Filemaker Bento (preview)

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Release date: 25 December 2007

First Take

For many people, the thought of using a database conjures fears of mind-numbing data entry within an incomprehensible interface. The makers of Filemaker hope that their new application, Bento, will bring databases down to earth for Mac users.

If you're the type of person who likes to make lists--say, of stuff to do, objects you own, or people to invite to a party--Filemaker Bento can tuck that data behind a tidy dashboard. Because you can tailor Bento to your needs, it could substitute for a variety of smaller applications for niche purposes--such as managing a diet regimen or tracking sales for a home business.

Bento costs $49 or $99 for five users. Unforunately for users of Windows machines or older Macs, this software only runs on Mac OS 10.5 Leopard. For now, Bento is available as a free preview trial, which you can download from

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