Although we've skimmed over some of the features and only gone into detail with a few, you can see that SundayPlus is a VERY powerful program. Overall, I was impressed with SundayPlus. My bad experience with the previous version set my expectations pretty low, and SundayPlus blew them away. A LOT of work and thinking went into this version.
The ability to play a flash video and use the interactive features right on the screen is PERFECT for youth groups wanting to jump into the multimedia realm. I saw a youth group once who had a programmer create some Flash games for them-now they can use them full screen right in their show.
Oratorio doesn't have this, and I miss it very much in that program. Being able to loop only a few slides and then click right on to the rest of the show is a wonderful feature. I work with the projection at the Aldersgate conference every year, and last year I had to do so much fiddling with PowerPoint and other presentation software that I ended up doing the announcement loop in Final Cut Pro and duped it a zillion times and let it run through the video switcher. It looked cool, but I couldn't change it in the middle since THAT required rendering. I look forward to using this feature this year!
While you don't get true superimposed text, this feature can come in handy when you want to give a great visual during a song. You could also play music videos to your youth group and add the words so they can sing along.
Got a CCLI license? Well, go to the CCLI website and pay the $39 to get SongSelect online. You can download a file for each song in their database that works directly in SundayPlus (and their database is pretty big). Talk about a time saver! I went ahead and signed my church up for this (I do all the projection and video stuff for our youth group) and tested it, and It works as advertised.
This isn't a feature of the program, but if you are a SundayPlus user, the website and the list serve are invaluable. The web site contains tons of free images, and the list serve can get your questions answered quickly, pus it's just a fun place to exchange tips and ideas.
http://www.sundayplus.com/group/index.html
One thing I think that is missing is a Library function. If you have ever used a program like Oratorio, having your ENTIRE library at the touch of a button can really make a difference in a pinch. If your worship leader pulls a song out that you don't have in your list, you can have it on screen in about 5 seconds. This is not always so with SundayPlus. If the song has been imported but not added to a cue, then you have to scan through the multi column list of songs to find it. If it has NOT been imported, then you must brave the Import window, find the song, and import it. Then you must drop an image on a cue, drop the song on a cue, then click the cue to show the song. Not a very fast solution. For most churches, this is only a minor drawback. There are only certain scenarios that require this kind of speed, so unless you absolutely need this feature, don't let its absence deter you from SundayPlus.
I can't blame them for this one as Macromedia hasn't released an OS X version of Director yet, but Classic is sometimes a pain, and forget getting good video performance in Classic. NOTE: can't stand the OS 9 icon in your Dock? Download my OS X SundayPlus icon.
As a Mac user, it bugs me to work with windows that look like they were ported from another platform. I don't expect a new OS 9 version, but when they do the X version, I hope they figure out a way to either tap into the OS X system, or fake the windows so they at least LOOK mac like. NOTE: several users have commented that when you are in a mixed environment, having this window look the same on both is a GOOD thing. Also, if you use the Drag-and drop function mentioned on Page 2, you can bypass this window altogether. I'd still like to see it cleaned up and refined (but hey, that's just me!) and I'd LOVE to see drag and drop directly into the bins for the Mac version (the PC version does it now).
The PC version comes with the ability to read and show PowerPoint files. I have heard that the reason the Mac version can't do this is that the company that makes the plug-in doesn't MAKE a mac version. Well, put it on my wish list. LOTS of churches use PP, and the ability to read them is sorely missed.
Although this is a small thing, and many people may not use it, I thought it was strange that I could not import any audio files. The ability to import audio files and lay them over a background would be a nice addition. The work around is to format your Audio as a .mov file, drop a full sized blank text file over it and change the text background option from solid color to a preset image. Kind of clunky, but it works.
One thing that I think would be a nice feature is a small text box with an On/Off button next to it right on the main interface, say next to the Bail buttons. This would allow you to type in a child's number and hit the On button-no menu needed and no dialog box to mess with.
One thing I LOVE about Oratorio is that if you have copyright info in a song file, it and your CCLI number show up in a small font stuck in the bottom corner on the first slide of the song. Having to drop this in manually is a real pain. and if you need to reformat your slides, you have to reformat this info in every song. I'd like to see an option to turn on the CCLI/Copyright info on every song, and an option to override it in the song editor.
In doing my review of SundayPlus I have had to rewrite it several times as undocumented or hard to find functions were brought to my attention. If it's an issue of having to reprint a ton of books, then Grass Roots should at least post updated key-command/shortcut charts in PDF format so that it can be downloaded and printed out (one for Mac and one for PC, all those Command/Control conversions get confusing). I am hoping that the next revision has chapters, running headers (to find sections easily) and "Tip" boxes that highlight those hard to find commands that make the program easier to use. I'm half tempted to just write the thing myself and give it to them (maybe they'll send me the full SP package with all the goodies in return!) ;)
Other than a few performance glitches, the program ran well on all my systems (G4 tower, iBook, TiBook). It even works in Classic under OS X, but don't expect stellar video performance. If you've never used it before, get the demo and play with it. If you're a Mac user, you owe it to yourself to at least try SundayPlus. If you are a Mac user who wants a one stop shop for presentation, then buy it right now and get to work! If your needs are less and you don't need loops or video capabilities, then take a look at both Oratorio and SundayPlus. You may find that Oratorio suits your needs, and it will save you a little money.
One thing I want to stress if you decide to take the plunge and get SundayPlus: learn from my mistakes. Read the manual completely, and do the tutorial that is built into the help system. You'll never use the features you need if you don't learn them first. I missed so much by just jumping in that I wasted a lot of time in my first few uses. The manual almost has to be read like a book, you can't just skip around or you'll miss important features. Take the time to learn all the hidden key commands (just remember that if you're on a Mac, the PC Control key is the Mac Command key. This can get REALLY confusing!).
