ACDSee Pro 3 Beta is available for free testing

We learned through the Imaging Insider that ACDSee is offering a free beta of version 3.0 of their flagship software package. This is available for Windows only. Be sure to read the release notes for details on the beta version.

We couldn't resist FREE, so we gave it a try. Here is our experience with the installation process:

1. The download is a 56.3MB executable file, delivered quickly, without slowness or any issues
2. Setup uses a standard InstallShield Wizard
3. The default option is to associate all imaging file types with ACDSee so be sure to select "Custom" in the appropriate install screen so you can choose if you want it to grab any of the popular defaults
4. Reboot is not required after the installation completes
5. After installation is complete, you have to enter first name and email address so you can receive an "unlock code" for the software by email
6. If you chose not to go through with the unlock process, you have two days to use the beta before it locks itself
7. The Unlock code arrived by email in less than 60 seconds
8. The email with the unlock code includes a web-link to click. Once you click it, you are told that the software will be good until October 2009 and given further instructions.
9. To activate the beta-license, close the ACDSeePro3 program, and restart it
10. You are now ready to use it
11. The program has a modest memory footprint, it takes about 40MB of main memory when just looking at a folder of pictures
12. That's all folks!

That's all, this was intended to be a quick look at what happens during the download/install process. We are not going to be posting a review of the software. We can barely keep up with all the camera stuff! But if you have a blog and available time, this could be a fun on-going review for you to start!