Jing and Snagit
Reviewed by Jaime Campbell, CPA, MBA, CTT, MCT
Bartolomei Pucciarelli, LLC
JCampbell@bp-cpas.com
What It Is
Jing and Snagit both products from Techsmith, are screen capture technologies. The two main types of screen captures performed by these technologies are image capture and video capture. Both types of files can be transmitted to others via various means which we’ll explore later in this review.
How They Work
When you load Jing, just use the capture tool to highlight the desired area of your screen and then click “capture image” or “capture video.” For a screenshot, you can add a few types of markings. If you are creating a screencast, you instead begin recording your screen and your voice. When complete, you can save the recording or upload it and receive a URL.
When you open Snagit, click the small arrow to the left of the big red “Capture” button to get started. Click the appropriate icon to indicate a screenshot, screencast, or other capture possibilities. Then click the Capture button. Once your screenshot or screencast is complete, editing tools are available in a set of menus not unlike the Microsoft Office 2007/2010 ribbon.
Pros
Jing’s advantages include no learning curve and a straightforward approach. With few features, it’s easy for a new user to understand what to do on the first try. Furthermore, Jing is free up to 2GB of online storage space.
Snagit’s advantages include access to a more sophisticated look. Snagit also has a number of screen capture presets and quick integration with a web browser, e-mail, and other outputs. Your saved Snagit files are also easier to find because of your ability to assign tags to them.
Cons
Jing’s simplicity may be limiting, and unless you have the paid Pro version, any saved screencasts are in .swf format, which is not as widely accessible to applications as Snagit’s .avi.
Snagit’s features may be compelling for users who want to be able to do sophisticated captures quickly, but the array of features necessitates some learning time. Additionally, although Snagit offers a 30-day free trial, the software does ultimately carry a cost.
Overall Recommendation
Jing is the best choice for no-frills users who don’t want to take the time to learn a new application. If you have a little time to take advantage of Snagit’s features and are willing to pay for it, Snagit is superior for overall sophistication.
The NJSCPA Technology Interest Group is pleased to bring Tech Product Reviews to NJSCPA members. Our goal is to provide monthly reviews of tech products/gadgets that may be useful to CPA's from both a professional and personal perspective. Look for reviews on NJSCPA Connect and in New Jersey CPA magazine.
Have a product you'd like to see reviewed? Send your suggestion to Victoria Kosuda, CPA, CITP at vicki@beyondfinancialsconsulting.com.