K.BOOTH  A helpful application, particular as I await a SL compatible version of FruitMenu.

Developer support is excellent: responsive, patient, and insightful analysis and instructions -- despite a problem arising from a non-LaunchBar issue.  
(Version 5.0.2)

ALAN  Developers, are you aware of the fact that Launchbar 5.0.2 still does not preserve clipboard history across restart??? You'd better be!!  
(Version 5.0.2)

HAMDI  What is a single seat, for God's sake? Even bikes have two. Besides, the common practice in the Mac community is letting two licenses (even three) in one purchase as most of us have a desktop and a macbook. This issue remains ambigious on their website. It has been raised by a user in their forums, but is left unanswered to this day. Besides, when you try to contact them, the developers do not encourage you to do so -you are just said: 'due to high volume of mails we receive every day we are not able to respond personally, but be sure we read them,' blah blah. Well, a Microsoftish attitude, it seems. Not inviting, to say the least.

The software is great, though. No doubt of that. But I will not pay for it until they promise support for support, and show us a nicer face. Will stick to good old and now much crippled QS.

  
(Version 5.0.2)

ICONZ113  Ok Ive been using this for a little while after quicksilver started crapping out, and im sort of surprised Ive havent heard more about this app even back when i was on QS, this app is fine and does everything I need it to, The more I use it the faster im getting with performing actions and making the computer do what I want, and the biggest plus is that its currently working, stable, and being developed. I think Ill be staying with launchbar, RIP QS.  
(Version 5.0rc4)

MTCOBRA  You have to pay for an upgrade (from 4 to 5) if you want the Snow Leopard version. 30-day trial. I downloaded the program Aug 28, but already the 30-days are up. Upgrade cost: Varies depending on how you pay. PAYPAL will cost you over $3.00 additional sur-charge. Illinois residents pay $.78 sales tax. The add-on fees just keep on coming! Snow Leopard has released its first revision 10.6.1. Will LaunchBar want me to pay for another upgrade?  
(Version 5.0rc4)

DONPERREAULT  Another "Best Of It's Kind" winner. LaunchBar has is the FIRST application I install when do a new install of Mac OS X. It keeps your hands on the keyboard where you want them and saves the user hours of time in small increments.

Keep up the great work at Objective Development!  
(Version 5.0rc4)

ICONZ113  Because of the 10.6 update I think launchbar is gonna get everyone coming over from quicksilver. Ive been using the app since the SL release and I have to say I like it alot, as a QS user you have to unlearn some old habits but after a little while it comes pretty easy. If you have just upgraded to SL and looking for a QS alternative, this is it. One small issue I have is the dock icon visible when the app is running, however there is an option to disable the dock icon but some functionality is lost when doing so, like dropping files or folder onto the launchbar icon to perform actions. Not that big of a deal considering I keep the dock hidden anyway.  
(Version 5.0rc4)

DR. GIRLFRIEND  Bug in Snow Leopard: Remove From Dock does not work. I love Launchbar, but I don't want it in my Dock. Please fix. (Btw, I have the new Clipboard feature disabled and it still won't step off my dock.)  
(Version 5.0rc4)

ICONZ113  with these kind of applications, launchbar, quicksilver, you always have ppl complaining, "what does it do? is doesn't do anything, this is useless, or Just use spotlight" they dont understand that these tools can become invaluable to your workflow when used correctly increasing your efficiency. right now im still using quicksilver but thinking about switching over to this, anyone that had switched from QS what do u think of launchbar in comparison?  
(Version 5.0rc4)

STEVE4656  I saw the consistently glowing reviews here for Launchbar so I decide to try it. All that happens is grey bar on the screen, with drop down menus. So what? What does it actually do that is so great?  
(Version 5.0rc3)

SVRROOT  well, for my feeling 24 bugs for this little software is a bit to much...  
(Version 5.0rc3)

LARRYMCJ  Thanks, LEONCAHUN...but I think your emphasis on two things that are indispensable to you...are exactly why I don't need LB (even though I like it and it's certainly better than QuickSilver. I only use my Mac about an hour a day. I sometimes go for several days and don't open a folder in /Documents. I use the same six or seven programs daily so I just use Application Wizard to open them all at once in the morning and close them in the evening (to prevent memory leaks). So I don't need SPEED and the few other things you mention you do with LB I know how to do, but they aren't important to me. So it's a great app and I haven't really missed anything :-) It's just not for me. Thanks for confirming this.  
(Version 5.0rc2)

LARRYMCJ  As much as I want to find a reason to purchase LaunchBar, it still can not find embedded text in any document I've tried (.txt, .doc, .pdf). Spotlight will find embedded text in any document I've tried. If I need to launch an app...how difficult is it to just click on Applications/AppName or Applications from the Dock? Can someone tell me why this is worth $35? What am I missing?   
(Version 5.0rc2)

PETERT  Of all the tools that are a 'must have' on my installs this is the most vital and the best productivity enhancer I have installed. It is also by far the one I miss most when driving someone else's mac.

It's simple, unobtrusive and elegant interface (during day-to-day use) is one of the best there is.

The added clipboard history feature in Version 5 is almost worth the upgrade fee on it's own although the other new features are as valued although not noticed as much in my daily use pattern.

I highly recommend this product to all Mac owners as the first tool to purchase.

Disclaimer: I have no association with the publishers of LaunchBar other than being a long time (family) licenced user.

Have a Great day!

   pete.  
(Version 5.0rc1)

WFM  Brilliant program!! Extremely fast, esp compared to Quicksilver. It also has lots of great new features.

FANTASTIC.  
(Version 5.0rc1)

BILL CLINTON  Version 5 of LaunchBar is very slow on "only" a 1.5 GHz Powerbook. It takes several seconds for the thing to slide out and several more to recognize typing and then respond.  
(Version 5.0rc1)

VFJCZYN5LQXK  Excellent productivity enhancement utility. Somewhat similar to Spotlight but it does a lot more than just searching and launching via keyword, and it also complements Spotlight nicely. It's saved so much time and effort over the past few years of using it. Strongly recommended.   
(Version 5.0b7)

AV  Great! I dont use probably 90% of its functionality but for what it does for me its great (an app launcher, extended clipboard & clipmerge). I plan to use it alot more but i havent got around to going deeper into it. Highly recommended.  
(Version 5.0b7)

KAIDOH  As presumably a lot of other people I have used Quicksilver before. I was looking for another launchingandotherpurposes utility after QS got more unstable every week and I was fed up rebuilding indices and digging for problem solutions (aka acting without getting things done). I'm glad I tried LaunchBar and will never look back. To be honest it took a while to get accustomed to the ways of LauncBar as the user concepts differ to some extend and old habbits have to be broken (e.g. you can't define custom key combination shortcuts). But after a short phase of reactance I now find LaunchBar's way of dealing with things much easier and slicker. Here are some observations:

* Holding down a key for a short time is simply a great way to trigger off events. After you've learned the right rhythm this feels ultrafast.

* Managing file operations with LB is just done right. Have to whisper this as my Finder get's jealous because he feels so neglected lately.

* The clipboard history is another winner. Simple but powerful (check out the clip merge function)

*Drag and drop works in any direction and almost always behaves the way you would have expected it (and provides quite some ways you have never thought of - RTFM!)

* Speed: Spotlight is a dodderer against it.

* Stability: In the months of testing LB 5 beta did not crash on me a once!

