What was your first Accordance collection/base package or bundle?

[Brian K. Mitchell]

Through the decades the Accordance team has taken care to curate different libraries called collections that can ask as 'base packages', so to speak.

 

QUESTION #1: What was your very first curated Accordance Collection (base package ) or bundle? 

QUESTION #2: And, why did you select it?

QUESTION #3: If you were starting over today would you buy the same Accordance collection/bundle or would you go for something different?

Edited July 31 by Brian K. Mitchell

[Solly]

1st Collection/Bundle: Original Languages Collection (Accordance 11) and NAS95S (with notes) followed two weeks later with Essentials Collection (Accordance 11) and Tanakh-JPS (1985) with Strongs Numbers.

 

Why: My interest connecting English translations to the original language.

 

Today: I would still  buy something affordable matching my interests and slowly build beyond that paying attention to items of interest when they have discounted pricing. Why? I have quite a few Bible software packages spread over multiple operating systems, so I already have a useful library -- it's just scattered about.

 

Since late 2014 I have been working primarily with macOS as my everyday driver, so I have been slowly purchasing my most used tools for macOS. It took me about a year to figure out which Bible software to get for the MacBook before I finally landed with Accordance. My current order of OS interest is macOS, followed by LINUX, and then Windows.

 

--Joseph with a computer museum

[ukfraser]

Scholar’s 9 Introductory level
 

because it had the original language tools to get me started, plus I got the tagged JPS after I got the zondevan cd mentioned in another thread.
 

i just got a starter package for the 10 upgrade

for 11 upgraded to the  greek & hebrew learner for more original language material.

for 12 upgraded to the greek and hebrew discoverer for the LXX material

for 13 upgraded to the  english speciality starter as it had the ivp dictionaries. 
 

and along the way i have bought loads of stand alone items and packages such as wbc, nivac, nidntte and nidotte which are not included in the standard packages etc etc

 

As I am not in full time ministry and having to pay for everything myself and not having discounts, this has been the most cost effective way for me to build up the library to a level I never suspected I would get to when i bought the zondervan cd. 

I have spent lots of time studying the packages to see what I needed or could possibly see myself using and discounting packages which had material in I knew I wouldn't use such as the English learner/discoverer packages.

 

when I started out we got a sale twice a year but now we are getting them weekly. I dont think I would travel this road again using package upgrades for each new release today. I would probably start with either the Hebrew starter as it has both a hebrew and greek text or the english starter with all the ivp pocket dictionaries.
 

Having seen which tools and packages I actually use, I may just buy those, more expensive individually but cheaper and more focussed in the long term, especially as they come up on weekly sales or with event discount codes. Plus I could build the library more quickly. I have a number of dictionaries and lexicons I rarely use, nice to have but I could probably live without them.
 

Also I am not sure how many core applications I will upgrade to in the future, initially upgrades were about once every 2 years and it made sense to upgrade my package as part of the core product upgrade, but that hasnt been the model since 14. 

 

 

Edited July 30 by ukfraser

[MacMan]

I believe it was Library 6 Premier - on CDs(?).

[Sharon Clark]

8 hours ago, Brian K. Mitchell said:

Through the decades the Accordance team has taken care to curate different libraries called collections that can ask as 'base packages', so to speak.

 

QUESTION #1: What was your very first curated Accordance collection (base package ) or bundle?  

QUESTION #2: And, why did you selected it?

QUESTION #3: If you were starting over today would you buy the same Accordance collection/bundle or would you go for something different?

Q1:  I started with the 12 lite, then 13 lite, the free versions to try Accordance, then I purchased WS Crossover package for 13.

Q2:  It had many of the commentaries I had used for a good price, I was in the process of selecting between Accordance & Logos and went with the purchase of Accordance.

Q3:  Yes, and then I would continue to add to my collection, just as I have been doing.

[A.D. Riddle]

I began with 6.9 Core, and added individual modules. When I started, I only needed, used, and wanted Hebrew Bible, GNT, BDAG, HALOT, NWS and Hebrew inscriptions. Some (or most?) of the Core modules I never installed, such as Thayer's and BDB Abridged. I cannot remember what else was included on the Core CD, but I think it was pretty slim and streamlined. I was using Basilisk II on Windows.

