There are a few general concerns you should have when you research a software purchase. While these suggestions are not exhaustive, they should be somewhat helpful in clarifying your objectives. So, apply these recommendations to your own situation appropriately. Also, they are not listed according to importance, so prioritize them as you see fit.

Ease of Use
This will not (and often cannot) be apparent from advertising, and one person's opinion of what is "easy to use," may not agree with your own. If you are an experienced computer operator, then ease of use may not be as important; however, for newer users, it might be the difference between using the program and throwing it in the recycle bin on their desktop. It is a good idea to ask those who have owned the program how difficult it was to learn, what type of built-in help was available, and what type of books, pamphlets, or videos come to explain the program. Some programs even come with interactive tutorials.

Cost
Ask yourself if the additional resources or program features are worth the extra money. For some, the extra investment will pay off in the quality of studies they produce, while for others, the additional investment might be best saved for other purchases.

Cost vs. Content
Usually, the larger the number of titles in a package, the greater the cost. But don't neglect to compare between brands. Bible software is a very competitive market, and you owe it to yourself to consider all your options. There are a few different factors to take into account here.

Most people in the market for Bible software will have either cost or content as their main criteria. If you have no particular resource in mind, you may make your choice based on what price level you can afford. It may be, however, that you are not so concerned with price as long as it contains a particular reference work. Most folks have a combination of these criteria, but one or the other is usually the priority.

The danger is that subtle temptation that whispers, "More is better," and in some cases, this maxim may hold true. However, in other cases it can be costly to the user without adding much benefit for Bible study. The top brands of Bible software offer several different editions, from a basic version with a few Bible translations and several good resources, to a deluxe version loaded with translations and resources you may have never heard of, and often a middle ground. When choosing between brands, or even within brands, there is no hard and fast rule.

Consider the included reference works. A reference work is any book (whether in print or, in the case of software, in electronic form) that will assist you to study various aspects of a passage. Commentaries, handbooks, concordances, atlases, dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc. are all reference works. Most software will have some type of commentary, concordance, cross-reference work and maps.

A quick word on concordances: Electronic Bible software is completely text searchable. Any Bible included can be searched for all occurrences of any word. Therefore, just by nature of the medium, it can be stated that all of these brands contain, in a sense, "exhaustive" concordances of each Bible translation included. However, most programs also will include standards such as Strong's Concordance, or other actual concordances.

Program Capabilities
Most programs offer users the ability to print all the various reference works as well as the ability to transfer them to a word processor via the clipboard. Some programs have the ability to search every work for a word or phrase, while other programs cross reference every work relating to any passage. Other programs are even able to insert the correct bibliographic information (title, author, page number, etc.) into a paper, lesson or sermon from which you pulled a quote. Other programs can access additional information on the Internet. The point is that programs share a common list of capabilities and also contain some unique features. You need to determine the specifications you need or desire, and when you look for a program, try to match these as best as possible.

Expandability
Some programs are designed to be whole libraries on computer. That is, as time goes buy, they will release more and more theological works, devotional works, classic Christian literature, ethical works, sermon illustrations, small group studies (topical and scriptural), commentaries, handbooks, etc. However, not all programs are equally expandable. Some programs only offer a limited selection of additional titles; others have more than 1,000 additional titles available. On the other hand, if you know that you will need those works in the future, do not limit yourself now, since you will most likely have to buy another whole program in the future. Try to assess your future needs as accurately as possible.

Compatibility
Besides the basic issue of Mac and Windows compatibility, you might want to determine which programs can be used with each other. Some programs are more independent and are not compatible with any others. If you are interested in having a highly expandable system, compatibility will be a bit more important to you.

Choosing software can be a complicated task, so make sure you take your time to fully explore your options. Though the cost of buying software can be expensive, the benefits to Bible study are great. Software will not remove the need for study, but it will make that need easier to meet.

Source: Christianbook.com