As said, I'm glad I made the switch and I can't think of a single QS feature I'm missing (not even the comma trick). LB isn't free but it's worth every penny. I reccomend you try it for yourself and I also recommend you give it some time to get accustomed to it and before you render a judgement. My experience is that this time is payed back manifold by the time this little apss saves you.  
(Version 5.0b7)

ROBOTANK  LaunchBar is probably the most useful application I've ever purchased. It makes routine tasks like opening applications and documents, moving, deleting, and copying files, creating folders, getting information on files/folders, etc. incredibly quick and convenient, eliminating the need to switch to the Finder and navigate a hierarchical folder structure. It also allows you to quickly send emails, go to URLs, access browser history and bookmarks, perform web searches, control iTunes, perform Dictionary searches, and access numerous other functions system wide. Although I don't use it because I slightly prefer CopyPaste Pro (and owned it before LB 5 came out), the clipboard history feature added in the v.5 betas is solid and probably good enough to eliminate the need for most users to purchase a separate multiple clipboard app. For me, LB is absolutely essential.  
(Version 5.0b7)

ZEB B  I'm a new Mac user and found Launchbar in one of those "absolute must have utility" lists. I tried QuickSilver also, but found launchbar easier to use. I'm still finding my way around it, but I already consider it essential.  
(Version 5.0b6)

SAMPLER  Unfortunately, LB5 is a regression from LB4 in one way, at least on OSX10.4.11: If you enter the name of an applescript, LB shows it at the top of a dropdown menu. If you hit return to select the script, and the has a dialog, in LB4, the script dialog opens in front of the dropdown menu.

In LB5, the dialog opens *behind* the dropdown menu. As a result, you can't enter anything into the dialog until you drag it out into the clear.

Norbert, the developer, acknowledged this bug after I reported its occurrence in beta 1. It's still there.  
(Version 5.0b6)

DONPERREAULT  The clipboard history is sweet. Still the King of its kind!  
(Version 5.0b5)

CLANCEY  I've been using Launchbar for a while, so I should know how it works, but I have been unable to change the shortcut for Launchbar to the keyboard shortcut I prefer. Because I haven't been able to reslove the shortcut controversy between Launchbar and Spotlilght, I haven't been able to use it.  
(Version 5.0b3)

DRUMSHANBO  I prefer the new icon. Great job on it! I thought the old one was the least attractive icon in my dock, to be honest. Not that icon appearance is such a big deal, but I did have to look at it on a daily basis. 8)  
(Version 5.0b2)

GCOGHILL  This thing just crashes on launch for me after I try to click anything in the auto-opened prefs to fix the Spotlight/Launchbar keyboard shortcut conflict.  
(Version 5.0b2)

ESPIRIDION  I won't rate it since it's a beta, but some comments:

I preferred the old icon.

I was looking forward to the clipboard feature, but it's too limited for my needs. ClipMerge is a very nice feature.

It's nice too see an improved calculator. The calculator is a feature I did not expect to use, but have used it quite a bit.

I've used LauchBar for a long time. IIRC I got version 3 bundled in Ten for X vol. 1 many years ago, and have used it ever since.

The new clipboard feature is the one that interested me the most. I'm very happy with PTH Pasteboard, and it seems that LaunchBar will not be a replacement.

Still, LaunchBar is now an essential part of the way I work with my Mac.

Hopefully the bug fixes included in version 5 will make their way to version 4 as well.  
(Version 5.0b1)

ZO219  Wow! That's all I can say. Wow! How many apps get the attention this does. I am impressed.

BTW, those who compare this to Butler - this is a whole other paradigm. Break free!  
(Version 5.0b1)

DONPERREAULT  The first of its king continues to be the best. Launchbar 5 continues to improve on its superiority!  
(Version 5.0b1)

JGJONES28  Looks like a fantastic update to an already stellar utility. The QuickLook and multiple clipboards features in particular are just outstanding.  
(Version 5.0b1)

MACSTERDAM  'bloody outstanding' doesn't do this updates justice :-D The best IMHO just got a lot better. Quicksilver may be nicer looking, but this is much much much faster, just as versatile, way more stable and use a lot less memory. I'm lost without it! Thank you for this update - especially love the new quicklook integration!!!  
(Version 5.0b1)

F451  Bloody outstanding! Laden with so many new features, and refinement of the existing, that it is becoming more of a value. In my top five of must-haves for any Mac computer, period.  
(Version 5.0b1)

STEFANO CECERE  it should be integrated into OSX!!  
(Version 4.3.7)

APPLEHC  Great. I was using Quicksilver until I tried this application. Less memory ressources and it will do everything I need. Happy registered user.  
(Version 4.3.5)

PETERT  Elegant Simplicity. Launchbar is one of the few applications / utilities that sets out to do a task and does so with elegant simplicity.

Nothing gets in your face, it just sits there awaiting your request and then does it, no fuss, no bother, and then gets out of the way.

An absolute must have piece of software. No other in the field does its job as efficiently and with such elegant simplicity.

A licensed user for > 5 years. And yes, I have tried ALL the others. None work as well for me.

Have a Great day!

   pete.  
(Version 4.3.5)

TOADLING  I've used LaunchBar for a couple years now, taking a few breaks along the way to try out the competition. But I always come back to LaunchBar. Others may have even more features, but LaunchBar does nearly as much and with a much greater degree of elegance and simplicity. It's proven to be a rock-solid, reliable companion on my MacBook Pro. I love it.  
(Version 4.3.4)

SEVDESTRUCT  I love Launchbar. I generally do not click on anything to get where I need to go in my system. I don't bother with the Dock stealing window space and doing it's fancy jig.

As a designer, this program saves me a lot of money by cutting down a lot menial in-between time in a process that adds up to dollars.

I got my whole studio to install it, and never do I need to fumble around wondering where photoshop is or illustrator or whatever else I need to launch on other users' machines. I just type PS or AI and bam, I'm off.

5 Stars. I use it like it's an integrated part of the system (add Launchbar to login items, and edit the .plist to remove it from the dock and cmd-tab icons)* and it's always there.

So good. Fast, and intuitive.

*There should be a note about how to do this on their site (LaunchBar) forum.  
(Version 4.3.3)

MOLBO  Absolutely utterly and completely essential.  
(Version 4.3.3)

BRIAN KENDIG  Now that Leopard's built-in Spotlight can find and launch applications, I tried doing without LaunchBar for a while. But I found that I just can't live without it - Spotlight has no idea that typing 'ff' means that it should launch Firefox, for example.  
(Version 4.3.3)

DONMONTALVO  It doesn't get any better than this!

Don Montalvo, NYC  
(Version 4.3.3)

DELTA FARCE  This is THE launcher for Mac. Some people like QuickSilver better, but you don't have to futz around with setting up LaunchBar. It just works. Great default settings out of the box. Very cool if you set up a lot of Macs for people. Essential.  
(Version 4.3.2)

GEEPZ  Fast, stable, essential. The best bet for old pros. And novices.

Some of the new features feel like clutter, but it still works on 10.2.8, so I'll go back to being a productive and grateful customer.

Thanks!  
(Version 4.3.2)

BRIAN KENDIG  I've been using LaunchBar since version 3, but somewhere along the way it went weird on me - sometimes typing application names brings up something completely unexpected, and I can't figure out how to correct the behavior.

For example, typing 'ICA' brings up iCal, but typing 'ICAL' brings up 'Applications Folders' instead.

What's going on and how do I fix it?  
(Version 4.3.2)

RMATHES  I tried LaunchBar a few years ago. For whatever reason, the paradigm didn’t do it for me and I went with DragThing, which I really like.

But in the intervening time I began using Quicksilver, primarily as a way to utilize it’s text append features with iGTD and enjoyed using it to quickly find contacts, files, etc.... Then one day, it simply stopped ‘seeing’ my contacts, regardless of what I did. Multiple posts to their forum and months later, I'm no closer to resolution.

I’d forgotten about this app, so when I saw a review of the latest incarnation I downloaded it, played with it for about 5 minutes and bought a family license. This is a terrific application. I can find just about anything, instantly. The ease of use in working with my contacts is alone worth the price of admission.

Why LaunchBar over Quicksilver? Well, for one, Quicksilver is not a stable app. Several times a week I'll find it’s just quit, gotta relaunch. Then there’s the lack of support. Got a problem with it? Good luck getting help. I still can’t use QS to find my contacts because it refuses to index them.

LaunchBar is stable, fast, clean and apparently well supported with solid documentation. Sold.

Re the whole DragThing vs LaunchBar debate from below, it’s just stupid. One isn’t better than the other, they are different paradigms and in many ways, different tools for different jobs. If I need to find a contact fast, DT is not the tool for the job. If after rebooting my laptop I want to quickly launch 5 apps with a few mouse clicks, DT is going to do it faster than LB.

