The advantages of working with MemSource are easy to see. First of all, it is not necessary to install any software on a computer to access the projects we are working on, as it is a cloud-based system. This implies that all the term bases, translation memories, reference files, etc. will be uploaded to the cloud, ready to be accessed at any time. The same applies to translators, who can use the web editor to translate without downloading any application. Another advantage is that it allows several people at once (translator or PM) to have access to the same project. And, above all, MemSource is free for translators. MemSource’s accessibility enables any translation company to implement teleworking schemes for their project managers and translators.
Because MemSource focuses on its essential features, its interface is simple and intuitive. The screen is not overcrowded of options and the size of all the elements is adequate. Thanks to this, there is almost no learning curve. The web editor and all its functions, the use of labels, concordance, QA, are very easy to use, and any translator can learn to use them without having to read a manual.
However, as with any movie, a book or any other program, it is always good to hear different opinions about it.
Many claim that for every advantage MemSource presents a disadvantage. While web-based tools can be extremely useful, the MemSource web editor tends to slow down with larger projects (sometimes there can be 4 to 5 seconds of typing lag). The desktop version of the MemSource editor has more functions and is much more agile than the online version, but segment filtering is still very limited: users cannot filter segments using regular expressions, for example. There is also no option to see the changes made in the editor itself, it can only be seen in a small panel.
From the translator’s point of view, it may be frustrating not to be able to upload their own translation memories and term bases to the translation environment. Experienced translations could see MemSource’s simplicity is more a defect than a virtue: it lacks an auto-suggest option, the QA tool is not very good and they can not define which QA rules to apply, etc.
In summary, the advantage of MemSource lies in its practicality, in the possibility of accessing projects at any time and from anywhere. In addition, its ease of use can serve as a gateway to CAT tools for the newest translators. Perhaps some more experienced translators prefer a more powerful tool with more options, but MemSource will always be a valid option to carry out a translation project.