 

If starting today, I would still avoid any large packages and get only the barest things I need and use. I do not need Accordance's powerful search capabilities just to read a normal book.

 

A.D.

Edited July 30 by A.D. Riddle

[Lorinda H. M. Hoover]

1st Collections:  Library 6 Introductory and Scholar's Core 6.9

 

Why:  budget restrictions meant I had to be selective; I wanted to be able to work with original languages.  (I had studied both Greek and Hebrew in seminary)

 

If today:  Probably the Greek & Hebrew Discoverer level, maybe the Greek & Hebrew Learner, either way with the addition of HALOT and BDAG.  

[Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Hall]

I think my first package was Library 7 the Bible Study level... it came on CDs. Or maybe it was 6 a little before 7 came out ...

[Andrew Patterson]

1. Triple Discoverer (Acc 13)

2. I was a student and it was required by the teacher (@MacMan)

3. Yep. It has served me very well, and the package has even improved since I purchased.

[Michael J. Bolesta]

CD-ROM 1.0 in October 1996. Multiple modules could be unlocked as desired. A year later I purchased Library 2, adding more modules. In those days, one needed a code to unlock each module. I bought them to have more modules and tools. I started with acCordance 1.1a in 1995 (3.5 inch floppy diskettes). I gradually added via CD-ROMs, then easy install. The packages had many modules I did not necessarily want, but they were a way to get the ones I did at a good price.

[Dr. Nathan Parker]

I dabbled with the starter bundles, but Essentials v10 was my first plunge. Never regretted it.

[Brian K. Mitchell]

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QUESTION #1: What was your very first curated Accordance Collection (base package ) or bundle? 

PC-JC6-A (Jewish Collection 6 Advanced Level with disk for PC Emulator)

 

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QUESTION #2: And, why did you select it?

 

At, the time I wanted to find a basic collection or bundle with out any frivolous content (that I could use to start building my own custom library) and that came with at least the following:

(1) the accordance software / engine

(2) a tagged Hebrew Bible /Tanakh

(3) a basic Lexicon

And, the Jewish collection 6 met all of my criteria plus it came with a few extras I also wanted like the Schocken Bible translation, JPS translation (tagged with strongs numbers), the Mishnah (and a translation of the Mishnah), as well as Josephus. If I recalled correctly this collection was also on sale for a discounted price.

 

The thing I like about Accordance is that like Burger King (or hungry jack's)  you can  "have it your way" !

 

 

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QUESTION #3: If you were starting over today would you buy the same Accordance collection/bundle or would you go for something different?

 

As far as I can tell Accordance currently no longer has the Jewish Collection available for purchase. 

So, If I were starting my Accordance journey today I would probably go with the following:

Prod ID: BW Crossover13-Basic 8-10 Student/Scholar Biblical Language Bundle (Previously the BibleWorks Crossover)  (link)

 

[A.D. Riddle]

1 hour ago, Brian K. Mitchell said:

…I wanted to find a basic collection or bundle with out any frivolous content (that I could use to start building my own custom library)…

The thing I like about Accordance is that like Burger King (or hungry jack's)  you can  "have it your way" !

Yes, I've always appreciated that you get ALL of the features and functions of the search engine (at least, until they created Accordance Light) even with the most basic purchase. With Logos, I found that to access certain search engine features (such as syntax search), you have to upgrade to higher level packages. I like that with Accordance, the search engine is the search engine, and the modules are the modules---and you don't have to buy more modules to access search engine features.

 

I also agree that I always prefer to build my own custom library. Most packages include only some of what I want—meaning I still have to spend more money to get the other things—and they always include a good amount of stuff I probably never want. I am not a fan of packages.

 

Having said that, I should add that about four years ago, I did get a "Seminary Promotional Bundle" for $29, which added NA28, BHS with apparatus, full BDB, and Liddell/Scott to my library. Now THAT was a good deal!

 

A.D.

[Kristin]

On 7/30/2024 at 12:20 AM, Brian K. Mitchell said:

QUESTION #1: What was your very first curated Accordance Collection (base package ) or bundle? 

QUESTION #2: And, why did you select it?

QUESTION #3: If you were starting over today would you buy the same Accordance collection/bundle or would you go for something different?