I have both installed and licensed and expect to continue to use both in the future. They are both fine, well constructed applications, no need to disparage one to support the other. Try both, use one or both, depending on your needs.

note: would love to find a way to remove LB from the dock. So far that’s my only complaint.  
(Version 4.3.2)

MACSTERDAM  they're on a roll here!!! Brilliant - thanks very much!  
(Version 4.3.2)

MINIMARC  A old big helper on mac.  
(Version 4.3.1)

TOADLING  LaunchBar is still my favorite launch utility. It's simple, clean, and elegant. And I love the new look - easier to see, easier to use.  
(Version 4.3.1)

LEONCAHUN  V. 4.3 seems to be a very fine update (of a must-have tool, period).

However, while I welcome the more modern, Leopard-ish, subdued visuals, I think LB's display grew a tiny little bit too much: it could do better with some pixels less, at the top, at the bottom.

It has the exact same height as Spotlight's fade-in search-field, but it somehow "feels" bigger, visually.

And then I use LB much (MUCH) more often than Spotlight.  
(Version 4.3)

ALAN  is there an option to run it without the icon in the dock?

tia  
(Version 4.3)

HIDDENPOOH  I can't imagine using a Mac without this superb app. It's lighting fast and the adaptive search facility has almost spooky ability to learn what you're trying to do. I've tried all the rest, but none of them do the job as well as Launchbar.  
(Version 4.3)

MACSTERDAM  Indeed, QuickSilver may have (a few) more features, but only if you painstakingly search for, figure out and download the relevant plugins. Launchbar does everything 'out of the box'. Not only that, it does it faster, much much faster. Great update, thank you!

It may not be free (the best things in life rarely are), but it's well worth the money!  
(Version 4.3)

ARGLBORPS  Yes! It took a while and LaunchBar is back with a vengeance. This app is worth every single penny and I cannot live without it. Any Mac I have to use without LaunchBar feels broken and crippled.

And no, Quicksilver doesn't even come close in usability (it might have a few more features, though).  
(Version 4.3)

TOADLING  I've been using LaunchBar for about a year and a half now, and I still thinks it's the best in the launcher category. I've tried many others, but LaunchBar simply offers the best combination of ease of use, elegance, unobtrusiveness, and features I actually use.

Version 4.2b2 provides further polish to an already excellent application.  
(Version 4.2b2)

BRSMA  LaunchBar is a brilliant example of ‘just works’ and propably the most indispensable software on my computer short of the operating system itself.

Its combination of being equally inobstrusive, fast, smart, simple and stable has made me return to it rather quickly each time I try another

launcher.

It is inobstrusive, i.e. integrates nicely, because it is there when it is needed and stays nicely out of the way otherwise.

According to my perception it reacts quicker than any other launcher which is quite crucial for interaction and _feeling_ right.

LaunchBar is quite smart concerning abbreviation matching and adapts itself to the habits of the user.

Given its sophisticated simplicity it is nonetheless configurable – if you _want_ to.

Sitting down at a computer without LaunchBar makes you painfully realise the user empowerment it provides.

Having some of the more advanced features of e. g. QuickSilver would be welcome, nonetheless. But only if it would not impair any of the upmentioned qualities.

In short: Buy. This. Now.

(My sole affiliation with the Developer consists in being a very happy customer.)  
(Version 4.2b2)

MACSTERDAM  Launchbar is indeed brilliant. I do wish the interface was updated though. On larger screen, Launchbar looks rather tiny. Otherwise still no complaint. It's fast (as in: very fast!!), smart, simple and stable. None of the competitors combine these features.  
(Version 4.1.1)

TOADLING  LaunchBar is great. It's simple, easy to use, unobtrusive, fast, and reliable. I've tried to like Quicksilver, but I keep coming back to LaunchBar.  
(Version 4.1.1)

BURLOW44  can someone explain how this is better than quicksilver? everyone is saying it's better, but gives no examples...i'm just curious.  
(Version 4.1.1)

[AN.DY]  this is the one'n'only ...launcher! ...forget quicksilver!  
(Version 4.1.1)

JAZZADDICT  Though quicksilver is touted for its openness, flexibility, and freeness I still will continue my loyalty to Launchbar because of it's dependability, stability, and support. Oh yeh, and also the fact that it is just plain wicked. This .app is so crucial to my workflow that it actually comforts me to know that the developers are being payed and are commited towards further devolopment and support. One thing that sucks is that when I sit down at a Mac without Launchbar I feel handicaped. I would recommend this to any Mac user. Superb!  
(Version 4.1.1)

MACSTERDAM  Still much much faster than all the others and enough 'bell & whistles' to allow me to do what I want. Still, some developer feedback on when we can expect an enhanced interface would be very nice indeed.  
(Version 4.1.1)

WINGSPAN  If I'm running Firefox but my default browser is Safari, Launchbar will always lead me to have both apps open. I want this app to be able to do what Butler does, where you can choose to have your URLs open in the topmost browser instead of the default browser. This is the only thing that irritates me about Launchbar... well, that and trying to do anything on a computer that *doesn't* have launchbar installed.  
(Version 4.1)

MIRMIRA  Launchbar is a great tool, and probably the first of its kind. However, for what I do, I prefer the freeware Butler. I find that more customizable, and with the multiple clipboards, far more useful.  
(Version 4.1)

PETERT  Always was and still is 'Best of Breed' IMO.

It just works.

Have a Great day!

   pete.  
(Version 4.1)

HANGON  Lack a 128x128 preview.  
(Version 4.1)

MACSTERDAM  Nothing short of amazing. Blindingly fast and totally unobtrusive. One wish only: a somewhat larger interface with more preview options.

Other option may be free, but this is still the fastest and smartest. Well, in my book it is :D  
(Version 4.1)

ARGLBORPS  I started using LaunchBar when it was still at version 3. something. LaunchBar was definitely one of the first if not the first of the launchers where you'd type parts of names of applications to launch them.

LaunchBar is very good in guessing your ad hoc abbreviations and coming up with the right file or data.

The other great thing is that it scans your disk automatically for relevant data, so you don't really have to create any "aliases" and such tedious stuff to get all the apps in you want to launch. Furthermore more recent version also can scan your bookmarks, address book, browser history, you name it so more or less everything is acessible in a no time via LaunchBar. And you can even do "drop" Finder selections onto LaunchBar via keyboard shortcuts and then do all kinds of things like opening the selected file in another app, renaming it, deleting it, and so forth.

LaunchBars shortcuts and user interface is very well thought out and because of that I can do things much quicker in LaunchBar than with QS or Butler. Especially in Butler I find the configurations screens so badly organized that I always take ages to setup certain things. In LaunchBar it all makes sense without a manual even.

If I had to go on an island with my Mac, iLife, iWork and one utility only. I would choose LaunchBar, it has become indispensable for me and even the idea of having to go back to point and click app launching feels so backwards I might as well go back to OS 9 (doh!)  
(Version 4.1b3)

MACLEMON   I really like the "lack of interface" in LaunchBar. It just gets out of the way immideately after doing it's duty. I personally wouldn't like to see a bloated graphical feedback thing like QuicKsilver has.

Speed is what is important to me and LaunchBar delivers. It enables me to use a slow Mac with unmatched speed that the point-and-click people will never accomplish!

The only thing that worries me is that the feature set is becoming bigger and bigger and I can hardly keep up with learning to use them. I guess at some time I'll just overtake my PowerBook by overuse of LaunchBar.  
(Version 4.1b3)

ANON BUD  I'd love to upgrade, but the link has been busted for the past two days, even when I try to get on the developer's site through the help menu of LB!  
(Version 4.1b3)

PACHEC  You can remove LaunchBar icon from the dock with Dockless:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12516

BUT, BEFORE DOING THAT, read carefully the "Important Note" in the LauchBar Help, section "Tips & Tricks".  
(Version 4.1b3)

MACSTERDAM  Unbelievably fast - made me renew my license. Totally agree with everything Macbeth said as well. One serious wish: An interface similar to QS Bezel!!   
(Version 4.1b3)

MACBETH  Quicksilver gets many recommendations as a free - and arguably more powerful - alternative to LaunchBar. I can only encourage you to try QS before buying LaunchBar - it's a fascinating program with many great features and a huge community of fans and plug-in developers.

