This is a partial list of open known defects that happened in my experience. But you can buy an upgrade to version 11 whoopee

Edit Mode: Save Function does not Save in Edit Mode unless you add data to the Edit List Values first then change the field
Mail Merge fields and ACT menu missing in Word 2002 when using Windows Vista
Custom size settings not retained when creating a new Envelope Template
Group Comprehensive Report truncates history items that contains more than 2 lines of text.
Last Email' field is not updated when history is set to 'Attach to Contact'
Start Time' calendar un-readable when scheduling Activities
Events are deleted after sync
Lookup by Contact Access returns innacurate results.
Show Cleared' calendar preference is not sticking when selecting via right click/filter calendar
Newly added users do not show when editing the Access List for multiple contacts.
Look up fails to be created for contacts missing an email after completing a mail merge.
Emails from template sent via ActEmail do not display the £ symbol.
Creating new layouts is not possible in 10.02 standard.
Look For in Contact List does not behave as expected
Formatting is not retained in the Details Tab of an existing Opportunity.
Excel running in the background causes multiple errors when attempting to edit the embedded file in the Quote template
Setting the default phone format to include the area code causes digits to drop from the phone number
Opportunity Field customised to Date format displays previous day and a timestamp when viewed in the opportunity list
Fields that are mandatory in a contact record can be left blank when the contact is created from a company
Wrong number of activities in Dashboard
00:00:00 timestamp recorded in history when closing an opportunity.
Quotes are not populated when regional settings are Swedish (Sweden) with a database currency of of Swedish Krona
Multiple errors with Word set to edit email in Outlook 2003
Tabbing into Date field on Contact layout changes value back one day if edited in a later timezone
Web.config should contain all available configuration options for sync
Unable to register ACT! via the Internet when behind a Proxy Server
Lock icon remains next to field in Define Fields regardless of Access Level
Dashboard cuts off right side when printing.
UK Registration number is out of date
Date Refresh/Overwrite
Activity report does not respond to 'Cleared' filter
Export to Excel of date/time field only exports date
Import to Company record Company Name field
"Item #" in opportunity window forces the first letter entered into lower case irrespective of Caps Lock state.
Email Attachments stripped when send from Account
"Object reference not set to an instance of an object." when changing multiple font settings
Limited Access setting is not retained when duplicating a contact.
Picture fields merged to an .adt template display incorrectly
Sales Processes with imported Stages do not filter correctly in the Opportunities list or Dashboard.
Unable to delete Supplemental Files for sync
Numbered bullet points & page numbers increment on each page when mail merging to letter.
When spell checking an ACT WP document, focus does not change to highlighted words after page 1 (ACT WP)
Activities scheduled for another user does not show the user's name when printing the Daily Calendar
Synchronisation fails with an error if a default value with an apostrophe is added to any field.
Dual Access serial numbers fail to register
A standard level user cannot change the record manager of a sales opportunity at the point of creation.
Yes/No fields appear available for change to a Browse user.
ACT has encountered a problem... when a Standard user accesses Company Detail when there are no companies.
Error "Invalid Argument" dropdowns on limited length fieldInvalid Argument error when changing dropdown selection in a limited character length field.
Selecting both 'Send activity email to contacts' and 'Create separate activity for each contact' throws an error message when attempting to schedule an activity.
Selecting an Attachment Icon in History Fails
Recurring activities in Outlook update incorrectly into ACT
Map to Excel does not work with Excel 2007 files
"Requested Clipboard operation did not succeed" error when attempting to enter any information into ACT.
Default ACL for Contact not applied when Creating Contact from Company
Sync service does not check for file permissions
Flagged messages attached to contact cannot be opened from History.
Editing values on dropdown unticks any selected values in the list.
Email preview popup does not show correct email address
Microsoft Word 'Save As' dialogue does not display correctly when saving a merged letter
Regarding does not save when clearing an activity.
Activities 'scheduled with' another user's contact record do not roll over.
Tab/Enter Stops and Scrolling, Tab/Enter stops stay in same position
No right-click context menu in details tab of opportunity.
ACT10Demo database contains an active domain.
Error "String cannot be of zero length. Parameter name: oldValue" when attempting to merge to a multi-page word template
Emails will not send when ACT is integrated with Outlook and Outlook is set to not send immediately
Regional settings affect Export to Excel Date fields
"ACT! Network Sync is not compatible with this operating system" When installing the 10.0.1 Network Sync Service on Vista Home
"Could not complete the operation. One or more parameter values are not valid." when attempting to save a note in Outlook with Outlook and ACT integrated
Date/Time field data gets copied in Edit mode
120 DPI Setting causes Mini Calendars to stretch across the screen over time.
One day activties with banner, banner flows into second day on the web
Screen loses focus when performing certain tasks
Using Word as the email editor with Outlook 2003 causes several errors when sending email
Using the Undo feature when editing the SpecialOffer.tpl template causes the ACTSage.exe process to spike and stay at 50%
Exporting Product list exports everything in to one column
Unable to reschedule multiple activities for the same date.
Recreate remote perpetuates record count discrepancy
SyncSet Subscription Timeout
Import Queues Files for Sync (included in 10.0.2.1)
Activities within an activity series do not prompt to update series when rescheduled via drag and drop.
Contact list does not sort properly when performing a lookup of all contacts after going to a contact via the alarm window.
Converting ACT! 6 or 5 attachments to Paths instead of converting the attachment
Sync Takes Hours Instead of Minutes (included in 10.0.2.1)
Lookup -> Groups -> Save Lookup as Group ignores the currently active lookup
Unable to set field level security to no access for company description
Mail merge to E-mail history does not record if history option within Outlook is set to none.
Activity series are created as banners by default
Recheduling a conflicted activity loses details.
Importing database to database and not including attachments results in duplicated attachments
Cannot select only one type of History to search in a Contact Activity Lookup.
Printing calendar has contact name too large
Fields do not export in same order selected during Export
When exporting, Contact map is incomplete when clicking 'next' then 'back' again.
Timeless activities span multiple days when updated to Outlook Calendar
Timeless activities show a time of 1am when running an Activiity Report
Gaps in the History Summary Classic report.
Unable to edit the embedded excel sheet in generated quotes.
Microsoft OLE/DB provider for SQL Server: timeout expired
Enter in Memo Fields
Calendar Printing over multiple pages
TS more than 40 Sales Cycles not showing on Drop down list, Cuts off at 40
Groups and/or Companies are not in alphabetical order when attempting to attach and email to a contact in Outlook
The Opportunity Process filter in the Opportunity list view is not functioning properly.
User created Opportunity Processes do not filter properly on the Opportunity list.
Sorting on any column on the Documents tab always sorts on name field.
mail merge error to contact with slash in name
Received email contains multiple versions of an attachment if saved and edited in the Drafts folder.
Converted .wpa's lose formatting
eMail to Group generates message that all e-mail addresses are invalid
Start time doesn't respect 24 hour clock
Error: "Item has already been added. Key in dictionary" when attempting to scroll between messages with in Outlook 2007
Export to CSV : Field order was not in expected format, Not alphabetical nor in order in MAP View
Histories Ctrl+C not selective in text Copied from preview Pan
Mail merge to WP doesn't retain '1st page Landscape' orientation
Data moves between fields when custom mapped fields are emptied using Act! link for PPC.
Using keyboard commands to switch calendar view also brings up the schedule activity window.
Outlook Activities Sync not respecting date range filter when dealing with recurring Activities.
Conversion of ACT! 2000 (5.0) to 2007 (9.0x) does not bring over files attached to an email attached to a record.
Creating contact from company creates incorrect phone format
Linked company-contact phone field places U.S. country code on contact field
CTRL+P doesn't give option to generate history
Timeless activities not allowing you to reschedule to the same date
L7654 labels only print two across
System Dropdown lists may cause conversion to fail
Keep Together Property adding extra page if field contains large amounts of data
Text unable to fit on one page is not being wrapped to next

