Anyone use Readerware or BookCat?

texas_nightowl · Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 4

I am looking at moving in 6 months and I'm trying to start preparing a little earlier than usual...like now instead of 2 weeks before moving. I know I want to thin out my collection a little bit and I'd like to keep track of what I'm keeping vs. what I am donating/giving away.

I've looked at Shelfari, GoodReads, and Fictiondb and though they each have nice features I'm just not that enthused about them. I'd prefer something that I keep locally on my computer. I thought about setting up my own Access database, but I like the ability of Readerware and BookCat to take an ISBN an download book data for me. In anticipation of this, I just bought a CueCat scanner from ebay and the plan is to scan barcodes as I either box them to keep or box them to give away.

So, any feedback on these products or other similar?

LLB · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 869 Location: Dallas, Texas

texas_nightowl · Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks, I will. The cuecat is supposed to ship today and not from too far away, so hopefully I will have by this weekend. I guess I will try the trials of both bookcat and readerware and see how it goes!

Susan/DC · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 1596

So does the Cuecat then upload the data to either Bookcat or Readerware?

Byron is another system that provides information on your desktop and can be updated periodically if you subscribe. However, since I don't have it I don't know if it has the scanning functionality you mention. Perhaps another poster can tell you.

texas_nightowl · Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 4

Susan -

Actually, all the CueCat does is send the barcode to the computer like you were typing the barcode in by keyboard. So then the programs (either BookCat or Readerware) connect to the internet and search and download the book data into the program. The CueCat connects to your computer via USB just like a keyboard or mouse. I hopefully will receive the CueCat today or tomorrow.