On Nov 4, 2007 10:01 AM, David Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Sun, Nov 04, 2007 at 09:51:45AM -0800, Robert Donovan wrote: > > >The difficulties I keep running into with Linux are related to application > >functionaltiy. GNUCash, SQLedger, and Kompozer, for example, still > >can't compete effectively with Quicken, Quickbooks, and Dreamweaver. > > Hmm. Ok, I'll agree about SQLedger and Kompozer, but Quicken is a > complete piece of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I quite agree, but many small businesses use it and 1) don't want to switch from the familiar to the unfamiliar, 2) don't want to learn a new accounting system, real or otherwise, and 3) are not anywhere nearly as concerned as we are that a given program is not very good. Their worry is getting work done, not whether their software apps are the best. If what they are using does the job they need and they are familiar with it, we need to come in with something that is easy enough to migrate to for them to choose to switch in the first place. After that why it's better will matter. The main problem with GNUcash is that it does > "real" accounting, so there is a bit more of a learning curve. It also > doesn't integrate as well with US banks. The really frustrating thing about Quickbooks is that, while it's easier to setup and use that SQLedger, it's still not that easy to use, but it DOES integrate well with US banks. SQLedger has much better security features and Internet functionality, but it can't do online banking in the US, nor can GNUCash. > I guess my problem understanding all of this is that the applications that > _I_ use are absolutely horrible on Windows. But, then again, I'm a > software developer, and have been doing it on Unix/Linux for several > decades. I feel completely lost without a decent command line. Thus, you occupy precisely the opposite position of the average computer user who a) knows only Windows and is not really interested in learning anything else, and b) regards the command line as somethning just to the left of witchcraft, to be avoided whenever possible. I don't like that any more than you do, but that's our market. Robert Donovan -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