Both programs share the same basic features, but in many ways, QS is the exact opposite of LaunchBar. QS is a geek tool, an application that demands attention and a willingness to explore its potential and tweak its settings. It is as much as time-waster as it is a time-saver, and that's why it appeals to geeks.

LauchBar, on the other hand, is just there. It just works. It is very customizable, but the default settings are good enough for most people. Install it, use it, and never think about it. Over the years it has been refined to a point where it's almost invisible, and that's a great achievement. If you install it, it will instantly become a natural and integral part of your system. It doesn't give you much to play with, and it's not much to look at either (no shiny bezel interface, no visual effects). It's just a file and program launcher in the most unobtrusive and efficient way possible. It has some nifty tricks up its sleeve, but it doesn't show them off.

I usually prefer freeware programs over shareware if they have a comparable set of features, but in this case I happily made an exception and paid the bucks. QS is great, but I found LaunchBar's "less is more" design more useful and more appealing.

Compared to QS and Butler (which, among many other things, is also a file launcher), LaunchBar also has the most intelligent and accurate shortcut algorithm. The only point where LaunchBar could need improvement is that it still takes too long to index newly added files, even if it is set to rescan the containing folders automatically. (Spotlight will find these files instantly.)

And then there's the major downside of becoming accustomed to LaunchBar: Macs that don't have it installed will drive you nuts.  
(Version 4.1b2)

MEEE  I agree with whoever said that Quicksilver beats this in format (bezel). I am hooked on that and for that reason alone won't switch to LB. Make that change, and I'm a believer.  
(Version 4.1b2)

MISCSTUFFS  Launchbar Pawnz any other launching apps IMO.

fast, clean, accurate.

Whatsmore.. it just keeps getting better.  
(Version 4.1b2)

JOJOMAN  Is there a way to search using asia language characters? Such as Traditional/Simplified Chinese.

When I switch to using Chinese input, launchbar doesn't seem to respond with any keystroke.

Only English is working on mine.  
(Version 4.1b2)

MACSTERDAM  I prefer Launchbar over Quicksilver in every but one way, namely, interface. I hope a future Launchbar update will have something similar to Quicksilver's 'Bezel' look.  
(Version 4.1b2)

BOLI  For me, LaunchBar is the most important utility, the first third-party app to install on any new Mac.

Until the 20th of November you can get it for 20% off, check out the following site about it (scroll down a bit):

http://www.screencastsonline.com

The first part of their three-part their LauchBar coverage provides a nice introduction to LaunchBar for curious minds.

LB works rather well out of the box (to launch Applications for instance), and with some optional additional customization it now fits my needs perfectly.

Opening my most-accessed folders, files (any kind, including media files like trailers), applications, contacts, web searches (particularly handy for me are macupdate, dictionary, imdb searches), and more is now only a command+space away.

I highly recommend checking it out.  
(Version 4.1b1)

GUNTIS BUKALDERS  I can only quote someone else's review: "I tried QuickSilver for about a month because I thougth its Bezel looked so cool -- but went back to LB and thought it worked a lot better for me."

It's really true. I also wish that LB would provide bezel interface of QS, at least as an option.  
(Version 4.1b1)

ANONYMOUS  I think LB is way faster and way better than QuickSilver, much I much prefer the QS Bezel interface. I seriously wish LB would provide a similar interface.   
(Version 4.1b1)

ANONYMOUS  best. launcher. ever.

Have used LaunchBar for about 2.5 years. It is essential to me. I'm totally crippled on a machine without it... it makes life so much easier.

I tried QuickSilver for about a month because I thougth its Bezel looked so cool -- but went back to LB and thought it worked a lot better for me.

Then I tried using Spotlight as a launcher, but its inability to learn and slow speed frustrated me in less than a week.

The 4.1 additions list looks great... This is truly one of the few ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE apps for OS X. And it's been around for 10+ years!  
(Version 4.1b1)

JOJOXSON  I've been using spotlight for quite some time now.

I've decided to give a try; LB is much faster in search then spotlight, even though I cannot search within documents, it is a very good add-on for keyboard users to quickly manuver between apps.

However, in spotlight, I can search using chinese characters, I failed to find a way to do so in LB. I am in China with lots of document written in Chinese and this is the only feature that I am keeping the spotlight on at the moment.

If launchbar can improve on this, I will not need spotlight at all.

I am giving a 3 on feature for now, but all else is great.  
(Version 4.0.2)

CORBY  Sorry man I don't think your ALADDIN cd has anything to do with LaunchBar causing you problems. LaunchBar is an AWESOME TOOL. It is like one of the first things I install on ANY Mac I have to work on. Sure there are some copycats NOW but LB is the FIRESTARTER for modern launchers.  
(Version 4.0.2)

THIS IS WACKY  I have but one issue and that is that I started by getting LaunchBar in the Aladdin Ten for X CD long ago. After upgrading twice (no complaints) I crashed my hard drive and tried to reload it and it requests that I reload the Ten for X CD that I bought years ago and tossed; not that it would even load that version of LaunchBar on Tiger. Anyway, I am stuck with no Launchbar and await OD reply to my email. This reminds of the layers of an archaic Windoze app. I just want my bloody paid for registration to work without the hoop jumping, especially when I am missing one of the hoops.  
(Version 4.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  Launchbar is one app that I always have running. It is so easy and intuitive to use, the application is updated as necessary, and, even though spotlight has been added to Tiger, Launchbar still has more accurate responses in an easier to access format. I really like this app!  
(Version 4.0.2)

T  Spotlight isn't predictive. You have to type in the words correctly, or else nothing will show up. Type in 'sptlght' in Spotlight and nothing shows up. Type it in LaunchBar and things will show. Okay, LaunchBar doesn't search within the files - yet - and only search document names. Now, sooner or later, Apple will add predictive searching and find better ways to organize searches. In the meantime, LaunchBar still has its place.  
(Version 4.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  Launchbar is a totally different beast than Spotlight. To use a web analogy, Spotlight is like a web search, Launchbar is like your bookmarks. Still indispensable.  
(Version 4.0.2)

MATT  Excellent. This is one of the best apps I have. Launch bar is so much better than the finder.   
(Version 4.0.2)

GARBAGE  This filled a niche beautifully pre 10.4

Only a small subset of users will appreciate the differences between LB & Spotlight enough to persist with this now though.

I say spotlight will good enough for the majority of users & predict that as more functionality is added to SL via filters it will become even more usefull.

Congratulations & comisserations to the developers of Launch Bar, Quick Silver, Drag Thing et al...

p.s. I have paid the reistrations for most the apps mentioned , i am not a whining cheapskate.  
(Version 4.0.2)

DAX  Great tool, I've been using it forever but with Spotlight now in the um..spotlight, will Launchbar be as essential as it was?   
(Version 4.0.2)

KYLE WEATHERS  This is killer! Absolutely killer! After a day of use, you won't want to be without it. One of the first 3 things I install on a new Mac.  
(Version 4.0.1)

DITTO  Ditto on everything you wrote. I find that LB is my personal favorite and I always try the new releases of the others, but still come home to LB.  
(Version 4.0.1)

FREDB  Damn, this pro-Dragthing crusade is lame. Go away.

For me, nothing can beat LB at the moment.

Try to show a phone number as quickly with DT...

I have A LOT of apps and no dock could hold them all.

I tried QuickSilver deeply two different times and get back to LB. QS is nice but the search algorithm far from being as good as LB"s one.

I just hope obdev is going to make LB even better to compete with QS and soon Spotlight.  
(Version 4.0.1)

MACMATH17  I agree wholeheartedly with the previous poster, who would probably also post this at DragThings listing in similar circumstance.

I brush my teeth before a shower. Some people brush their teeth after a shower. Just because some do this in one order doesn't make the other order wrong or bad. There is little about our society which is monolithic (except perhaps that people want to fight to the death for their favorite), so why do we have to all use the same software for the same purpose?

