Viridans Home Flora Fauna DB Home Picture Text and Map Species Distribution Searches Tutorials
 

Compare Web and Desktop Wild Things
How do you decide which version of the package is best for you?  The information below is designed to help you make that decision by comparing the basic components of the packages.  You will notice that there is a considerable overlap in the two so really the most significant question to answer is whether you prefer a web-based delivery or one on a workstation. 

A web-based package will be available to you on any computer, regardless of its operating system, provided it is connected to broadband.  It will also be regularly updated and refined so that you always have the most up-to-date version. The user needs a username-password combination (which we supply) for access.

A desktop package, which is supplied on a USB Flash Drive, does not require any access to the Web so it is independent of broadband connections and is completely portable (can be installed on any suitable computer).  The USB package will generally display photographs more rapidly than the web version (more or less instantaneous display versus 1-2 seconds on the web) and will usually draw maps more rapidly.  The USB package has more searching, filtering and analytical options, a variety of data verification functions and better data import-export procedures.

Feature Web Version Desktop Version
Distribution data Site-specific Site-specific
Data Entry Automated site ID, data held remotely. Choose site ID, data held locally.
Data Editing Only personal data Any data
Distribution map scale 1:1,000,000 to 1:100,000 1:1,000,000 to 1:100,000
Search map scale 1:1,000,000 to 1:100,000 1:1,000,000 to 1:100,000
Map output options Vector maps in PDF Vector maps in Windows Metafile
Species list output options PDF and CSV RTF and CSV
Photograph display Scaled to fit screen Scaled to fit screen
Photograph output Only an option as part of the picture, text and map. Only an option as part of the picture, text and map.
Tools Data export, PDF email options. Climate profiles, similarity analysis, data inport-export, complex filtering on selected data, import of search polygons.
Picture, Text and Map output PDF file and printer Printer
Operating environment Windows, Mac, Linux with a variety of browsers.  Needs broadband. Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
Access to package Any computer with broadband.  requires username and password for each access. Any computer on which the package has been installed and which has the USB Flash Drive attached.  Package is hardware-locked to the USB device and requires a device key to run.  
Updates Continuous as information and software become available 1-2 years.
Payment Annual subscription Annual subscription

 

Appearance on the Screen
Web Version Desktop Version
Low resolution distribution map is blank except for major roads and town names.  The display is clear and unambiguous. The map can be printed or saved as a PDF file. Low resolution distribution map is a full-coloured land-use theme. The map can be printed or saved as a WMF file.
Medium resolution maps show land use. The map can be printed or saved as a PDF file. Medium resolution maps show land use. The map can be printed or saved as a WMF file.
High resolution maps similar to medium resolution maps. The map can be printed or saved as a PDF file. High resolution maps similar to medium resolution maps. The map can be printed or saved as a WMF file.
Combined picture-text-map displays can be printed or saved as a PDF file. Combined picture-text-map can be printed but not saved.
Large format picture can be displayed only. Large format pictures can be displayed only.
An area can be sketched at any map resolution.  Once the search is complete the sites are shown as red dots.  The map can be printed or saved as a PDF file. An area can be sketched at any map resolution.  Once the search is complete the sites are shown as red dots.  The map can be printed or saved as a WMF file.
A species list is generated from the area search.  This list can be exported as a CSV file (comma separated values - suitable for spreadsheets) or a PDF file.  The list can be filtered on a range of categories which are available through drop-down lists on the web page.  Small pictures and text are displayed as each name is highlighted.  Larger pictures, distribution maps or picture-text-map combinations can be displayed with a single mouse click. A species list is generated from the area search.  This list can be exported as a CSV file (comma separated values - suitable for spreadsheets) or a Rich Text (word processing) file.  The list can be filtered on a range of categories which are available through a filter routine. Small pictures and text are displayed as each name is highlighted.  Larger pictures, distribution maps or picture-text-map combinations can be displayed with a single mouse click.