This was Act!'s first attempt at a massive overhaul of their system, changing from Visual FoxPro to SQL Server. All of the kinks listed here by people were fixed in the 2005 version, the newer versions 2006, 2007 and 2008 all run smoothly if configured properly and the computer is up to spec as far as I am concerned.
Any of the problems listed here can be fixed by using an Act! Certified Consultant to help someone through them.

I've been using ACT for ages and was persuaded to upgrade from v 6 to v10.. For me it's useless.. unstable, slows everything down, won't alter templates, crashes, I cant find phone numbers with spaces.. useless! I'm looking for an alternative now!

Our sales team had similar problems when we upgrade to the new ACT!. Slowed machines, impossible to email, synch problems. No real enhancements. We gladly go back to the old version at this point, but it's too late, We're looking for a CRM product.

I didn't get my problems solved so I will do my best to get ACT out of my business and find a better solution.

If you're considering ACT! software, all I can tell you is: don't do it! I hate to say that, because I loved this software up until the last version (I guess when Sage took over?), but the complete lack of customer support has pushed me too far.

My understanding is that ACT 2005 (North American Version) is the UK version ACT Professional V.7.xxx. As a company, we have for many years, used Sage products. This was our first purchase of ACT after persuasion from the Sage team. They said ACT would solve our CRM needs. The initial version gave great results, as the database could be shared without the need for synchronisation over all types of networks. After the mandatory updates were loaded, it became apparent synchronisation was needed. This has now been set up, although results are hideous. At times we can synchronise through the LAN, Dialup and Cable/ADSL network (and it's in the logs). Most of the time, the only network that seems to work is LAN. To create a remote database, a DBFIX tool had to be downloaded from the US site, and was not available from the official UK site (this may have been available if you subscribed, "paid money" for the entitlement to fix software you had already paid for). The synchronisation module is based on the MS SQL server applet. I'm not sure if the problem lies here or is embedded in ACT. This software in my opinion is not fit for resale. IT DOES NOT WORK AS SUPPLIED! Other software from this manufacturer needs to be bullet proof. What went wrong?

