Logos has just officially rolled out their newest version — 4.0!  Go here for more specifics.

I have consistently used Logos Bible software for close to 15yrs now.  In fact, my first edition of Logos came on something that looked like this.  Over many years, Logos’ software has become more robust as they have been able to offer more content, and a faster stronger engine to drive that content.  If you were using Logos during the old LLS 2.0 days and remember the quantum leap forward with the launch of 3.0, then you know what to expect with this latest incarnation.

Below I have provided a general overview and my review of the exciting new changes that can be seen in 4.0:

Speed

I have been blown away by the speed in 4.0.  The difference in speed between the two versions of Logos (3.0 and 4.0) is similar to the difference between connecting to the interweb using a dialup modem opposed to using Dsl technology.  Speed is something that Libronix users have complained about for quite sometime, and it was an area that its competition has out performed them in consistently.  Now, I believe that the playing field is a bit more even in this area with the launch 4.0.

Aesthetic

The Logos team has really tried to make a product that is visually pleasing, and devoid of clutter.  I believe that this objective, for the most part, has been a success (the only exception: the non-full screen interlinear is almost too messy to use, but the development team responded by bringing back the cleaner interlinears that were present in 3.0).

New Resources

Images

Lots of new illustrative images, new maps, and old Photographs (there is a neat collection of old stereoscopic images that can be viewed in 3D or in a normal 2D manner).  For teachers, pastors and bible instructors, this is a nice addition.  Once the handout functionality gets a bit smoother (which has been promised by the development team to happen in the near future), then these images will have even more appeal for 4.0 users.

New Books

Each base product will have brand new books licensed in them.  When you migrate to 4.0 you will get new books, while also keeping the old titles from 3.0 (which have been optimized to run in 4.0).  For a list of new books in your base package go here.

New Features

Floating Windows

One of my favorite features (which is partially an ascetic change) is the new “floating window option”.  If you want to read something full screen, without messing with your workstation, then float the window.  I am an Alt Tab fiend, and I toggle everything using that key combination, so this was a welcome feature for me.

Saving Works in Progress

Now it is easier and faster to pick up where you left off in your studies.  4.0 takes snapshots of your workspace, which can be named and can quickly be accessed the next time you re-open your program (this has been nice for exegetical projects, and much more convenient than loading saved workspaces in 3.0).  See image below:

Reader

If you eyes are tired after a long day of reading, then let Logos read to you.  This is an interesting feature, and I have played around with it a little bit.  It is a bit odd to hear my computer reading Walter Brueggemann’s Old Testament Theology (I might need to get a better computerized reading voice, because the one that came with my Dell is a bit choppy; sounds like the computerized voice in War Games), but it was also kind of nice to let the computer take over my reading for a bit.

4.0 for the iPhone

Resources in 4.0 can now be used with your iPhone and synched to the licenses you own for no additional cost.  While I don’t have an iPhone and have not personally seen the functionality of Logos on this platform, I think this is fantastic news.

Overall Experience

I have been testing this product in its various stages since the beginning of September, and it has been a great experience.  It was obvious from the beginning that the entire Logos staff cared about creating a product that would have both benefit and appeal to their target audience.  The Logos team was, when they were able to, quick to fix problems, and they were surprisingly attentive to our requests and suggestions.  Many of those suggestions were implemented into the product that can be seen today.  I want to thank Logos for the opportunity to test this product and to receive the most recent cross-grade.

So, if you have 3.0 and are wondering if 4.0 is worth the cost of an upgrade, then I would suggest that you look at the resources you will receive with the cost of upgrading your 3.0 base package to the new 4.0 base package.  Once you factor in all of the new resources and combine that with a faster, cleaner, and more intuitive engine, then I believe this is a no brainer (providing you have the available financial resources).