Both LaunchBar and DragThing are examples of Macintosh software at its best. They both excel at what they do, but their feature lists do not completely overlap.   
(Version 4.0.1)

ANONYMOUS  I have no problem with people using DragThing and promoting it, but this is not the place to propagate. This isn't the place to convert or bug those who love LaunchBar and who use it because it works for them. You think we all haven't tried DragThing? It is probably the first thing people try because it is so close to the old Apple Launcher app. If you tried LaunchBar and like DragThing better, write a positive review for DragThing. Or write a short comment for LaunchBar and state that people should also try DragThing. But I really hate people posting long bashing comments with low ratings just to bring an app down, just because they really hate it - loath what an app stands for. People should stop doing that. Comparison is good. I have no problem people stating which app they prefer, but sometimes I get this sense of detest towards the people who use an app - a feeling of not understanding why these people stick by an app while in their minds there are better choices. We can all try these apps because they are shareware or even freeware. A notice or review is fine, but, please, no feelings of detest, and endless propaganda with it.  
(Version 4.0.1)

ANONYMOUS  LaunchBar rules!  
(Version 4.0.1)

ANONYMOUS  DragThingMan's comment would have some validity if LB disabled the OSX dock. It doesn't, so with LB, you can point & click at a Photoshop icon OR hit ctrl-space and type 'pho'. DragThing doesn't provide nearly the same flexibility.  
(Version 4.0.1)

IGNORE THE DRAGTHING PROPAGANDA  Ignore the DragThing propaganda. The difference in execution and implementation is night and day. It all boils down to each individual's preferences. If you want a stealth method of opening docs, apps, websites, etc., then LaunchBar is for you. If screen space is a premium, then LaunchBar is for you. If you want an app that can essentially index everything on your hard drive without any effort on your part, keep it current, and place it all at your fingertips, then LaunchBar is for you.  
(Version 4.0.1)

ROYNET  In many user interface studies they always find two pertinent facts:

• Test subjects consistently report that keyboarding is faster than mousing.

• The stopwatch consistently proves mousing is faster than keyboarding.

This contradiction between user-experience and reality apparently forms the basis for many user/developers’ belief that the keyboard is *always* faster, and LaunchBar symbolize that phenomenon.

DragThing, LaunchBar's primary competitor in the recent GUI vs. abbreviation launcher war, is a true winner in the launcher usability and speed, and anyone thinking LaunchBar is better should give it a try and see if you would still say the same thing about LaunchBar. DragThing does so much more than LaunchBar: its customizability is far superior to LaunchBar, giving user a complete control over how each dock palette looks and behaves. DragThing docks leave important visual cues (i.e. tab) so users won't have to think twice about which key combination to press to bring their launcher to front. With LaunchBar you would have to memorize the name of all your applications. You carry around a very complex mental map of what you have. With DragThing, you won't have to: DragThing docks maintains the list for you, and all you need to do is to point and click.

Compare this: To launch Adobe Photoshop,

LaunchBar: Command + Space to bring LB to front, think of what abbreviation would be appropriate for Adobe Photoshop, decide "ptshp" would be okay, press 5 keystrokes to input that, hit Return, scroll down the list to pick Adobe Photoshop, make sure the file path matches what you are looking for, and hit Return again to (finally) launch Photoshop.

DragThing: Quickly move the mouse and click on the Photoshop icon in a DragThing dock. Done.

Try DragThing. You will be amazed by its capability.  
(Version 4.0.1)

ANONYMOUS  I have used LB for 1.5 years.

Ran LB 3.3 for about a year. Paid for it after 2 months. Was in hog heaven.

Then QuickSilver came along. It supported more functionality, had a nice looking bezel. So I ran it for a couple months. Noticed it wasn't as good at always getting the right selection. About 15% of the time, I'd launch the wrong app, and picking the right one took some time. I had to slow down to launch things to double check, but was generally happy. Plus, it had more functionality than LB4.

LB 4 came along, with the address book and bookmark integrations (I use it with OmniWeb), and I noticed how much faster LB was. Purchased an upgrade, have been running it daily for 6 months or so (last 4 on beta 9)... it's OUTSTANDING.

Spotlight in Tiger may do much of the same... but we'll see if it can match LB's speed and flexibility. It's likely I'll be re-mapping Spotlight's hot keys, rather than LB's!  
(Version 4.0.1)

BRIAN KENDIG  I use LaunchBar 3.3 and it's indispensable. A terrific app. I registered it.

But I don't see any compelling reason to pay the $10 fee to upgrade to version 4.0. I only use LaunchBar as an application launcher, and Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger is right around the corner with its Spotlight stuff.  
(Version 4.0)

HERMANN  I dont know what that drag thing guy is smoking... I used drag thing from system 7 until my early osx days. I couldn't get rid of it fast enough after I found launch bar!  
(Version 4.0)

T  What's with that DragThing dude? Like DragThing? Fine by me. But DragThing is not necessarily faster than LaunchBar, and LaunchBar is not necessarily slower than DragThing. This is how DragThing does things:

Focus on the tabs on the bottom of the screen, or wherever. Go with your mouse from somewhere on the screen to the bottom. Carefully point at the right tab to pop up the drawer. Feast your eyes on the icons. Click on the desired app. Boom, you're there. Nothing wrong with that.

LaunchBar:

Command-Space. Type oo to start OmniOutliner - check if the correct thing is selected in the LaunchBar box, but if you always use oo, you don't have to check. Enter. Boom, you're there. Nothing wrong with that either.

LaunchBar becomes handy when you use the extras. Like:

Command-Space. Type oo. Hit Space. -> A list of recently used OmniOutliner files.

Command-Space. Type il. Hit Space. -> All your iTunes playlists. Scroll to select. Hit Enter. Playlist plays. (No need to use iTunes.)

Usually, LaunchBar is dead on with selecting the right app.

OmniWeb -> Omni Web -> ow

OmniOutliner -> Omni Outliner -> oo

OmniGraffle -> Omni Graffle -> og

or type omni and select from three at the top.

Disk Utility -> du, or disk (I don't have any other utilities that have disk in the word.)

SuperDuper -> super, or duper

QuickTime Player -> QT

Final Cut Pro -> FC, or FCP

Preview -> pre (But I usually keep that in the Dock.)

Sometimes, it doesn't quite work.

Soundtrack -> sound: can be sound preferences or Soundtrack, Soundtrack Loop Utility (But I can live choosing between the three.)

Sometimes, sure, looking at and clicking on icons can be faster. Go to Dock, look, click at icon. Boom – got that from the big Steve. But I like to keep my Dock relatively clean. A folder in the Dock can be slower than DragThing because you have to go through subfolders.

LaunchBar is good if you like to keep it simple and get a utility that is tucked away most of the time - and you like your keyboard, of course. DragThing can be good if you don't like the Dock and want an icon-based launcher.  
(Version 4.0)

LB USER  A previous insane reviewer talks DragThing. Well, let me tell you that I've used DragThing for a while, got very frustrated with its clumsiness (DT is a "drag & drop & configure" bloatware), and then I found LaunchBar. Just 15 minutes of exploring various features got me trash DT for good and stick with LB. And yes, believe it or not, I am a GUI kind of user to begin with. LB handles drag & drop very well. And forget that "I don't know the name of that app" nonsense. All I need to do (if that happens at all) is to hit Command + Shift + A in Finder and just browse the freaking App folder.

LaunchBar rocks. It requires very little configuration, it wastes no screen real estate, and it molds itself to fit your habit, not the other way around. Drag-and-drop-install it, run it, and it already helps me tremendously. The way software should be.   
(Version 4.0)

BEN  Nice DragThing plug, I think an even better one would be you shutting up.

Launchbar is an excellent applicatioin, I use Butler because it's free and I'm a poor college student.  
(Version 4.0)

ROYNET  Here are some clueless comments and my counterpoints:

-------

"Invoking "csu" with Launchbar is faster the opening the application folder, scrolling, spotting the app, double-clicking "ColorSync Utility", no?"

