small-shop management DB wasTaking control of your collection

From: Lawrence Walker <lgwalker_at_mts.net>
Date: Wed Feb 13 04:10:58 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.
>
 Up here in central Manitoba there likely isn't anyone else in a radius of 100
km, other than the local high-school principal, who even knows how to use a
Mac much less Linux or BSD. Even the local Computer repair people in the
closest small city 60 km away, would view a Mac as an exotic system.

 I'm going to be giving an adult-ed course on computer basics in which I will
be showing that there are other OS besides Microsloth (I'll likely bring in a
Mac and maybe an ST or Amiga for demo purposes) but the school comps
are all MS and the potential students own comps are MS. The small-engine
mechanic will be taking the course and I am giving him a spare IBM 8580.

 I've already made up Customer, Parts on hand, Invoice, and Supplier tables;
Invoice and Work Order Forms, and an Invoice report using a logo I've made
for him as well as business cards. I've never done this before much less used
Paradox, so I'm winging it. Many DB programs can import it and from my
perusal of P-dox so far it only needs the engine to use them. I have Pdox
on 2 of my boxes but no install disks. I'll have to take it from there. It's
what I had on hand other than an old copies of Works and Lotus suite on
disk.

> 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.
>
 I do have copies of FMP on several Macs but I dont want to give them up or
other programs on their HDs. I have FMP for Win on one of my Pent clones
but part of the exercise is showing that older boxes are viable for simple use
especially if you have nothing and are not prepared/able to afford a newer one.

 I am supplying this to him gratis but he on the other hand replaced the
spindle in my electric furnace and supplied me with a bunch of deer and
moose meat, and a nice range-fed chicken. The course will also be free
to the locals and I imagine it will come around to me in this small community.

> 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
>
 Well I've had several small businesses and when you're just getting by, the
newest machines and expensive programs are not an option. And up here
there are very few discarded comps. as compared to more urban areas.
 Mind you most have new pick-up trucks, boats, and skidoos. but computers
are still considered a bit frivolous, even tho they'll admit it's the "wave of the
future". :^)
 Seems like the ideal place to show that the newest, gee-whiz, ultra-fast
machines with all the gizmos and the newest do-all programs are not really
imperative to have. At times there even seems to be an attitude on the list,
maybe stemming from corporate backgrounds, of just drop $xxx on some
program and it will serve your needs.(but not an individual's budget with
minimal resources)

 Like the ACCRC that Sellam and others on the list are involved in these
old machines have to serve a purpose to those who get them, otherwise
they're just another old machine "good for word processing"
 In that case why not just get an old typewriter. Less of a learning curve
involved.
 But we know that even the oldest box is still capable of many other things.

Lawrence


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Received on Wed Feb 13 2002 - 04:10:58 GMT