OfficePax offers shared contacts, shared calendar, remote access email and timesheets. It helps manage invoices and has many more features.
http://www.officepax.com

We are 10+ users on Best Software, ACT! 2005 PREMIUM Workgroup. We cannot get it to work. We have spent thousands of dollars on licenses and people time. The SYNC technology is unreliable and buggy. It kills any computer with less than a gig of RAM. Stay Away! Its Premium!

I have used Best Software, ACT! 2005 for 5 years - ACT 2005 is so slow and it bogs down my computer even after installing additional ram!!

I AM CHANGING MINE TO GOLD!!!

This total re-write of the software misses the mark by far. The changes to the software were to over-reaching. The email synchronization was a big plus for us, now it is gone. Requiring you to open a port on the other side of a firewall is totaly unacceptable.

Used Act since DOS, simple tasks like a form letter faxed to a group was then 3 to 8 keystrokes.
Now takes learning curve of 1/2 day and fifty mouse clicks to "maybe" make it happen.

Rescheduling "to do's" was (highlight and click on date) NOW each profile must be adressed seperately.

Too many unneeded options, too few easily accessible tasks.
Too much "tracking and management tools"
Too little K.I.S.S.

Basically, Best Software Act! is a waste of disk space. It hurts me that this virus is on one of our servers. First off, the fact that it doesn't let you NOT integrate with Outlook is unacceptable. With one person at our office, Act killed his ability to even open Outlook. Second, the inability to have Act! run against an existing SQL Server installation is horrible.

The idea of needing to have a MSDE install running on a server merely to operate software is a nightmare. It'd appear from just opening the software that Act! loads every bit of data when you start up at once.

Tech support is also a nightmare. We've been going around in circles for a week with them. I think it'd be both fitting and amusing if they were charged with false advertizing and fined $100,000 per license sold for being named "best software" when the software they put out is a train wreck.

Best Software, ACT! 2005: Like most established ACT! users, our company purchased the upgrade expecting that we would see the same level of quality that we had come to expect. This product, however, has proven to be absolutely horrible to work with. There have been issues from the start, most notably with synchronization and the need for much higher end equipment to handle its resource needs. Synchronizing the data between the main unit and a sales person takes between 12 to 26 hours! After agreeing that our network was not the issue, we were told by ACT! support that the workaround was "not to synchronize." Four months after beginning this nightmarish journey, we have decided to ask for a refund. The quality of this software is simply inexcusable.

Best Software Act! 2005 is, quite possibly, the worst program written. It is slow to load, for starters. It'd appear that it loads all your contacts as it starts. In addition, if you already have an existing SQL Server, there's no way to make it use that for the data source. So, you end up with a normal SQL Server install, and then you're forced to have a MSDE install running at the same time. It also killed email on one person's machine, and doesn't give an option not to integrate with Outlook. The only reason this worthless application is on any systems is because our sales person insisted on it. Of course, sales people often aren't regarded as tech-smart.

I've been a loyal and satisfied user of ACT Schedule & Contact Management Software for at least 10 years. This version, ACT 2005 Premium is by far one of the worst software purchases I ever made. It is incredibly slow, locks up frequently and is difficult to manage in a network environment. When using ACT templates to merge fields into Word documents, it locks up if you try to save or print your file. I am embarrassed to have recommended this product as a solution in my company.

After technical help, ACT! 2005 runs as fast as ACT! 2000 and it has all the new bells and whistles. I'm happy with it.

I wish I had read the reviews of Best Software, ACT! 2005 on this site BEFORE trustingly upgrading. I'm still looking for the promised new features, let alone analyzing why they're worth the money. This upgrade has slowed my relatively new and fast laptop that hummed down to a prehistoric dinosaur. I can't trust this vendor in the future (and my direct complaint to the company has gone unanswered). Look elsewhere for contact software.

We have successfully used ACT! for years so imagine our surprise when we tried to use Best Software, ACT! 2005. This product was an attempt to market a pre-beta test quality product in our opinion. It cost us hours and hours of headaches and hassles and we finally reverted back to our old version and had to re-enter some data manually. This product is horrible, slow, and was clearly made in a programmer's mind with NO practical input or real-life testing of any significant value.

I purchased Best Software, ACT! 2005 because I take care of IT for a company that has used ACT religiously for years. We have bought every new version of ACT because they have always been great to us. This version, was the worst thing that has ever happened to us, it was extremely slow and it crashed all the time. After 2 months we wound up going back to ACT 6 and because there was no way to export the data backwards, we lost 2 months of sales data. But even considering the data loss we still moved to the older version for our own sanity and productivity. Shame on ACT for this ridiculous excuse for a software package.