cross-references) ß-separate cross-reference resources accomplish this??????

10. Outlines track with 2 versions quickly

11. The Accordance widget is awesome.

Things I don’t like

Cryptic getting to devotional reading, should be a icon for it, It’s under “Window” very misleading

Need more devotional resources like: Amazing Grace and My Utmost for His Highest

Can they be “looked up”? with one keystroke (already looked up in separate cross-ref resource)

There is no bibliographic info available within each “window” concerning each resource. (OK, found it by right clicking in resource and looking at “about this resource”)

   Can you make a note in a commentary? Podcast said yes, but when I click command-u in matthew henry it didn’t work, but did within a Bible.

Things it does like Logos does.

Arrange workspace

Save workspace

Greek/Hebrew analysis

quick word study, (paradigm is different)

Syntactical analysis.

Library search in any category is similar to searching/arranging in Logos library….

“My Groups” in Library is like “collections” in logos.

Things Logos does that Accordance does not….as far as I can see

Right click on a word and do an instant word study, then click the translation ring and see verse list of all occurences, click the English lemma and see verse list of all English occurences

·      “search this resource”

·      power lookup

·      drag and drop shortcuts

·      close all

·      Works across all platforms/ PC/MAC

·      Numbers of resources, although one could argue that  quality/cost is an issue.

·      Online webpage that serves as software if you login with license credentials (biblia.com, faithlife study Bible)

·      Easy to see what’s in packages/cost with Logos, cryptic in Accordance

·      Copy Bible verses, passage lists, shortcuts, customizable reading plans (even for regular books), prayer lists (with notes/answers to prayers etc)

·      When you type a reference in a note, it hyperlinks automatically (have to turn it on in Accordance)

·      Shortcuts that copy verses into powerpoint,

·      Clippings

·      Is there a way to clear the desktop with one keystroke?

·      Verse reference auto-parsing at bottom as well as all hyperlinks pop-up

What I noticed/learned after full install and working with program.

1.    After installing full program and spending 3^rd hour right clicking words, dictionary, etc.  Parsing tool is best I have EVER seen across Logos, Wordsearch, and PC study Bible (used Logos for 5 years, wordsearch for 4 mos. PC study for 4 years)

2.    Speed is fantastic, does not seem to wane with multiple tiles/windows/modules open, (this does severely affect speed in logos)

3.    Net Notes….cross-references by chapter that track with any ASV….very nice and very interesting..??? do they track with any version?

4.    I’m having the same experience I have with Logos, when I learn what it does, it makes me want more and better resources (illustrating how detailed training events/resources help keep interest in program)

Questions

1. Is there a way when you move curser in greek for it to show up with corresponding English when 2 Bibles are side by side?

UPDATED SHORTCUT!!!!!  THIS MAKES IT EXCEED LOGOS AGAIN! IN FUNCTIONALITY

CTRL-SHFT + or - will cycle through your list of bibles dictionaries, etc ...

CTRL-SHFT 1 through 0 specifies specific bible / dictionary tool etc...

CTRL + or - will cycle the search window's text

CTRL 1-0 will select a specific text as your search text bible

It is all based on what the selected workspace / tab you have selected as to what the commands do. 

8. There is a “reference box” that essentially works like Logos “send all hyperlinks here” window, I’m no sure how to turn it on and off

9. Just discovered that highlights apply to EVERY VERSION!  Logos doesn’t do it, this is a long sought after feature.  

10,I like the compare texts in parallel panes by checking on the compare checkbox. In particular, the markings are great that show differences.

11. The Tool Tab is clear and functional.  I didn’t notice it until I go on p. 26 of the handout.

12.  Timelines.  I like  the customizability of it along with its integration to resources. The conservative/critical button is also helpful. I like the fact that you can double-click within the Bible and go straight to the timeline, then “amplyify” to a Bible dictionary on the biblical character/place

Summary Thoughts

I know I have to keep working in Logos due to resources/devotionals/reading plans until I can acquire more accordance resources.  As an Army Chaplain I relied on Biblesoft on my laptop.  Returning from Iraq the Logos people gave all Army Chaplains Scholar’s library. I began to see the importance of complete integration with library, devotions, etc.  Wordsearch reminded me that speed is an issue along with what you can do with printing/saving your work.  Logos is on the cutting edge with biblia.com, faithlife, reftagger, power lookup, and volumes of resources.  One functional problem for many, as with print books, is it could take a lifetime to acquire the resources. I’m continuing to discover the value of on-going training.  I’ve discovered from going to two different “Camp Logos” that  “you don’t know what you don’t know”. Accordance appears to have two things in mind:  the Bible and the user.  

UPDATE:  4/4/2012

In Accordance

Are there shortcuts for pasting verses into pages/word with keystrokes such as shift-command-j for copy bible verses and shift-command-e from within pages?

YOU CAN DRAG AND DROP FROM ACCORDANCE INTO PAGES!