There's actually more benefit to using Ebase than just the low cost. Much of the economy and advantage of using a database comes not from using computers and software, but from using a disciplined, consistent, systematic approach to handling your data. This makes it easier and more efficient to manage and use your data. In the long run there are big payoffs. I'd say that the bigger benefit from using Ebase is that it provides much more consistency and "system" than most organizations adopt as they continually improvise new data solutions out of their data management system.
Now, for the metaphors...Typically, organizations build data management systems through in-route modifications/improvisations, like building additions to a house room-by-room without a long-term plan. Ebase provides a thoughtful overall framework for the whole house right up front, so when you make those single-room additions, they actually build towards a nicely coordinated system. If you can afford the luxury of a long-term view of costs and benefits to your organization, this translates into a much bigger gain than the $200 savings from not needing to buy FileMaker. This doesn't mean Ebase is perfect, and it doesn't mean that other applications couldn't provide similar benefit, but this definitely is a real benefit of adopting Ebase... >I thought the whole point of ebase was that it was free! Our small >organization, with a small budget has been using the run-time version >for about 5 years and we are willing to just grumble at the inability >to generate custom thank you letters and line up our labels, if we >don't have to buy filemaker. We really don't need filemaker. Call >us foolhardy, but we are just strapped for money and appreciative of >the free software. > >Sally > >Sally Zaino >The Manada Conservancy >P.O. Box 25 >Hummelstown, Pa. 17036 > ************************************************************** Larry F. Bednar Consulting in Statistics, Quality, Data Managment Portland, OR 503.493.8542 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************** ------------------ Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------
