Review: Collectorz.com Movie Collector v8
Downloadable Database Software for Home DVD and Movie Collections
Apr 25, 2008
Movie Collector v8 is part of a suite of home database software packages produced by Collectorz.com, a product line of Dutch software company Bitz and Pixelz. This comprehensive home inventory software is ideal for cataloguing and managing video and DVD collections for individuals or small lending library facilities.
Movie Collector v8 Features
Features include:
- Easy three step process for entering new items.
- Compatibility with barcode scanners for quick item recognition.
- Comprehensive, user-friendly data entry screens.
- Access to Collectorz.com database of 120,000+ DVD titles and other movie databases such as the IMDb.
- Multiple viewing options including individual item screen, collection lists and thumbnail cover image displays.
- Multiple data entry fields covering main movie details (title, genre, running time), DVD properties (subtitles, special features), cast and crew, personal details (purchase price, rating, owner, location) and more.
- Support for TV series and box sets.
- Facility to link to IMDb or movie websites.
- Facility to upload cover images.
- Multiple sorting and searching capabilities.
- Collection statistics and print options.
- Network safety feature allows only one active user (other users automatically placed in read-only mode).
- Manual and help menu.
- Easy database backup
Benefits and Limitations
Movie Collector is ideal for keeping an accurate list of home or small lending library collections of videos and DVDs. Purchase price, current value and additional comments fields enable householders to ensure that they have an adequate collection value estimate for contents insurance coverage.
The loan monitoring facility (Pro version only) keeps track of movies loaned to friends. Movie Collector is suitable for small lending libraries such as those associated with a church, playgroup or support group. There is only a single entry field for borrower details, however this field allows sufficient characters to enter a name and telephone contact or membership number.
Collectorz.com, IMDb and Amazon database details are predominantly for PAL regions 1 and 2 (United States and Europe). Users with PAL regions 3 to 6 recordings may have to select the database version closest to their own in terms of content and/or cover image. Alternatively, they can manually enter the relevant details for their item and upload a scanned cover image or edit a downloaded database entry.
The extensive data entry field options may seem overwhelming. A decision regarding the manner in which the information is likely to be sorted (by actor, genre, audience rating, or other detail) should provide some indication of which details need to be included. The software functions equally well for basic and detailed collection listings.
Movie Collector Standard and Pro versions
Movie Collector standard version has the full range of database fields, excluding the loan manager, but allows only simple print list format.
Additional Pro version features:
- Export to iPod, PDA, HTML, Text (CSV) and XML formats
- Print lists and other layouts (including user created templates)
- Integrated Loan Manager
- Windows Media Centre support
System Compatibility
The Windows edition is compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and Vista. It is available in the following languages: English, Dutch, German, French, Turkish, Polish, Croatian, Italian, Slovenian, Swedish, Greek, Russian, Danish.
The Mac OS X edition is compatible with OS X 10.3 or higher, including Leopard. The Mac edition is available in English only.
Movie Collector includes integrated support for the Centurion CD and Ziotek CD/DVD Carousel devices.
Other home inventory database tools by Collectorz.com include:
- Music Collector
- Book Collector
- Comic Collector
- Game Collector
- MP3 Collector
- Photo Collector
A limited entry trial version of Book/Movie/Music Collector is available from the Collectorz.com website. The software can be purchased for immediate download for $24.95 (Standard) or $39.95 (Pro). Discounts are offered for multiple package purchases.
Movie Collector is the ideal tool for preparing a home inventory for home contents insurance records and to simply organise and manage a movie collection.
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