REQUIREMENTS: OS X 10.3.5 or greater (with latest java update) G3 500 MHz or Faster (1 GHz recommended) 256 MB RAM (512 or more MB recommended)
8 MB Video RAM (64 MB recommended)
Available Hard Disk Space: at least 1.5 GB. (Application and installed resources requires 700 MB. Additional space required to build albums.) TEST RIG: MacBook 1.87 Mhz/2GB RAM/60 GB HD/OS 10.5.1

Memories. In photos, home movies, photo albums. They're priceless. Well, not priceless. Companies always come up with a price. But you know what I mean.

And in this digital age, we've streamlined the process of storing our memories by digitizing all of our photos and whatnot. Which requires software. Enter digital scrapbook creator, Memory Mixer.

"For you and for us one thing is for sure, there is never enough time in a day (or night for that matter) to get everything done that we need to, let alone what we want to. now you can upload your photos, layouts and photobooks files right from memorymixer.com and have them delivered right to your door. I say you but I have to include myself. I can't wait to send my first batch."

Let's roll up our sleeves and put on our safety goggles and test it out.

THE JUICE

Installation will bring back memories right away. This appears to be a Windows' port, as it's not drag and drop. It took five minutes to install the basic program. In total, there are four disks. Three of which you can install or not because they are full of more backgrounds and artwork. The choice is yours.

There's a function called Quick Mix that enables you to drop your photos into pre-made templates. And, of course, you can choose from a bevy of backgrounds. You can also crop, rotate, apply effects, et al. You can add narration and/or movies to your electronic media or have your creation printed in the form of a book, calendar, what-have-you.

The GUI is like Keynote in the sense that you have a numbered timeline at the bottom of your workspace in order to organize your pages in whatever order you choose.

THE PULP

Nada.

THE RIND

If you've purchased a new Mac, then you can do all this with iPhoto. If you don't have iLife, you can purchase it for the same price as Memory Mixer and get four extra applications to boot.

SUMMARY

Memory Mixer delivers the goods. What I can't understand, is why they would enter the Mac arena when you have been able to this for years with iLife. I don't see the business strategy.

That said, if you do purchase Memory Mixer, you won't be disappointed. Unless you realize that you've had iLife all along.

RATING: 8 out of 10

2008 Frank Petrie