On 06/10/2008 04:04 PM, Jim Allan wrote: > John Boyle wrote: > >> To Jim Allan, et al: How much research did you do and did you ask on >> such forums as Linux Questions.Org? Did you ask any of the companies >> that actually make the different distro's? As for any accounting >> packages that work with Linux, I beg to differ with you as there ARE >> some really good ones, if you only make an honest effort to find them! > > We did some asking when we were considering changing. My contact was > someone who had worked as a consultant with some other companies who had > changed altogther or partially to Linux. He said, when I explained what > we were doing, that he shouldn’t guarantee we would be satisfied if we > made a complete change that that time. In short, he didn’t want our > business, unless we understood there were no guarantees. And we could > guarantee no problems if we didn’t make the change. >
I think the fact that the world is no longer entirely locked into a single PC vendor (hardware or software) is significant. MS has some mighty find 3rd party applications, as does linux etc. The fact that one can download and run OOo on Windows, linux, solaris and Mac is fantastic. It may not work as one would wish on all 3 (can't import MS Office Access files in linux for example), but for the most part it's a pretty heroic feat by all that work on this software. Also, given that OOo continues to work on improving MSO interfaces and filters, Windows OS's, and all the while competing as an opensource software demonstrates demonstrates the fact that this particular software is not particularly OS/Redmond biased. I truely prefer linux; all of my systems are now linux. But I do indeed have dual boot drives for XP and Win2K Server, as well as multiple virtual linux host machines with Win2KPro guest installations. Recently I had to modify and print out some school graduation photos in a hurry. Loaded them into Gimp, modified them, printed out using Google Picasa (linux) and about a half a box of expensive photo paper later I finally turned on the Win2KP virtual machine, loaded up Photoshop, printed using the Windows version of Picasa (they were wallet sized prints on a single sheet), and accompished the task in about 30 minutes. Note: I was too lazy to dual boot to WinXPPro... Point being is that there are now choices for users and they can now mix and match as they see fit. Nothing's perfect, but the everyday selections are indeed getting better. As for XP: well I still prefer Win2KP. I don't have the big brother registration, I have the security (whatever that may be) of XPPro for the most part, and it's a slimmer install. For the linux vs Windows vs Mac vs whatever's; my advise is to chill out, cool your jets, and just use the tool that best suits your needs for the job at hand. Computers and their software afterall are built & designed as tools for the purpose of serving people. If you refuse to use a hammer to pound in a nail simply because the hammer is standard, or built by a firm you don't like, don't use a rock instead (even if the rock is manufactured by your favorite Pet Rock company). Use what best suits your needs and move on. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
