Development of the Macintosh version of AceReader Pro has been so aggravatingly slow in recent years. Either Aggie Software does not have the expertise to bring the Macintosh version up to par with the Windows version, even over several years of disparity, or StepWare has not made parity a priority, choosing instead to ignore the Macintosh market.

Bernie has always been especially responsive to email inquiries, but that doesn’t seem to translate into software development. It is apparent that he does not wish to take advantage of the superior features and functions of the Macintosh OS, preferring to keep Windows and Macintosh versions identical in interface and function, but still leaves the Macintosh version at the v.2 level for what must now be at least three years since the Windows version graduated to v.3. I must say that I’ve lost confidence in the company despite Bernie’s otherwise excellent service.

I would say, if you have a Windows computer in the house, download the Windows version for the same price without bothering with this inferior Macintosh version, since there will be no advantage to having or using the Mac version.

AceReader and eyeQ have their own unique advantages, and it is best to use them both together.

My suggestion to Bernie would be to convert AceReader Pro to Java or JavaScript so that the Macintosh and Windows versions can remain identical if he still insists on that strategy, and that will make it possible to release all Mac and Windows versions at the same time. After all, Jim Nagel is apparently versed in the Java language. However, what really should be done is make the Macintosh version uniquely Mac-like, taking advantage of that the OS offers, such as antialiasing text. If Jim can’t do that, Bernie should cut ties with him and find a Mac expert to make a truly Mac-like product.

If I had sufficient financial resources, I would hire someone to develop a superior Mac-like product that leaves even the more advanced Windows version in the dust or even learn the software development skills necessary to do it myself and then release it as freeware to the world rather than trying to market it myself. I don’t know what patents StepWare owns, but there should be a way to produce something similar without infringing upon them or using any similar code.

The bottom line is that the Mac version is no longer worth the high price that StepWare demands, especially when it has become a deadend product with only very minor maintenance releases.

I absolutely hate using Windows computers, but AceReader tries to make the application identical (with a few years of delay in the Mac version), so there is no advantage to downloading or using the Mac version. The good days of AceReader Pro have long since passed, and StepWare no longer values its Mac customers. Sorry, Bernie, but it’s the absolute truth.