How to use Logos most successfully (Summary and Conclusions)

I have been using Logos for years, having originally bought 'The Original Language Library' in 2002 (Libronix). It needed a minimum of 60 MB hard drive and a screen resolution of 800 x 600 and an OS up to 2000/XP. Now I have 6 GB RAM, 750 GB hard drive and Windows 8.1. However my computer is very slow using Logos and I want to try to optimize my use of Logos.

Using SSD and a 64 bit OS might improve performance, but there is no consensus that they would. So I have decided to stay with what I have until I get a new computer.
I used to use two layouts, one for Bible study, with four panels - English Bibles, Greek Bibles, Commentaries and lexica. Now I am considering either using layouts or, alternatively, using ‘passage guide’ or the 'home page' to start a study. I think the optimum way is to use a very simple layout with only NRSV and NA27, coupled with yhe use of ‘passage guide’.
Initially I bought video tutorials, including Morris Proctor Seminars in 2003, 2004 and 2008, from Series X to Logos 3. Now I have Logos 5, but I do not intend to buy more learning material at this time.
In the past I bought very useful extra resources, such as the A(Y)BD, EDNT, GGBB, The AFs, etc. These I have found very useful and continue to use them constantly. Recently I got Verbum and find the Fathers most useful. I am not in the market for further resources at present. unless I am advised to the contrary

So please let me know if I am on the right track. What should I do to improve my study? I would welcome all suggestions. Basically my key interests are the Letters of Paul, and the Apostolic Fathers.

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Comments

Bruce Dunning

Using SSD and a 64 bit OS might improve performance, but there is no consensus that they would.

I'm not sure where you are getting your information about SSDs but I can say for sure that the biggest performance difference I have ever seen with using Logos came as a result of when I upgraded to SSD. I used to wait for long periods of time for indexing and now I hardly even notice that it is doing it.

Initially I bought video tutorials, including Morris Proctor Seminars in 2003, 2004 and 2008, from Series X to Logos 3. Now I have Logos 5, but I do not intend to buy more learning material at this time.

There are many good free resources to learn lots about Logos 5.

https://wiki.logos.com/Logos_5_Video_Tutorials

https://www.logos.com/webinar/archive

Rich DeRuiter

Using SSD and a 64 bit OS might improve performance, but there is no consensus that they would. So I have decided to stay with what I have until I get a new computer.

There seems to be a strong consensus on these forums that SSD's do improve performance significantly. However, it's very important to research reliability in SSD's as some have higher failure rates than others (every SSD, like ever HDD will eventually fail). It's also important that most data on the SSD is constant, so using it in conjunction with an HDD for personal files, and the like will also improve the life-span of the SSD. But do your research before going this way, so you know what to expect. As always backup regularly.

Logos will soon be releasing a beta version of Logos as a 64bit app. This will take advantage of many features in the 64bit OS environment that should speed up Logos dramatically. We'll see.

I used to use two layouts, one for Bible study, with four panels - English Bibles, Greek Bibles, Commentaries and lexica. Now I am considering either using layouts or, alternatively, using ‘passage guide’ or the 'home page' to start a study. I think the optimum way is to use a very simple layout with only NRSV and NA27, coupled with yhe use of ‘passage guide’.

Both the Home Page and Guides take time to run, and take time to load. Link sets (especially between Bibles and Commentaries), and many of the Tools (Information, Power Lookup, etc.) also slow down Logos by constantly reloading the content in those panels. Use them sparingly, or not at all, or set the Tools to "Not follow" (or whatever the setting is--I don't use them anymore). A lot of visual filters (especially those that change text size or line spacing) tend to slow things down too, in my experience.

By keeping your layout simple, should improve performance.

Initially I bought video tutorials, including Morris Proctor Seminars in 2003, 2004 and 2008, from Series X to Logos 3. Now I have Logos 5, but I do not intend to buy more learning material at this time.

The free tutorials in the wiki are a tremendous source for learning to use Logos 5 better. I heartily recommend Mark Barnes videos found here: http://www.logosbiblesoftwaretraining.com/

In the past I bought very useful extra resources, such as the A(Y)BD, EDNT, GGBB, The AFs, etc. These I have found very useful and continue to use them constantly. Recently I got Verbum and find the Fathers most useful. I am not in the market for further resources at present. unless I am advised to the contrary

Buy and use what suits you best. I prefer a broader approach, often consulting a half-dozen to many more commentaries, background commentaries, Bible dictionaries and lexicons, besides homiletical commentaries or sermon collections. I also typically look at a passage through several English versions (sometimes Spanish too, which I can read and understand to a degree). I find this can help me see things in a text I didn't see before, or alert me to textual or translation issues that may warrant further study.

But I'm not you. Do whatever suits your style of learning/study best.

Keith Larson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/620787#Comment_620787

Noel,

Is this the same computer you had back in 2002? It almost sounds as if you have just upgraded the amount of memory and your HD. If it is that old try to pick up a new video card. Even the sub $50 cards will be many times faster than cards from the 2002 era. As a rule of thumb 5 years is about as long as computers have a useful life.