Simply clicking an icon for ColorSync Utility in a Dock (or DragThing dock) is FAR faster than invoking LaunchBar with Command + Space, think what would be a good abbreviation for "ColorSync Utility," type "csu" and make sure "ColorSync Utility" is selected before hitting Return, no?

-------

"Typing Command-Space and two letters and Return to launch an app is a heckuvalot quicker than digging around for it in the Applications folder and a heckuvalot neater than having to cram all my apps into the dock."

I don't cram all my apps into the Dock. I use DragThing to keep all my apps neatly organized and categorized. If not DragThing you could always populate a folder with aliases and dock that folder so it would be a menu. No index nonsense upon startup.

-------

"But you do have to have a mind that KNOWS what it wants in text-based launchers."

With DragThing you don't have to consciously KNOW what abbreviation is used for a certain app. You just point and click without thinking. Boring, yes, but much less mind-bogging and much simpler. In the mean time I save my brain power for other things.

-------

"Some type of utility like LaunchBar or Butler is indispensible on a modern Mac with more than a dozen applications installed."

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that even Apple Dock can keep more than a dozen applications, and if you do there is always DragThing. And no, there is no startup time delay.

-------

"Need to launch an application fast? Put the Applications folder in the dock."

Or better yet, use DragThing.

-------

"Well, LaunchBar is only not fast if you don't know what you are precisely looking for. What is the name of that app again? LaunchBar can't help you with that."

Exactly my point, and guess what, I don't even have to remember *any* names with DragThing because it remembers them for me. I just click and not have anything to do with this keyboard nonsense.

-------

"Meanwhile, I just type in disk, and up pops Disk Utility. I type Desk, and up pops Desktop & Screensaver. How is that not fast?"

I can think of at least a dozen utilities that remind me of "disk." I type "disk" in LaunchBar, and there goes scrolling nonsense every time I need one of those utilities since to me all of them are "disk."

-------

"Putting the applications folder in the dock is anything but fast."

I agree, and that's why I use DragThing. Accessing objects in DragThing is instantaneous.

-------

"As someone who has worked with user interfaces and with the Mac for 20 years, I have to question the studies quoted by the original poster. I wonder if they tested both beginners and experts. For beginners, mousing is faster. For experienced users, nothing beats the keyboard."

Maybe you are using your Mac without Finder and the menu bar since you remember all menu commands in all programs you have. Good for you.  
(Version 4.0)

MACMATH  If LaunchBar weren't great, I would not have bought a license to it for the following reasons:

1) While I am not necessary a 'mouse' person, I dislike heavily and arbitrarily key-sequence-ridden applications (like Word-Perfect on the PC).

2) I always pay for the licenses of the software I use, but I am also cheap enough that I almost always bypass software that costs as much as LaunchBar.

Counter to 1): However, the key sequences for LaunchBar are ones which you make up by free association, and which therefore make sense to you. There's no learning curve. In this way (and due to its speed), LaunchBar makes access to applications and files almost like telepathy.

Counter to 2): It works so well and so fast that accessing files and folders is almost instantaneous. Driling down through the folder structure has always been annoying to me. LaunchBar solved this problem so successfully that I paid for it the same day I tried it (and have never regretted it).

If there is a speed issue, then the users probably need to exclude Cache folders and the like from the indexing so that LaunchBar's time isn't wasted looking through browser and icon caches and the like.  
(Version 4.0)

ABSOLUTE BEST  This is the one. Period. It is the least obtrusive and the most powerful. None have even come close to LB. Sure I have tired and I do like the others, but this is the original, the one and the only, the oracle of launching utilities.  
(Version 4.0)

ANONYMOUS  Quicksilver never learnt what I wanted, LaunchBar always gets it right. Couldn't live without it.  
(Version 4.0)

ANONYMOUS  In many user interface studies they always find two pertinent facts:

• Test subjects consistently report that keyboarding is faster than mousing.

• The stopwatch consistently proves mousing is faster than keyboarding.

This contradiction between user-experience and reality apparently forms the basis for many user/developers’ belief that the keyboard is *always* faster, and LaunchBar (and Quicksilver for that matter) symbolize that phenomenon. Now, I gave LaunchBar (as well as Quicksilver) a serious try, and I found out that while they both worked okay as a quick search tool it wasn't even close to becoming a true "cure all" launcher as many advocates seem to claim these days.

The keyboard shortcut of any sort is useful and effective when the user can select with one hand on the keyboard and act with the other with the mouse and it is done in pure reflex. Two-handed input can result in solid productivity gains, but "Do-It-All-on-Keyboard" can be quite opposite of that, and I am afraid LaunchBar is a prime example.

LaunchBar was still far better than Quicksilver in guessing the right object for my abbreviation, though, and it is much simpler and easier to use than Quicksilver.

I would also like to note that, quite contrary to what some other reviewers mention, Tiger's Spotlight is NOT quite the same thing as LaunchBar. Spotlight goes way beyond that, it is able to work with file contents beyond just metadata, while LaunchBar mainly works with file names.

Overall, I was quite unimpressed, and as the previous reviewer says, I couldn't see what the big deal was about this software. There are other "Find file" type tools that are better than LaunchBar/Quicksilver, and it is simpler to just click on a dock icon than activating LaunchBar, type a few characters and scroll down the list of objects.  
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

STILL THE BEST FOR ME  Tried them all and LB still works best for me. Clean, efficient, the original and still the best. People need to make their own decision of which launcher works best for them and there are many choices to choose from--shareware, donationware and free.  
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

DVD  try quicksilver it's free  
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

ANONYMOUS  Simply unbelieveable. Cannot live without it.

I only wish it would default to opening URLs, google searches, etc in a new tab instead of a new safari window.   
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

ANONYMOUS  Incredibly useful and time saving program! To me, the most useful feature is being able to hit command-space and begin typing the name of *any* application on your system to either launch or switch to it. Much much quicker than having to go to the Finder, open a new window, go to your applications and search for the program you want to open. Also makes the dock not as necessary since I can quickly launch anything I want.

Second most useful feature is the ability to start typing anybody's name who is in your address book and have it open the address book entry for them. This makes searching for contacts a breeze.

Also, the ability to open a URL from wherever you are (or perform a web search) is nice, but I often forget about it. ;-)

Oh - did I mention that it's fast? Very fast and seamless.. At least on a 1.8 GHz G5. On my 667 G4 PowerBook, it's not quite as fast, but still plenty useable.

Well worth trying. You'll like it.   
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

ANONYMOUS  Irreplaceable. Makes programs like butler obsolete. It is like doing a finder search in an instant, by just pressing command+Spacebar. Not a resource hog like quicksilver either...:D  
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

T  It has served me for so long and made my life easier without getting in the way with fancy effects like some apps do. The new functionality is great and I've already paid the author for the upgrade. I just feel like I have to reward this author for giving me such a satisfying app and also a more rewarding Mac OS X experience.  
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

PIANOPHILE  Among the best utilities available fo any desktop OS. Well worth supporting.   
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

DANNY  I've used LaunchBar for about a year now, and I simply can't imagine my Mac without it. Version 4 adds a lot of new features to the already impressive set of LaunchBar 3. Ofcourse I could try one of the new free utilities out there like Butler, but I just don't feel the need because LaunchBar has always served me well and it has all the features I desire. And why would I want to change that? I gladly paid the upgrade fee of 10 euros: IMHO a company that makes great software as LaunchBar and Little Snitch deserves support from the entire Mac community. Keep up the good work!  
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

SKIDMARK  I've had a license for LaunchBar for years and have found it the ONE indespensible utility. In fact, when I go to work on other peoples machines and it's not there, I hardly know what to do.

Awesome.  
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

ANONYMOUS  Wow. Not worth $19.95?? Well, please do go right ahead and use the free options. I am a technology consultant, an audio designer, and a programmer. LaunchBar is absolutely indispensible. I cannot imagine functioning without it and it simplifies so many aspects of interacting with applications, files and the OS that I'll gladly continue to support the developers with my minute financial contribution. Launch Bar is a high-powered utility, designed right. You should read through the documentation and make sure to configure it to your particular needs. It's brilliant.  
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

ANONYMOUS  I'd rather not have to pay again as well, but the fact that it was a paid upgrade was clear to me from the start (although I don't know how).

