When I saw the latest version of Hallmark Card Studio advertised, I snapped it up with glee. Price $50, I bought it at CompUSA with a $20 rebate. I have the original Hallmark Connection and still use it for almost all the cards, invitations, signs, announcements etc. that I make.

This version has more of everything. It is much more glitzy, and can do many more things. It has an almost endless amount of various greeting cards with an almost endless amount of messagesthat can be used for any of the cards. In other words by mixing and matching cards for all occasions, you can use this application for anything and for any one.

Just to give you an example, the box indicates that it has more than 600,000+ unique ways to create cards...and while I have not tried them all, I have no doubt that in time, I will come close. The cards and messages are so varied that you can most assuredly find a card to suit any imaginable occasion. They also have included 10,000+ art images that can be used with any one of the 600K cards. All of this comes on four discs. Disc #1 is for birthday cards, Day By Day Cards, Photo Greetings, etc., Disc #2 is for for all different kinds of cards for all the Holidays during the year, Disc #3 is for Special Day Cards and for all the Art Book Images. Disc #4 is reserved for various packs of cards that you can purchase. Also, on this disc is Snapshot Express, which is a photo editing software - where you can add photos to your Hallmark cards and projects, edit images, experiment with special effects, and create your own digital photo albums. With all the cards, etc, on this application, I must admit that I have not tried this particular feature.

Hallmark allows you to import photos from a scanner or dgital camera, or import it from your own files. Most importantly, it recognizes all types of file extentions, i.e., bmp, fpx, jpeg, pcd, pcx, png, psd, tga and tif. You can also create your card and then email it. Now, I know that you can find various places on the web to email cards...but this application allows you to create your own card, in your own inimitable fashion and email it. That is unique!!

Hallmark has also included a calendar, - an event reminder, - so that you will never again forget to send a card to really important people, or whoever you have included in your calendar. Truly a life saver for those who leave everything to the last minute!

Hallmark has included a really nice manual, and thankfully, it is one that is printed in user friendly language, with user friendly pictures to lead you along the path, should you not understand how to do something. The entire application is user friendly and it is one of the most intuitive graphic applications that I have seen in a long time.

Wait!!...it gets better!!...Hallmark (Sierra) has included their promise - and I quote..."If for any reason you are not convinced this product is the best of its kind, return it within 90 days for an exchange or full refund"...and they give you an address for return. W O W!! Take my word for it...you won't want to return it. It is that good.

Hallmark (Sierra) has also included a small amount of various card stock and you have the ability to order more. At a glance, the pricing of the extra paper, different size card stock, envelopes, and whatever else they offer seem to be very fair.