Logos 4 and E-Sword

I've noticed that E-Sword has some of commentaries/dictionaries for free that you have to pay for in Logos. Should I use both Logos and E-Sword simultaneously - E-Sword with the free stuff and Logos with the stuff that I can't get in E-Sword?

Thoughts?

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TCBlack

Bill, the answer is ultimately up to you. It just depends on how important it is to have everything integrated into one program. For me, one stop shopping is worth it.

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/276741#Comment_276741

I've chosen to pay for some resources I own in other programmes, to have them all together in Logos. But I cancelled the Chesterton collection, as I can download that in Kindle format for free, and don't need to read it in Logos format. For a long time I didn't get original language resources in Logos as I had them elsewhere. Then I realised it was a false economy and bought them.

But it depends on your finances, your needs and your priorities.

Rick

I have asked myself the same question in the past but am slowly
converting to only using Logos. I used to use three or four programs but
am now down to Logos and one other competitor. One reason is as Thomas mentioned, it is nice to have everything in one program and as I have become more and more comfortable/confident with Logos 4 it has slowly become my program of choice.

The other, and probably my biggest, concern is consumer confidence. Please note: What I am about to type are my thoughts and only thoughts. They are not intended to be degrading towards any company or employees of those companies. We are living in a time of economical uncertainty (at least in my house) and businesses are taking the steps necessary to provide quality products. I think that right now, competition and demand are vital for the companies involved. It is intended with Christian love mixed with human thought. My thoughts are often wrong.

With the free programs, you never know when the person(s) who create it are no longer going to support it for whatever reason. The next time you upgrade your computer to a new operating system, the program may never be compatible and any notes and such will simply no longer be available. As far as paid programs, for Windows, I can think of three other fairly popular programs. One of which I see in Bible bookstores very frequently (PC Study Bible) has not been updated in at least a couple of years that I know of and has some bugs. According to their forums there is no communication happening about the status of updates and that makes me very afraid to purchase. Quickverse has been bought by Wordsearch so their program will be obsolete very soon. Wordsearch has said it intends to update all of the QV resources for free and I have no doubt that they are sincere in this effort but how long will it take? Will QV users have to wait quite some time to get their resources upgraded to Wordsearch once a new operating system is installed? I have no idea to this answer, I just hope for all of the QV users out there that this will be a very expedient process and they don't have to do without while waiting. Finally, Wordsearch itself has new owners. They are now a part of Lifeway Christian Resources. Wordsearch is my second Bible software that I use regularly. Some concerns raised about Lifeway acquiring Wordsearch is that Lifeway may not be willing to publish resources that are not in line with their theology, which would severely hamper the number of resources available to me. I have no way of confirming this so it is only what others are saying on the forums. However, if this is true, and I want to study preterism, will there be any current resources available for me through them? I don't know, but since there has been no clarification I am now kind of leery to invest to much into the program since I am unclear of their direction at this point.

So, when money and valuable notes and study time are at risk, at this current snapshot in history, Logos is the only one that I feel that I can depend on to either (a) be here in five years and still operating on my current system or (b) not have a lopsided group of availability due to theological leanings.

Please Note: If this post is thought of to violate the intent of any rules or is deemed harsh please let me know within the time allotted to delete a post and I will do so.

Shawn Drewett

Bill, this is what I posted in another thread last week.:

"Brad, in March 1999 I bought my first Logos product, the MacArthur Bible Study Library. I was much exited about it and enjoyed discovering bible study with an excellent product. I then began to purchase more books but almost exclusively from Thomas Nelson because they were/are less expensive. I live on a limited budget and my purchases are mainly confined to Community Pricing and a “certain” Christian online software company. I’ll get some fire from this statement but if I had known what I know now I would not have chosen Logos as my primary Bible Software. Because of my limited budget I had to make a decision years ago to choose ONE bible software to build up. I could have saved A LOT of money if I had chosen another. Logos is a fantastic bible software but you’d better have self control or you’ll spend a lot more money than you need to!"

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/276817#Comment_276817

I bought several inexpensive software programs, added some freeware programs like eSword, and switched back forth initially. I still have some of the others, including eSword for a few resources. However, I too wound up with the MacArthur library disc. I liked it, but when I tried L4Mac in beta, the lights came on. Here was a program that not only had all the essential resources, but it put everything forward in a more usable way. I realize it's some serious dollars to do it, but I went for Scholar and then shortly thereafter plunged in for Platinum.

