1. How resource heavy is the program? Does it use a lot of disk space or RAM? Does it take long to start-up? Save a file? Does it run well on your computer?
JING is not a heavy program at all. It easily opens and only operates at 25 MB. It runs well on my laptop (an i5 with 8 GB RAM). Although I have more than enough RAM to run it, it is still comparably fast. You may compare its usage to the usage of other programs in my laptop.
2. How easy is it to use? Are the menu and main functions laid out in an intuitive manner? Are all the necessary functions presented up front?
If you check the screenshot below with my desktop on display, Jing simply looks like an upside down crown. It shows its main selections within those three circles: History, Capture, and More. Jing is a very basic tool, in the sense that it focuses on what it says it can offer: it allows you to make screencasts.
3. How is the quality of the video it exports? Does it give you multiple options for resolution, size and quality? Does it have a web-ready export function like Quick Time?
The quality is fine. It does not give you a lot of options, though. When you try to find another type of video output format, the program directs you to TechSmith's website. Instead of offering a full version of Jing, TechSmith will offer you Camtasia. I did use Camtasia to add the close captioning, background music and transitions to the .swf file produced by Jing.
4. Does it cost anything to get the full version of the program?
From what I've seen on the TechSmith page, Jing is like a smaller version of Camtasia, which is worth $249 USD.
5. Does the program offer any special tools or effects?
Jing is very simple and, to my knowledge, does not offer any special tools or effects. It just lets you take either a screenshot or a screencast.