Bento

The Numbers application in iWorks rattled the spreadsheet universe. Now Bento, from Apple subsidiary FileMaker, succeeds in shaking up another world. But this inexpensive personal database lacks a few major features, and some of its powers require OS X Leopard, which excludes a lot of users. Sometimes, too, Bento’s zeal for simplicity introduces confusion, does the word database so terrorize users that we have to substitute the murkier library?

Since creating libraries doesn’t take much effort: Either choose from one of 24 templates, like such as home inventory, expenses, digital media collections, and classwork or build a library from scratch using 19 data types, including a media field that lets you add a tune, video, or photo to library records. Libraries based on your Address Book and iCal data appear automatically, and any changes you make to that data in Bento will be reflected in those programs. Smart Collections can create sub-libraries of items that meet whatever criteria you’ve specified. To design an entry form, just drag a field to the program’s center window.

The main problem with Bento is that it doesn’t play too well with others: You can’t easily share libraries, and you can import or export data only via CSV (comma-separated values) files. But if you just need a single-user database for keeping track of class projects, CD collections, or the like, Bento will be to your taste.

Product via Bento