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 - Still the best cooking software. I have been using Mastercook since version 2. Even though it hasn't been improved for years it'st still the best of the bunch. Its interface is not window-like but actually very usable and nice-looking. I love the bookcover representation of each cookbook. I make my own cover w/ photoshop, and you can find free covers on the web too. Searching and meal planning is really easy. You can insert a picture for each step of the direction too. Overall it has just about any feature you can think of for a cookbook, and there are tons of recipes on the internet that's in Mastercook format. About Vista compatibility - I have vista and it works. There's a website that tells you exactly how to do that (google it for Mastercook and Vista). For the IE web import bar to work you must run IE as an administrator. I also use a free program called Tweak-UAC to turn off the annoying Vista prompt whenever I start Mastercook. Now the bad things - it doesn't support unicode so I cannot enter any recipes in Chinese or any other language. This is not a problem for most people though. The ingredient database cannot be updated (you CAN add your own ingredients there but it would be nice to automatically update to the newest USDA database. The rumor also suggest that ValueSoft won't make further improvement to this software anymore, which is a shame. Even the best software fades out after a long time if it's not kept up (remember WordPerfect for Dos?). It would also be nice if it can export shopping list to modern handhelds such as the iphone, ipod, and all smartphones. Rating:  - MasterCook The Best!I have had other versions and tried a different product when I purchased a new computer---MISTAKE. MasterCook does everything I want it to do. Easy format and the printed recipes look great! I am delighted to have it back on my computer. I am re-entering recipes daily. One thing I did have to do was make it compatible with Vista which I found by going online and finding MasterCook and Vista, this walked me through what I had to do before installing. It worked perfect--- Rating: - The old guard of cooking softwareI have (literally) hundreds of paper cookbooks. I've also tried numerous programs that "aspire" to be MasterCook. Perhaps I'm biased because I've used the program since version 4. What I've found most useful about this program is the ability to import most anything from the web. The other great thing is that there are a bunch of other people out there that are creating cookbooks in this format for you to use "FOR FREE"!!!!! Find some great archives at MAD'S EMPORIUM. This is probably the best deal on software for cooking. When you learn how to use the search, you'll wonder how you ever did without it. No, I don't work for Sierra or whoever makes this. I'm just tired of hearing people downplay it for some of the higher priced 'shareware' programs that some people feel they need to hype. One more thing; this software will run on just about anything that's still running these days, all the way back to a P90. How about that! UPDATE 9/3/2008 Just to clarify something, when I said it would run on anything, I was referring to any hardware running a 32-bit Windows operating system. That could be the problem that people are having with this program; it was designed for a 32-bit operating system. From what I've heard, a lot of programs like this will tell you if it won't when you try to install it into Vista. I don't know if this is a Vista function or something that the software is supposed to do. I have not yet tried it on Vista. It's not because I don't want to, but because I still can't justify getting rid of XP Pro Media Edition. If, and when, I do decide to make the jump to Vista, I'll update this review accordingly. Rating:  - Master Cook SoftwareA very reasonably priced software & easier to use than most. I'm from the old school of wanting a printed manual but there isn't any. Luckily most things are fairly easy to figure out, although sometimes the help file is needed. The most difficult part was figuring out how to share recipes with someone via email. The help file on this wasn't detailed enough and a lot of trial & error was needed. It was rather annoying. I would still recommend Master Cook but be prepared to work out how to use parts of it. Rating: - Best software availableI had previously ordered a different software and didn't like it at all. My goal was to be able to take recipes with non-standard ingredients and be able to enter them to get the nutritional values. I use products like Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Flax to cook with. Because these are non standard other softwares wouldn't give me the values. Master Cook is truely exceptional. I'm 100 % happy with this software and its vast array of features. Would stronly recommend it to anyone.
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