Taking control of your collection (small-shop management)

From: Mark Tapley <mtapley_at_swri.edu>
Date: Tue Feb 12 23:21:46 2002

"Lawrence Walker" <lgwalker_at_mts.net> said:

> So now I'm trying to set up a program using an old copy of
>Paradox for Windows. (Yeah I know many other OS are better but M-Sloth
>is what they'll be exposed to in this world)

"This world" depends on what you give them, in this case, since they (from
your description) don't have heritage or outside interaction with computers
to consider. Thoughts:

1) You won't be around forever (no offense intended).
2) They may have to maintain or replace the system, or decide to upgrade,
themselves.

If you use Mac OS 7-9 on a used Mac and go with a used copy of Filemaker
instead of Paradox, they are *far* more likely to be able to maintain the
program themselves, and far more likely to be able to acquire new hardware
(if the old one dies) without having to replace the software as well. Note
that FM is currently cross-platform, so if they later decide to go Winders,
they can.

I don't know the cost of hardware and software to you, so maybe lack of
availability of Mac's or copies of Filemaker makes this not an option, but
you would be doing them a *real* favor to get them off MICROS~1 right at
the start.

Disclaimer: I don't run a business, so I may not know what I'm talking
about. Anybody knowledgable here, please chime in. I think this is a
*vital* topic for classic-computers, BTW, as keeping the machines
productive is far and away the best way to keep them alive and known. The
upgrade path availability is admittedly slightly off-topic, but relevant to
the discussion.
                                                        - Mark
Received on Tue Feb 12 2002 - 23:21:46 GMT