However, it does not overwrite your old setting for version 3, so you can go back to version 3.   
(Version 4.0.beta9a)

ANONYMOUS  LaunchBar is very good and it's searches are fast and accurate. But it's simply not $19.95 better than QuickSilver or Butler, both of which have advantages and disadvantages in light of LaunchBar. Given the strengths and enormous value (hard to beat free) of the competition, it seems that the LaunchBar developers have become a bit greedy. If you have money to burn, get LaunchBar. Otherwise, save your cash and go for QuickSilver or Butler, you will have lost nothing by doing so.........  
(Version 4.0.beta9)

ANONYMOUS  I've used this since it was first released and find it indespensible. It one of the most natural productivity enhancements I've ever used, but I sure wish the developer had mentioned that this would be a paid upgrade *before* I started using the version 4 demos.   
(Version 4.0.beta9)

JP  Nice, well done. However, beta 9 begins the end of good free use - all LaunchBar 3 registrators need to pay another $9.95 to avoid nags and limitations.

I've gone to QuickSilver for now, just to avoid nags. I'll probably come back at some other point, when I feel free to pay AGAIN.

Whether it's LaunchBar, QuickSilver or Butler - you MUST use one of them. Once you see what you're missing, you won't want to run a Mac without. Any of these three are essential launcher software, period.  
(Version 4.0.beta9)

VANVEEN  Launchbar is already more complex than and will remain worlds beyond Apple's upcoming search bar...if anything, Launchbar will probably take advantage of Spotlight technology and be better than ever.  
(Version 4.0.beta9)

ANONYMOUS  OS X.4 "Tiger" will have all this app's features:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/spotlight.html

Once "Tiger" will be released, no one will buy another copy of LaunchBar.

Thus, I am not pleased at all to be forced to pay 50% of this app's value as an upgrade fee now. This looks to me just as "Let's squeeze out of those folks as much as we can - before we'll be dead next Spring."

For good luck, I still got a backup copy of version 3; this one is absolutely sufficient for my needs.  
(Version 4.0.beta9)

ANONYMOUS  One word and one word only: Quicksilver!  
(Version 4.0.beta9)

MIKEY LIKES IT  Yes...this is a great application by an excellent programmer who writes excellent programs. I upgraded and paid the fee--no regrets. Seems a bit quicker this version.  
(Version 4.0.beta9)

ANONYMOUS  This is one of those apps that you'll find you can't live without, and continue to learn new functionality long after you bought it. Since most people don't read the help file (me included), it's amazing what you learn just by fiddling around with it or reading other user's comments/tips. Definitely a must-have.  
(Version 4.0.beta9)

ANONYMOUS  Bob Payne, let's see if I understand you: you're complaining because the instructions told you to press some keys to activate the application and then never told you let go of the keys? So how long did you hold those keys before you figured this out?

Duh!

This is the most excellent, efficient, intuitive launcher and searching tool I have ever used. The new feature that sorts documents by type, and lets you do searches within types, is amazingly useful. The adaptive search engine is nearing perfection, it seems to me.

QuickSilver is prettier (I don't care about that), and it lets you do more with found items, which is nice and something I wish LB would add. But as is, LaunchBar is must-have software.  
(Version 4.0.beta9)

BOB PAYNE  Yes, it's powerful, but it suffers from poorly translated instructions. Here's an example:

"Keep the Command key pressed and repeat to hit the spacebar to browse a list of all currently running applications."

Most of the documentation is understandable; But some is really confusing. I got off to a bad start because of this, "Press Command-Space to activate LaunchBar." which doesnt't tell you to let go of Command-Space Bar. So I held the two keys down and wondered why it didn't select the requested application.

The "help" is loaded with twenty-dollar computer lingo that is a put off to anyone who is a casual user.

Other than that--it's sensational software.  
(Version 4.0.beta8)

ANONYMOUS  Still the best 'power launcher'. QS may be great for 14 year olds who mainly want it to launch 3-4 apps and search iTunes playlists (why do people keep mentioning this? who gives a crap?) but for actually launching just about anything quickly and with close to zero concious thought, LaunchBar wins hands down.  
(Version 4.0.beta8)

B  As much as I like Quicksilver, I prefer Launchbar because it's so powerful, and has capabilities that I haven't even scratched the envelope of yet in daily use.

Definitely worth the money; what's surprising is not that Launchbar costs $19.95 (defintely money well spent) but that Quicksilver is free.  
(Version 4.0.beta8)

ANONYMOUS  launchbar is great but i can't live with the full 128x128 preview of QuickSilver....and i can't live with the itunes browsing which displays covers at 128x128 again in QS

too bad because launch bar is really great  
(Version 4.0.beta8)

GREAT PROGRAMMER  I like just about all the launchers out there. I am a registered user of LB. Since LB is written by a programmer that I like, I will be upgrading when all is said and done and the price determined. I do not think that Spotlight will compete with LB and maybe even the programmer of LB will incorporate LB into Spotlight...who knows? Either way many thanks to this programmer who other apps I own as well.  
(Version 4.0.beta8)

ANONYMOUS  Whatever others say LaunchBar is still a far, far superior app to the likes of Quicksilver. It can be as simple and elegant or as full-featured and robust as you want. It even runs smoothly and flawlessly on iMac 400.  
(Version 4.0.beta7)

ANONYMOUS  As a registered user of LaunchBar, I was sort of bummed to discover QuickSilver. However, this beta of LB puts the product back out in front.

It will be interesting to see if Apple mimics LB functionality in Tiger, as the underlying indexing will certainly be there and then some.  
(Version 4.0.beta7)

HEAVENGIRL  Not bad. Been using for a while but changed over to Quicksilver 'cause I found it simpler, faster app that truly works in the background.

Plus it is free.

Launchbar's days are over.  
(Version 4.0.beta6)

ROY S.  This is one of the most useful and compelling utility software I have used in a while. I would say it is far better than any other launcher utilities out there besides Butler, which is also extremely good has some extra features not present in LaunchBar.

It even gets better: Unlike some other utilities, all these features are offered withOUT patching the system at all. LaunchBar is just a stand-alone application, which should make this app much less prone to conflict and issues. As expected, I've been running it for over a week of intensive use alongside Butler, and it has not caused a single obvious glitch. I have closely examined its resource use, and I found it to be very resource efficient and the least obtrusive to the system. (NOTE: It can look like a RAM hog if you have a lot of nested folders registered in the Configuration panel. But I found that it is simply caching those data in an inactive portion of RAM, and the size becomes much lower if you narrow down the items to be scanned. Either way, the program itself uses only a small amount of resources.)

Compared to Butler, LaunchBar does a little bit better with dragging and dropping files onto search results. However, Butler does better with menu features. I think it is up for each person's needs to determine which one is better. Both are good in their own way.

All in all, I recommend LaunchBar to anyone looking for a powerful, quality launching utility that helps you to do less work.  
(Version 4.0.beta5)

ABHI  LaunchBar 4 ads pretty much everything I wanted in LaunchBar 3, I'm definitely going to upgrade when I can't get away with using beta's anymore.

I highly recommend this app to anybody who types faster than they click.  
(Version 4.0.beta5)

STDERR  The thing I love most about LaunchBar is that it's near-invisible. I hit ctrl-space, type a few letters of whatever I want, hit return (usually without even looking up at LB's window), and I'm there. 4.0 improves the configuration UI tremendously, and adds a bunch of useful features that I'm still learning to integrate into my workflow. As for its competition, I've found Butler to be pretty stupid with its suggested completions, and Quicksilver goes out of its way to be not invisible.