Beloved Amodeo

Initially I bought video tutorials, including Morris Proctor Seminars in 2003, 2004 and 2008, from Series X to Logos 3. Now I have Logos 5, but I do not intend to buy more learning material at this time.

Including the excellent recommendations preceding I would heartily recommend the free webinars at Learn Logos done by John Fallahee. If after viewing the free webinars you find that you want them for future reference there is a nominal fee. The upcoming one on 8/25/14 at 8pm EST is on Louw-Nida it should be good.

www.learnlogos.com

Also, just a minor correction the Logos archived free webinars are at

www.logos.com/webinar-archive

Lee

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/620810#Comment_620810

I can tell you that for the last 8 months I have had great performance from Logos using my SSD it is a ADATA SX900 256GB drive.

Cost was around $200.00

I have windows and logos both running on it.

Ken McGuire

I have been using Logos for years, having originally bought 'The Original Language Library' in 2002 (Libronix). It needed a minimum of 60 MB hard drive and a screen resolution of 800 x 600 and an OS up to 2000/XP. Now I have 6 GB RAM, 750 GB hard drive and Windows 8.1. However my computer is very slow using Logos and I want to try to optimize my use of Logos.

We started at about the same time and level... My machine at the time was a 384 MB Win98 machine with a 10 MB HD... Was so happy to upgrade.

Now I still have a more modest setup than you. Every report I have heard is that SSD setups will help a LOT.

But with my modest setup, the standard guides are quite slow. WAY faster than doing it all manually, but for a computer, SLOW. And so I rarely use them. I have found that I use Power Lookup quite a bit reading things, and in studying a passage use the "Cited By" tool. This combined with a modest number of links and open resources lets me move along ok.

When I want more, there is the Explorer, or the guides or searches. And key dictionaries are just a few clicks away...

Mike Childs

I have been using Logos for years, having originally bought 'The Original Language Library' in 2002 (Libronix). It needed a minimum of 60 MB hard drive and a screen resolution of 800 x 600 and an OS up to 2000/XP. Now I have 6 GB RAM, 750 GB hard drive and Windows 8.1. However my computer is very slow using Logos and I want to try to optimize my use of Logos.

Using SSD and a 64 bit OS might improve performance, but there is no consensus that they would. So I have decided to stay with what I have until I get a new computer.

I used to use two layouts, one for Bible study, with four panels - English Bibles, Greek Bibles, Commentaries and lexica. Now I am considering either using layouts or, alternatively, using ‘passage guide’ or the 'home page' to start a study. I think the optimum way is to use a very simple layout with only NRSV and NA27, coupled with yhe use of ‘passage guide’.

Initially I bought video tutorials, including Morris Proctor Seminars in 2003, 2004 and 2008, from Series X to Logos 3. Now I have Logos 5, but I do not intend to buy more learning material at this time.

In the past I bought very useful extra resources, such as the A(Y)BD, EDNT, GGBB, The AFs, etc. These I have found very useful and continue to use them constantly. Recently I got Verbum and find the Fathers most useful. I am not in the market for further resources at present. unless I am advised to the contrary

So please let me know if I am on the right track. What should I do to improve my study? I would welcome all suggestions. Basically my key interests are the Letters of Paul, and the Apostolic Fathers.

Certainly, you are on the right track, especially with regard to purchasing resources as you know best how you study and what resources will be of benefit to you.

As to SSD HD, I think it is almost unanimous that is a solid upgrade to improve performance. It has for me.

God bless your study, and may Logos be a blessing to you.

Noel Fitzpatrick

I really am most grateful for all the constructive replies I have received. I appreciate it that so many of you have spent time thinking about my concerns and replying to me.

1 Bruce, thank you for the web sites with free learning resources.

2 Richard, your advice to use simple layouts is excellent.

3 Keith, sorry for not being clearer. I changed my computer about 18 months ago.

4 Beloved, thanks for recommending John Fallahee.

5 Lee, sometimes in Ireland prices are greater than in the US.

6 Ken, I will re-visit ‘Power Lookup’ and try out ‘Cited by’.

7 Michael, thanks for your good wishes and advice.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/620787#Comment_620787

Guides take time to run

Just to clarify, if the sections are closed when the Guide is opened, the Guide takes very little time. From there on it depends upon the section and how you have sliced your library. In order to have the sections closed when you open the Guides, you must close all the sections before you close the Guide itself.

abondservant

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/621037#Comment_621037

SSd improved computer boot, and logos start times by several orders of magnitude. Maybe 60-80%. The 64 bit so won't make much difference - probably.

Wild Eagle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/621043#Comment_621043

The 64 bit so won't make much difference - probably.

Not now, because Logos is 32bit, but 64bit is coming very soon. Looking to the near future, I would recommend 64 bit as well.

Fasil

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/621051#Comment_621051

MY upgrade to SSD and to 16GB memory RAM has changed my Laptop functionality tremendously.

abondservant

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/621051#Comment_621051

Not now, because Logos is 32bit, but 64bit is coming very soon. Looking to the near future, I would recommend 64 bit as well.

Thats what I was speaking about. Most individuals - and cerainly those with only 4gb of ram - will not see much improvement. I suspect I'll notice some. But we shall see.