RRBROWNE  Downloaded the trial and was easily able to transfer my old Appleworks databases. Also copied data from several other programs as TSV files - Bento created databases instantly. So am happy with the software.

Not so happy with cost. Downloaded from US site - price $US49(about $A54). But when I purchased it it flicked me to the Australian site and a $A 80 price tag!! Had already spent time on setting up my files, so I went ahead - but not happy with the ripoff pricing.   
(Version 3.0.1)

ICONZ113  If you told someone that didn't know better that this app was part of ilife or iwork, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference, thats how much this appliction looks like an apple made product. I really like that applications integration with OSX, and its slick design. If you need to create databases this is the app to use. Very intuitive and easy to navigate user interface.  
(Version 3.0.1)

ICONZ113  How come devonthink pro is in the "similar apps" category? isnt one a flle manager and the other a data manager database?  
(Version 3.0.1)

RUBAIYAT  Does version 3 do the obvious and fully integrate with iWork? Particularly merging data into Numbers and Pages. Will it produce labels on Avery sheets? Will it address and barcode series of envelopes? IOW will it do what a small business expects of their database?

Like many people I am hanging out to get a replacement for the much missed AppleWorks.

Apple has sliced and diced the brilliant combination of features in AW and charged you not only for every piece but for the very (minimal) upgrades that ignore most of what is wrong in each appliaction.

Unfortunately because Apple owns FileMaker we are left in the unhappy state of having very poor options for databases on the Mac.  
(Version 3.0.1)

DANA SUTTON  . A lot of Bento users, myself included, were very put off by v. 2, an unreasonably expensive upgrade with very little added value, and so were were understandably cynical about v. 3. I’m happy to report that at least two things are considerably better about this new upgrade: a substantial discount for previous users (it’s even free for v. 2 users who purchased it after Aug. 30), and it contains at least two very valuable new features. It now handles photos stored in iPhoto (I’m not quite sure why iPhoto needs a new front end, but others may disagree). The new Grid View is good for previewing thumbnails and I’ve already discovered a couple of other uses for it too, and it comes with a few new prefab record templates (for cataloguing your wine library and so forth) that may or may not suit interest you. But the first real biggie is that (via Preferences) it has the much-requested password-protection. This means that users can now feel better about entrusting to Bento kinds of information they wouldn’t have before, and this considerably increases Bento’s usefulness. But I wish the developers had asked themselves "okay, now that we we’ve added this feature, how are people going to want to use it?" Two things immediately come to mind: storing passwords and serial numbers, and maintaining financial records. The former is taken care of because you can download a couple of good third-party prefab template from Bento’s Database Templates web page. But now Bento’s lack of adequate templates for managing your financial records is more glaring than ever. I should at least be able to use it to manage my checkbook. I’m giving Bento v. 3 four stars. If the developers would beef it up in this department and give it a handful of long-overdue refinements (for ex., I’d like to see a way to set iCal alarms from within the program and an auto-dial feature for phone numbers stored in Address Book, you should be able to do this simply clicking an icon) I’d give it all five. Another new biggie is that you can share data between up to five networked Macs, which many users will find helpful (Mobile Me subscribers have of course been able to share iCal and Address Book data all along from within Bento). Final verdict: this is a solid step forward and is available as an upgrade at a more realistic price. Bento seems to realize that it needs to win back the trust of a very disgruntled user base turned off by the v. 2 disaster, and this is a good step in that direction. But it could still stand plenty of further development, refinement and polish.  
(Version 3.0.1)

ROBBNASHVILLE  This is a fine update to Bento. The integration with iPhoto is very nice and some of the minor tweaks, such as icons that represent different libraries and the ability to sort libraries into folders is a welcome addition. For users who wish to share libraries on a small network, that ability has been added. There's more; but you can learn those from the official site. Those who have previously purchased Bento receive a $20 discount, making this upgrade very affordable.

I just want to say that for those who criticize Bento, I'm not sure why that is. It is a low priced database for the rest of us. Even the $49 full price for version 2 was not that high; and the new discounted price for version 3 certainly can't be argued with. As for features, if you need FileMaker, by all means purchase it. For the rest of us who do not have those needs, Bento is a blessing and has been from Day One.

I love MacUpdate; but it continually surprises me how cheap some folks on here are. I suppose I can understand that if you are a small developer and have been accustomed to spending lots of time on a project and then sharing your hard work for free, you probably admire those who do. However, most people work to make money. There's no need to bash a developer or company who work hard on their software and then expect to be shown the money! No offense ... just my take on what I perceive as a lot of extreme complaints that have no bearing on a program's usefulness. If you don't want to spend money, that is fine. Some of us don't mind paying for what we use.  
(Version 3.0.1)

ANON BUD  WARNING!

Run away. FAST!

Filemaker is a money-grubbing horrible company. Their upgrade policy is nuts and I should have heeded the advice of many who have reported this earlier. If you purchased version 2 within the past 30 days, you can upgrade for free. But if you purchased within the past 60 days,forget it. Shell out more cash.

Take my advice. Find some other product. And save your money.  
(Version 3.0.1)

CHRISCHRAM  Once-upon-a-time I used a shareware application that could read and modify the iTunes database file. When Bento can do that, I'll upgrade.  
(Version 3.0.1)

APPLEDOGX  Still no improvement in Bento 3's overly simplistic and under-powered calculation fields. No conditionals either. No label printing either. Until Bento starts acting more like a real database instead of a very pretty list manager, it will be lacking what it really needs to be attractive. I'm really trying to find a solid reason to upgrade aside from the long-overdue security features. What Bento 3 really needs is to make more progress on user requested features instead of dribbles and drabbles of improvements. Yes, the economy is poor, but if you want us to fork over more cash, Filemaker, you need to fork over more features.  
(Version 3.0.1)

MACNEILLY  Blimey! Have FileMaker learnt a lesson from the first upgrade fiasco?

Do my eyes deceive me - are FileMaker offering an upgrade to Bento 3?

I see they're also offering an upgrade path to version 1 users - what a shame that couldn't have done that in the first place! Perhaps they wouldn't have received such negative publicity and a backlash from a loyal and subsequently disgruntled user base!

Have they not realised that early adopters also learnt a lesson - don't bother supporting FileMaker as they don't support or value their customers!

Will I be purchasing Bento 3 (or version 1.3 as it probably should be called) even with the far too belated offer of an upgrade path? No way - their attitude towards early adopters stank!  
(Version 3.0.1)