Instead of hopping from program to program, and running back and forth to the bookshelf, I have a solid core of resources that I can pull up for study. Yes I like eSword, yes I still have books I treasure and use, yes, it's expensive, but nothing will transform your study like Logos.

One other thing. I practically stood on my head doing tricks to raise money for Scholar. I plunged ahead and went for the payment plan that Logos has. I mentioned it to my friend because I was really taken with Logos but frazzled and exhausted trying to find the means to do it. In less than five minutes my friend had his bank send me a check for the full amount.

If you are meant to be using Logos, God will make a way. He always does.

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/276914#Comment_276914

I have over 2650 resources in Logos, I use it every day and love how easy it is to use for doing research. But I can not afford all the Logos books I would use in my studies. But God has provided me with a free program called theWord, for years it was E-Sword that I used as my second program, but theWord is to free programs what Logos is to paid programs...the best,and nobody does it better!

For years I taught believers how to use E-Sword, for the last 2 years it is theWord. With E-sword I have over 3200 modules, but they are not as useful as in the Word. Plus as of this week-end I have over 3500 modules in theWord. I am glad I have it for my DTH studies.

Your brother in Christ,

Jim VanSchoonhoven

If you are like me using the two programs together is no real problem, you can even have it on a second screen if you want. On the upside, it also has a better note taking feature and it is easy to make your own books for it.

Like some one said "If God wants you to have all your books in Logos, you will get them" but from my point of view until He gives me them, I am real thankful He has providedme with theWord!!!

You know how your pocket book is and how much you want those extra book for your studies, talk it over with God, and I bet you will be shown what to do.

Bill Cooper

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/276923#Comment_276923

can you post sites for these E-Sword and theWord resources?

or email them to me directly?

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277150#Comment_277150

Hi all

Just a reminder of the guidelines Logos ask us to observe on these forums - available at http://community.logos.com/forums/t/10072.aspx

These include:

Please do not use our forums to

sell or give away anything or link to anything you’re selling or giving away—including Logos products
promote or link to competitors
point people to other places that sell Logos-compatible products
advertise yourself, your business, your ministry, your website, etc. (a tasteful link in your forum signature is acceptable)
post Logos Coupon Codes. If you are aware of a special promotion Logos is running online, you are welcome to link directly to the promotion.

Graham

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277152#Comment_277152

Bill, I am not sure that links to either of theses sites would in anyway go against to forum rules, but to help those out that it would bother, please post your e-mail address and I will send you information.

My desire is to help people study the scriptures and to grow in God's Grace and I think sending this information to your email address may be a right fit!

In Christ,

Jim

Rick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277168#Comment_277168

please post your e-mail address and I will send you information.

For security reasons you should post your email address in a way that spam bots will not detect it. For example if your email address is bill.doe@somewhere.com you should post it in a way such as bill.doe <AT> somewhere ~~~ com(not org) or similar because you might start getting a lot of unwanted emails!

Sorry if you are already familiar with this process, a lot of people are not.

Robert Pavich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277173#Comment_277173

Rick,

You shouldn't feel weird about what you wrote above...you are right...these are tough times and things that a person must work on and maintain for free often go away....that's a valid concern.

My hope is that Logos is around for a loooonnnggggg time.....

Rick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/277775#Comment_277775

hese are tough times and things that a person must work on and maintain for free often go away....that's a valid concern.

My hope is that Logos is around for a loooonnnggggg time.....

Hi Robert, thanks for the encouragement. I thought that I was within Logos' policy guidelines for mentioning other software within this context but know that sometimes it can be a sticky situation.

I too hope that Logos and the others are here for a very long time! The more availability the more likely someone is going to discover the joys of true Bible study. I started out with Libronix (eBible at first then slowly upgrading to Scholar's Silver) and Wordsearch and discovered in a short time just how immense/fun studying can be!

Muyiwa Lawrence Adedara

I would imagine so. I earlier had e-Sword but as I can see, some features are not available on e-Sword which one can easily get on Logos. The only snag is that Logos is quite expensive as you would have to pay for most resources. I have decided to use both software simultaneously.