What Video Software is good and cheap?

[melmanda]

Any suggestions as to what is the best video program to make a screen shot tutorial with on the computer?

What do you great gurus use these days.


Another question I have is how big are the files this software makes? What is the best format to make them in?



So many questions, So little time.

Thanks for all your Help


Wendy:)

[Alton]

Some of us use Screen Steps to make tutorials. Thomas used them to make his latest help files that we have here. It does still shots and makes it easy to compile tutorials.

You can purchase ScreenSteps here:
http://store.bluemangolearning.com/stores/1

When you sell any product, it makes it easier on both the buyer and the seller if you provide good tutorials. People get frustrated very quickly. Last night, a lady got a little purturbed at me for not providing the activation number for one of my products. She sent a message of frustration to me, then discovered I had provided the activation number. By the time I finished watching American Idol, I had all kinds of emails from her expressing many human emotions. We had frustration, apologetic shame, thanks, and relief. Why, the poor lady must have been an emotional wreck. :eek:

I don't like folks to suffer too much. After my own suffering through the State of the Onion speech, I sent her an email expressing my own apology for not making things clear enough and my commitment to improvement...some items that might have made the President's own rhetoric more effective.

If you want to make videos for your customers, you can do that too. But they do make for a much larger file. I do both. Sometimes, you can use a particular video for both selling and showing a customer how to use your product.

For videos, I like and use Jing Pro. I think it is about 15 bucks a year to use. But it is very easy to implement. http://help.jingproject.com

Most of the files when completed with TSB are about 35 mb. Most of us choose to make the product as a .exe file. It is very easy for the end user to install.

[melmanda]

Wow!!!

Thanks for all the great information. This has been very, very helpful. It answered all my questions. I know what you mean when it comes to customers.

I know I learn better through video.


Thanks Again,
Wendy

PS I'm an American Idol Fan too. I bet this is going to be the last year:(

[howdab2]

Here is what I am currently using...

http://camstudio.org/index.php

Its open source, free, and it works.

It does have some issues with viewing in netscape and firefox
browsers, but will be fixed in an upcoming update.
There is an easy workaround which is included with
the documentation.

It records in avi and swf (flash) formats...

If you decide to use it and need help, just pm
me or post here as it may help others who
choose to try it out...

HTH,
Howard