Scholar, Silver, Gold, or Platinum?

Last year was my first purchase. I bought Gold. This year I upgraded to Gold 4 with the Logos 3 CD so I could use the resources in 3 because I don't like version 4. I bought BDAG a about a month or two ago. I also bought the Church fathers in Greek and English as well as a few other Greek resources. For me Gold was the way to Go. Hope this helps.

Jeremy Brown said:

I'm going to be purchasing one of the packages while the Christmas Special is going.  What package would you get?  I realize that the Platinum has the most stuff, but is it good stuff you want, or would you rather buy a cheaper package, and then buy the things you specifically want with the extra money?

The only way to get an answer to your question, is to go to the comparison charts http://www.logos.com/comparison and examine the differences. What resources are in te Platinum that you would use? If you can find (say) 10 resources that together justify the extra, then it's worth it for you. (This is a time consuming process: e.g. several hours over a period of a week.)

For me, the Scholars' library was the highest base pack that gave me resources I really needed. Since then, I've been gradually adding other books, and I've spent considerably more than the Platinum would have cost, but I've very pleased to have a custom library that contains exactly what I need.

I used to think Logos was too much money and wondered why some of the conservative commentaries were in the more expensive packages (such as the Pulpit commentary) and lacked others such as John Gill, Wesley, Clarke, etc (in the base packages) when they were in my $49 program.  I was forced into looking into a new bible software program when I switched to a Mac and ran into a Logos rep at the Spiritual Leadership Conference at Lancaster Baptist Church CA, and it was 25% off.  I got the Silver edition, and before I got familiar with the resources, I thought maybe too much was spent on it and that I may have been just as content with the Leadership Library series since it appeared that a lesser edition mostly just lacked in Greek & Hebrew resources which I can't make much use of yet when I don't know the languages (though I would also miss a couple of the commentaries that were in the Silver).  After using Logos Silver for a couple of months becoming more familiar with the program and the resources I became more grateful that I had the Silver.  And then when Logos 4 was released, I quickly made the upgrade to the Logos 4 (stayed with Silver edition) even though it wasn't finalized for the Mac yet, but I could still use many of the resources in the previous version.  Just out of curiosity I checked out what were the resources in the Gold edition, and felt it wasn't worth upgrading to.  Then I checked the Platinum and was surprised with much of the added resources in it, stuff that I will use now and others that I likely will refer to in the future.  I looked at some of the specific resources I would like, and seeing to purchase just two of the several that I liked would be close to the $550 upgrade option.  Many of the resources were $200, $250, $300, and one even $480 alone!  So upgrading the "base package" was evidently a better deal!  A large library that I could go to quickly if I ever needed or wanted to, that would be practically impossible to purchase everything in print or to search for the material even if I had it in print!  So my wife purchased the upgrade to Platinum for me for Christmas while discounts were still in effect ($140 off the upgrade).  She tried so hard to keep it a secret, she asked Logos not to send me a receipt by email, chose the DVD option instead of download, had it temporarily put on her mom's card so it wouldn't show up in our bank account.  The secret didn't last long though, her not realizing that even if you choose the DVD option, you still have the ability to download...and my Alpha Mac Version automatically started downloading the new books when I launched it...also I routinely would look at the custom discount page and dream of the added resources, and then of course it now said the next upgrade option would be Portfolio.  Surprised I still was though!  Was funny seeing how diligent she tried to hide it though and it still didn't work.

In short my recommendations would be...

New user, light weight studier with bible software programs, at least the Leadership Library.

If a pastor or church staff member that teaches quite a bit, or someone that simply likes to study deep into things and likes having a large library in a single resource, then the Silver or Platinum.  Gold didn't seem much worth it to me, was a much better deal to throw in an extra $200 to get the Platinum.

Logos will get even better if they ever are able to go to a popular e-book reader such as the Nook or Kindle.  I don't own either yet, but will find it extremely useful if the entire Logos library is every able to sync with them.  I would then also buy more regular book resources from Logos to read on such.

I have owned the Gold but now own the Platinum.  The current retail difference between the two is only 310 dollars, when I only looked at the differences in commentaries and Language tools that sold me on the upgrade.  

Let's look at the difference in retail price between the two libraries in just the commentaries and language tools.

Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (8 Vols.) sale price 225.00,

 Baker New Testament Commentary (12 Vols.) sale price 160.00

Believer’s Church Bible Commentary (19 Vols.) sale price 350.00

Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae Commentary (21 Vols.) sale price 490.00,

Classic Commentaries on the Greek New Testament (14 Vols.), sale price 200.00

Nehemiah: An Expository Commentary by H. A. Ironside  15.00

Pillar New Testament Commentary (10 Vols.) sale price on 8 vol is 250.00

Proverbs: An Expository Commentary, by H. A. Ironside 15.00

Revelation: An Expository Commentary, by H .A. Ironside 15.00

Analytical Key to the Old Testament (4 Vols.) 280.00a

Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research 80.00

A Concise Coptic–English Lexicon 20.00

A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (BDAG) 150.00

Now that is a lot of extra resources for your 310.00 dollars but let's add in one other resource...Berkouwer’s Studies in Dogmatics (14 Vols.) 330.00

There are also many other books in the Gold to platinum upgrade, but for most folks just the BDAG lexicon, plus the Pillar and Baker Exegetical Commentaries make the upgrade worth the difference in price of 310 dollars but it will actaully cost you even less right now at the sale price of 25% off!!! 

In Christ,

Jim

Right Jim,

That is exactly the way I figured it.  If you are interested in the best commentaries available, and especially if you intend to work with Greek and Hebrew, Platinum is the best value for the money by far.

Jason Saling said:

Surprised I still was though!  Was funny seeing how diligent she tried to hide it though and it still didn't work.

Jason, that's a great Christmas story. I like it very much. It is so funny to see how your wife worked hard on hiding your gift and still Logos 4 had it's ways how to get stuff to your computer [:D] Congratulations to you upgrading to the Platinum. I am very happy with my Platinum also. I think it adds so much good stuff it is irresistible for a pastor or teacher who really wants to dig deeper. I recommend it very much.

"Buy the Farm" - that would be hilarious, if only just to see in your cart.  [:D]

Thomas Black said:

unobtanium

[8-|]

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Going from Leaders to Scholars. With the upgrade price I will have an extra $100. Any suggestions???

I have Ironside, Pink, and MacArthur.