 

Hi Brian,

Q1 - BW Crossover with a few random additional language things I had owned in BW.
Q2 - BW had died and I had no way to access the stuff I had in BW. I also liked the Brown's business model at the time compared to L.
Q3 - I actually don't know. It might have been more cost effective to go ahead and get the packages which were heavier on languages. However, since I don't need all resources in those packages, and also because the Gk and Heb packages are separate and I would have needed both, maybe it was better to just get individual stuff like I did. I don't know.

 

[miketisdell]

QUESTION #1: What was your very first curated Accordance Collection (base package ) or bundle? 
    The Bibleworks crossover package (and a lot of additional Original Language modules and tools not included in the crossover package) to duplicate the capabilities I had in Bibleworks. 

QUESTION #2: And, why did you select it?
Because Bibleworks had announced that it was closing. 

QUESTION #3: If you were starting over today would you buy the same Accordance collection/bundle or would you go for something different?
If I weren't not converting from Bibleworks, there may be things that I did not include that were part of the Bibleworks crossover package, not sure. 

[Dave Marrandette]

I began about three years ago with an Accordance Crossover when WordSearch died. Selected it because of its ease of use - quick learning curve. Still use it today much more than Logos.

[Dr. Nathan Parker]

I bought Essentials because I wanted Atlas, Timeline, and a good starter library, and it was a great package at a great price.

 

I have bought other packages over the years (Triple Learner, Triple Discoverer, Greek Pro, Graphics Master) when I wanted certain books at a good price.

 

I have bought a lot "on demand" as well. Got a lot of stuff on good sales or through webinar coupons.

 

Did some crossgrades as well including the Wordsearch Crossgrade. Even though I owned some of the books in the Crossgrade (and Custom Upgrades don't work on Crossgrades), the price was still less than what I would have paid for a few books on my wishlist, so I asked myself, why not get it all?

[Brian K. Mitchell]

On 7/31/2024 at 10:42 PM, A.D. Riddle said:

I've always appreciated that you get ALL of the features and functions of the search engine (at least, until they created Accordance Light) even with the most basic purchase.

 

Good point!

[Donald Cobb]

1. Original languages collection (Accordance 10). But I used it very little until I switched over to BW Crossover 8-10 collection.

 

2. I had heard a lot about Accordance from different sources and had the opportunity to buy the Original languages collection with a group of other academics.

 

3. These collections have served me well, and I have added to them over the years, mostly with commentaries or scholarly works, plus OL resources (DSS, Mishnah, etc.) 

[Donald Cobb]

On 7/31/2024 at 9:42 AM, A.D. Riddle said:

Yes, I've always appreciated that you get ALL of the features and functions of the search engine (at least, until they created Accordance Light) even with the most basic purchase. With Logos, I found that to access certain search engine features (such as syntax search), you have to upgrade to higher level packages. I like that with Accordance, the search engine is the search engine, and the modules are the modules---and you don't have to buy more modules to access search engine features.

 

Also very much appreciated!!!

[Caleb Bontrager]

QUESTION #1: What was your very first curated Accordance Collection (base package ) or bundle? 

• I started with the Triple Discoverer package in Aug 2023.

QUESTION #2: And, why did you select it?

 

Three main reasons for me:

1. Good starting place for building a collection for supporting Greek, Hebrew, and English studies.
2. It included the graphics bundle as extra.
3. It was the highest "triple" available.
   1. In retrospect, even with a larger collection available I likely would have started there anyway.

QUESTION #3: If you were starting over today would you buy the same Accordance collection/bundle or would you go for something different?

 

• If I was doing it again, I would probably have gone with the Wordsearch cross-over bundle. It wasn't open to all when I was shopping, and at this point I have most of the pieces I would look for in my collection.
• I topped off with the Ministry Foundations Package to get a few denominationally tilted titles.

[Brian K. Mitchell]

On 8/1/2024 at 8:03 AM, Dr. Nathan Parker said:

I have bought other packages over the years (Triple Learner, Triple Discoverer, Greek Pro, Graphics Master) when I wanted certain books at a good price.

@Dr. Nathan Parker this is another good point, it is often cheaper to acquire books/reasources in packages or bundles.

 

When, the Yen was a lot stronger than it is currently I also bought a few other collections to enhance my library. However, usually I prefer to hand pick individual items for my Accordance library, but a number of Accordance curated collection are pretty streamlined and free of unnecessary frills or junk.