This is the best shareware purchase I've made in 12 years of paying for shareware.  
(Version 4.0.beta5)

MACSTERDAM  Been a registered user for a while now and although I have tried the various competitor product, for me nothing beats the elegance and speed of Launchbar, in particular the version 4 betas. It really feels part of the OS and without it I'm truly lost!!   
(Version 4.0.beta5)

FOOZMAN  This program is great. I found Launchbar 3 to be really useful. I have switched to Launchbar 4 beta. Even in beta, it is really great. I have hardly missed a beat. OK, I have missed one or two, but this application is really smart. Even though I haven't done any custimization (which I am not sure is yet supported in beta 4), it still does almost everything I need. Try this program for 2 days, and see if how little you use Expose. OK Expose has its uses like dragging from one app to another, but I am a total Launchbar addict.  
(Version 4.0b4)

RICHARD TATER  I really like LaunchBar. I continue to explore other similar programs like Quicksilver and Butler, but LaunchBar remains preferable to me, so far. However, I have stopped running LaunchBar 4 because it's memory usage is excessive (this appears to be simply the way it presently works, rather than a memory leak). I understand that it is beta software, but this problem needs to be fixed before I continue.  
(Version 4.0b3)

ANONYMOUS  Doesn't work with iTunes 4.5 library? Anyone?  
(Version 4.0b3)

T  I've had LauchBar for a long time and it's become part of my Mac OS X experience. I have recommended it to many people as the first app they should buy. LaunchBar 4 (beta 2) raises the bar even higher and adds tons of functionality and has an improved interface. What I love about this app is that it's got a very clean UI. Many developers have no idea what a great UI means. (And the application icon is really nice too.) I've tried Quicksilver for a while; It's free, so that's nice. But I don't know. It has more eye candy but that doesn't do it for me. What does do it for me is that LaunchBar blends so well into the whole Mac OS X interface - it's as if it's simply part of the Finder. LaunchBar is still my app of choice and I will support the developer's effort in making it better. Version 4 is still in beta, but it's allready great and fast.  
(Version 4.0b2)

PIANOPHILE  Still the King. Worth every penny.  
(Version 4.0b2)

SLADE  I’ve tried them all & for what it does Launchbar is still my favorite.  
(Version 4.0b2)

ANONYMOUS  Reading all of the comments about Quicksilver, I decided to download and try it. Although it has a lot of features, I find that it's not as simple and easy to use as LB.  
(Version 4.0b2)

BERND  I'm getting bored on all these people praising Quicksilver instead of reviewing this great next step in LaunchBar's history.QS is quite a great app and - yes- it's free,which seems to be the main reason why the guys are flying on it besides it's lovely gui.LB is only functional and functionality is the only thing it's all about.

LaunchBar is the godfather of this kind of launchers and either you show a little more respect or you check it out and you will find,that it is richer on features and indeed it is faster than QS is.Besides,it is more complex,but also very easy to use.

This was,this is and it will be my favorite launcher.  
(Version 4.0b2)

NOT A ONE HORSE TOWN ANY LONGER  I too have to admit that Quicksilver is now the king of launchers. Out of respect for LaunchBar and its service provided to me I will not rate it with stars as it is still an excellent application....I guess you can call it the Prince of launchers?  
(Version 4.0b2)

ANONYMOUS  What I give the program after I have tested and begun to use Quicksilver.

* * * * * Five stars for Quicksilver:

http://blacktree.com/apps/quicksilver/

Test it, you will not be disapointed.  
(Version 4.0b2)

PAUL G RIDER  Granted, Quick Silver is good, but it just does not do it for me.

In a head-to-head comparison in finding and launching files, LaunchBar was able to locate everything I could throw at it, while Quick Silver only found 25%.

LaunchBar it is!  
(Version 4.0b2)

LEO OF BORG  This new 4.0b1 version feels bloated on a 1ghz TiBook. I reg'd Launchbar at 3.0x, and, at the time it was the cat's meow.

Now we have too many options, and I could launch my *ss if I wanted to.

Butler is showing promise. It hits the sweet spot of justEnough Launcher, iTunes Controller, and multiClipboard app that had me opt for it instead.

Polish? Try it.

I will give the LB Beta high marks for stability. Pretty good for a beta.  
(Version 4.0b1)

ANONYMOUS  I have put them side-by-side and compared and here are my findings:

1) LaunchBar: The Original and heartfelt

2) Quicksilver: The new kid on the block and better

I will use LaunchBar out of respect.  
(Version 4.0b1)

ANONYMOUS  Absolutely awesome! Although QuickSilver is free, QuickSilver feels clunky and not as nice as LaunchBar.

This new version is even better too, it can run AppleScripts so I don't have to make them an application anymore.  
(Version 4.0b1)

ANONYMOUS  Added the terminal features I requested, and along with the smart groups, search templates, and more advanced indexing (i{photo, tunes, etc} and others) LaunchBar again claims the top seat among mac launchers (imo).

Some of the claims about bloat and free competition are justified, but you can turn off the features that seem to slow things down (mainly all the new indexing), and the free versions lack most of LaunchBar's polish (at present).  
(Version 4.0b1)

ALEX  Still the best launcher! Love the new features and the quicker response. Sure, I hear Quicksilver is better, more wonderful, more awesome, the cat's meow but I can't try it anyway because I use OS 10.2 and Quicksilver isn't compatible. So Launchbar is the best of its kind because of its features and because they didn't leave me out.   
(Version 4.0b1)

ANONYMOUS  As a computer user and developer for the past 15 years, I've learned how much value to place on what developers say they will do. Less than zero.  
(Version 4.0b1)

DOUGLAS HOLSCHUH  I just wanted to counter some of the new negative comments that have been posted. I've been using LaunchBar for as long as I've been using OSX, and I forget how to use a computer without it. I've tried the other similar launchers out there and I keep coming back to LaunchBar. It's lightning fast, and it takes no time to set up - the default configurations run just great - so you can just start using it. There are a lot of new features in 4.0b1 (many obviously in response to the competition), but they all seem to integrate well into the basic Cmd-space-type idea of LaunchBar. And the great thing is, if you don't need these new features, just ignore them and keep using it the way you've always used it. The new features don't seem to have added any bloat to this program at all. I'll happily pay another $20 for this program.  
(Version 4.0b1)

STICKMAN67  Sorry, but this seems to have lost the intuitiveness and sleekness of its forebears, and has lost a lot of ground to Quicksilver and even Butler.

Yes, it's faster than before (which is absolutely necessary if it's to compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace). But it seems clunky now, and it's too expensive (make it somewhere between $9.95 and $14.95 and I'd think about it). Hard to compete against something that's free, that's fast and that works ...

My primary gripe is that I don't seem to be able to add apps that aren't on the boot partition. I keep many apps on another working partition on a slave drive, and others on a Classic partition. Attempts to add those apps via the Configuration seem doomed for some obscure reason -- LB scans the "Applications" folders on those partitions for everything but apps!

I'm sure there's a simple way to do this, but it's not immediately obvious and I can't see it documented clearly.

It should be.

I've gone from big fan to former user in the space of a week. Pity.  
(Version 4.0b1)

ANONYMOUS  Getting to all be a bit cumbersome I feel. Purchased it to type a few letters and open the item. All I wanted. I know I under use it, but the new features and overview to 4.0 is a touch over kill. It just does too much now and the layout/setup is getting to hard to figure out. IMHO. More is not always the best. KISS. is a term I like.

Where doe it say this will be a piad up grade. I did not read that. Where is that located out please?

If that is the case i doubt I will pay again after about 6 months on this payment. if it is based on recent purchases or not a universal paid up grade may give it a go a while longer.

May have to look at this Quicksilver everyone is talking about or I may just return to the DragThing option which remains clean for launching. I am just getting disgusted with bloatware and constant changes to setup of software.  
(Version 4.0b1)

ANONYMOUS  I am afraid LaunchBar has met its match, been penned and lost.  
(Version 4.0b1)

MILK  Launchbar is the most original launcher I have ever seen. 4.0b1 brings more to us, the ability to group files, faster searching, easier configurations.

It does seem that Obdev will be charging an update for 3.x users who haven't registered before 4.0b1 was released, but really, who cares?

LaunchBar is such an amazing application. Every time I go to a computer I hit cmd-space. When an application can be integrated so well into your life, it is worth an upgrade cost.  
(Version 4.0b1)

ANONYMOUS  .

I am sure this is a reaction to the success of Quicksilver, but that's okay. As one reviewer mentioned, competition is indeed good. That being said, I still think Quicksilver comes out on top. The most o