More Clipboard Alternatives
As it happens, I have been thinking about various clipboard replacements over the past few days, even before the ClipMate discount offer arrived in my inbox this morning.
PC Utilities Magazine [one of my favorites, published in UK but available on US newsstands and by subscription] offered several clipboard programs on a DVD that came with Issue 96, and just last weekend I was looking over the list, thinking I should evaluate them. Working from that list, I have today tracked down the websites of each application.
I discovered that there are several options offered by M8 Software. Its free alternative is M8 Free Multi Clipboard. The website provides this description:
M8 is the simplest of all multi-clipboard programs. Just have it running minimized and it captures everything you cut or copy from other programs. It keeps the last 25 clips. When you want to paste one back, all you have to do is restore M8 and click on the clip you want. If you prefer to work entirely from the keyboard, you can choose a function key to restore M8 and then paste any clip by typing the letter shown next to it. When you move the mouse over the clips, you can see them in the viewer. If the clip is text, you see several lines and if it is a graphic, you see a thumbnail.
In my explorations, I was startled to find that this free software is available under at least two other names: 101 Clips and A to Z Clipboard. All will eventually nag you to purchase the full version of the program. If you object to the ad, you can buy the ad-free version which goes under the name of 25 Clips. It costs only $4.99.
The program is actually rather handy. As you “cut” text or a graphic for eventual “pasting,” it is saved into one of 25 slots in a 5-column by 5-row yellow spreadsheet-like grid. When you hover the cursor over one of the cells, the full copy of the clip pops up for review. Once you pass the 25 clip limit, the oldest is dumped, making room for the new clip.
The big brother in this stable is Spartan Multi Clipboard, which builds onto the spreadsheet format. Under the 5×5 yellow grid, Spartan presents an additional group of 150 slots, against a white background. Clips may be moved into these slots for permanent storage, keeping lots of information at hand for pasting when the occasion demands. That’s not all: one can have up to 20 such groups of 150 slots, each group with its own name, allowing for convenient categorization of stored clips. The software advertises a screen capture facility as well, though I did not look into that aspect. Spartan Multi Clipboard costs $19.95. I’m particularly intrigued that there is a USB version that can be run on a memory stick or other flash memory device. You can buy a bundle of desktop and USB version for $29.95 — and the two can be conveniently syncronized.
When you download M8’s free clipboard, you will be surprised to discover that after installation, the software’s folder contains not only the free software, but the full Spartan program as well. You can easily take a look at both, with a single download.
M8 Software, I discovered, is the home of yet another product which I’ve been meaning to explore for quite some time. It’s called PidgeonHole. It offers a storage format of nearly identical appearance to Spartan, but this software stores notes, documents, graphics and such, rather than “clips.” It too has a USB version.
Spartan Clipboard vs. ClipMate
I’ve now had a chance to look over ClipMate as well. ClipMate is king of the hill — especially if you avail of the one-day discount at Bits du Jour of $19.95, the same price as that of Spartan Multi Clipboard. In fact, the ClipMate license allows users to install a USB version, in addition to the desktop version, both under the same license. Spartan’s dual package costs $29.95.
If you were not able to avail of ClipMate’s one-day discount, then the decision between the two is more difficult.
Spartan utilizes a spreadsheet format, while ClipMate follows the hierarchical tree of folders approach. ClipMate is more powerful, but both do a good job of storing clips for future use. Spartan is less expensive than ClipMate, unless one opts for the USB installation as well.
And if one is looking only to expand the capability of the Windows Clipboard to handle a number of clips, rather than just one at a time, then the free version of M8 Multi Clipboard or 25 Clips at $4.99 should do just fine. This latter choice may be all that most writers would need.
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