MACSOLU  SIGNIFICANTLY slower than previous version I tried (2.1.2) -- there's a several-seconds delay before the palette appears after I type in command-shift-3 or invoke Snapz Pro from the Dock. Earlier version (2.1.2) appeared almost instantly. YMMV.  
(Version 2.1.5)

CORPSECORPS  Has been a handy and much used piece of software for a long time, but still suffers from a few issues which i've always found HIGHLY annoying:

• Has to share activation short-cut key with the system, preventing

use of the system capture without quitting the Snapz process via

Terminal or Activity Monitor.

• Always adds an unnecessary resource fork to images, which defeats

Leopard's automatic "Icon Preview" so i have to use a context menu

add-on to strip it for EVERY capture!

• LACKS a feature for allowing an "instant" screen shot without UI,

interaction, making it impossible to get shots of full-screen

games in action.

The 2.1.4 and 2.1.5 added nothing i use enough to make much difference to me. Fixes for the above 3 snags would have made it 5 stars straight across.  
(Version 2.1.5)

MISTERSQUID  This is the first time in years that installing an update to Snapz Pro X has not required me to activate/authenticate the program after installation.

As someone with more licenses to more pieces of software than I can keep track of--which leads to an unavoidably unpredictable upgrade schedule--I cannot express how grateful I am not to have to activate my upgrades.

I don't know if this is because I've recently upgraded or because of a change in the installation process but all I can say is MORE LIKE THIS PLEASE!!!

I say this even with (especially with) someone with licenses for competing software.  
(Version 2.1.5)

FRANKO  What's new in v. 2.1.5 (from Read Me)

Changes/enhancements

Snapz Pro X 2.1.5 features the following changes/enhancements:

-- Fixes bugs where audio and/or microphone track were not reliably added to movie.

-- Fixes bug with multipass video when Enforce Frame Rate setting is enabled.

-- No longer requests layer and location information for non-shared windows.   
(Version 2.1.5)

TIM LAWSON  I've been using SnapzPro for years and it's superb in use in every way. Although I'm sure this release launches much faster than the previous one, it does appear to have one glitch for which I've just submitted a ticket to the support guys at Ambrosia and which reads:

"I just upgraded to version 2.1.4 If I check the 'Check for new versions at launch' option in Preferences then, on the subsequent launch I see a dialog that tells me that there's a new version available (2.1.4) with buttons that enable me to "Go to website" or "Cancel" and a list of "What's new". However, the about box tells me I'm running the new version 2.1.4! I also note that when I go back into preferences, the 'Check for new version at launch' box is now unchecked and so, of course, I don't see the dialog described above again unless I re-check it.

Tim.  
(Version 2.1.4)

PONCHO22  I like Snapz Pro X. I have been using it for several years, paying for updates along the way. I currently have 2.1.2.

Here's my reason for commenting:

At every start up (MacPro; OS 10.5) I get a window that tells me of the new version 2.1.3. Fine, except I cannot get it to stop. The options provided in the window are as follows:

A box to check :don’t show this message again.

Then two buttons: Cancel, and Go To Website.

When I tick the "don't show again," my only next option is the Cancel button. This seems to cancel the fact that I checked the don't show again box because it just keeps showing up.

I don't know what to do with this and it is getting annoying enough for me to abandon Snapz Pro altogether.  
(Version 2.1.3)

MACGUY_81  $29 is too much for Snapz Pro, IMO. Mac's built-in Grab handles nearly every still-screenshot need you might have for free (although some of the features are a bit hidden). And for movies, there are many alternatives which I think are better, such as iShowU, Screenflick, etc. Combine the two, and you have a cheaper, more robust, and more up-to-date way of taking care of all your screen capture needs.

(btw, tips on using the macs built in screen-capture:)

Command-Shift-4 to select an area of the screen

Command-Shift-3 to capture the whole screen

Command-Shift-4, then spacebar, to capture a specific window

*Hold down the control key with any of the above to copy the captured image to the clipboard instead of a file

and here's a post on how to change the file format, too (from PNG to JPG or w/e you want): http://bravobug.com/news/?p=155  
(Version 2.1.3)

MONOCLAST  This is too little, too late, Ambrosia. You had a good product in Snapz Pro several years ago. Since then, you've let it languish. Long-standing bugs persist, and features that should have been updated ages ago stayed the same for far too long.

I can't tell you how infuriating it is to record a movie only to watch Snapz Pro create the movie file on the desktop only to just as quickly remove it never to be sen again, just because some QuickTime codec changed and Snapz threw up because of it. It's just as aggravating to have Snapz refuse to react to the assigned keyboard shortcut!

Way back in 2005, I submitted a simple feature request to Ambrosia regarding the fact that Snapz won't remember which shadow setting you make according to the type of screen shot you take. If I typically take full screen shots with no shadow, and window shots with the normal window shadow, and selection shots with the square shadow, why must I constantly switch back and forth? I suggested that Snapz Pro would be much better if it would remember which shadow I use for each type of screen shot . In all this time, Ambrosia hasn't bothered to respond:

I mentioned it to them again in 2007 - again with no response:

In 2006, I asked about an option to have Snapz Pro NOT restore the cursor to it's original position after taking a screen shot. It may seem to be a good idea to restore the cursor position, but it is unnerving and non-intuitive at best, if you ask me. Ambrosia never responded:

I've since tried Screen Flick and it's great. Sorry, Ambrosia.  
(Version 2.1.3)

ESPIRIDION  I've used this application quite a bit, both to capture screen shots and to create movies. I'm very satisfied with Snapz Pro X.

I had not seen its reviews here or at VersionTracker, and -based on my experience- was surprised by some of the low ratings.

It's been interesting to read the comments, as well as Ambrosia's responses to many of them. Many software developers don't even visit these type of forums. I prefer to first contact customer support directly. Later on I may post about my support issues and experiences in a forum and/or a review.

I searched for more information regarding Snapz Pro, and found an interesting site which has reviews for iShowU HD 2/ShowU HD Pro 2, Screenium 1.0, Screenflick 1.6.2, Screen Mimic 2.1, Snapz Pro X 2.1.0.

http://machouse.mhvt.net/

Notice that Snapz Pro's review is for an older version, but as recently as September 2008, they mentioned:

"We have reviewed several screen-capture applications in the past. So far, none of them except Ambrosia’s Snapz Pro X functions with our satisfaction..."

They do point out some of Snapz Pro's issues and limitations, but as far as I could tell Snapz Pro still got the highest rating of 5 stars.

And although I tend to disagree with many of their reviews, I think that Macworld also gave Snapz Pro 5-mice.

The only issue I've had with Snapz Pro came up one or two days ago. I had to take a screenshot of a website's pulldown menu, but as I switched from my browser to take the screenshot the menu went away. I ended up timing the shot using Grab. Maybe Snapz Pro can also do it, but using Grab was quicker than contacting support or reading a manual :-)

So based on my experience, after trying maybe 4 or 5 other screen capture applications, I'm giving Snapz Pro 5-stars.

It's not perfect, I don't like the installer approach, I don't like that some bugs remained present for so long, but for my needs it has worked extremely well.

I'm also happy that this was a free update, and not a paid upgrade to 2.2 or 2.5 or 3.0 as many companies tend to do these days.  
(Version 2.1.3)

TICE  The software is quite good, but what really bothers me is that expiring license code that forces you to renew your serial number again and again online. What if I don't be online for a few month in my cabin in the woods? What's then?? Can't I use my paid Snapz Pro anymore?

That is Adobe style! Wish I had bought Screenium or another competitor. : (  
(Version 2.1.2)