You're right. And wrong. The problem is, the toy library that I know is running windows on both computers, and some software that they paid good money for.
Bummer, the M$ advantage again.
I have to be able to demonstrate that an OSS solution works without major changes, and is considerably better, before they'll contemplate chucking out the investment (money, but mostly *time*) in the old product.
Two computers make one for Windows and one for Linux?
No. One for issues, one for returns. Besides, one is a 486.
If you need to compete on features, manual, and every other aspect of software quality right from the start the chances of OSS aren't good.
The bar isn't very high in this case, but it is high enough that a weekend hacked-together project wouldn't cut it.
One could perhaps also see it as "if the toy library isn't prepared to move on the issue, let the whole thing be their problem".
My wife is the president of the toy library. Her problem = my problem. Besides, being months away from having a PhD (how's yours going anyway, Volker?) somehow magically transforms me into some uber-knowledgable computer fix-it man, despite the fact I know diddley-squat about windows.
Anyway, the toy library software is actually working OK - it's ugly and clunky, but mostly does the job.
It would just be nice to have a good OSS solution.
Cheers, Carl.
