Kudos for your organization!  To show the bad with the good, I thought I 
had my boss convinced to go with a Linux/PostgreSQL back-end. 
 Unfortunately, we've elected to start the process of evaluating Oracle 
for a later commitment.  Installation is a pain because of hardware 
compatibility issues (administration looks like it'll be a bear).  I've 
been screwing around with it for a few days now.  What's ironic is I've 
already got a PostgreSQL installation (with data already ported) running 
on much cheaper hardware that I could start using today!

Chris Midkiff wrote:

> Thought some of you might enjoy this...
>
>  
>
> I've been working on my boss (a fully confirmed Microsoft fan & VB 
> developer) for about a year on open source software.   I have 
> convinced the company to allow me to replace our Win2k Advanced Server 
> with Linux (all it does is DCHP and File/Printer sharing).  Also, a 
> week ago I finally convinced him, on a price basis, to try OpenOffice 
> on his WinXP laptop.  The Following is the message that I received 
> from him today (copied by permission):
>
>  
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> I have been using OpenOffice now for a number of days. I created the 
> Essex Manuals using OpenOffice and am in the process of writing the 
> requirements for Butterball. I am more than impressed with this 
> package. So far it has done everything I needed it to. In fact, I 
> think it's actually easier in some ways than MS Office!
>
>  
>
> I have since removed Office XP from my Laptop with the exception of 
> Access and I recommend everyone do the same.
>
>  
>
> I see no reason why we should keep MS Office installed other than if 
> it is tied into a package like TigerPaw or QuickBooks and is 
> absolutely necessary.
>
>  
>
> Thought you'd like to know!
>
>  
>
> Talk to you kids later.
>
> Valère S. Palhoriès                             
> DataCapture Technologies Inc.         http://www.datacaptech.com
> 510 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, KS  66203 USA
>
>        Innovative Solutions for Data Collection
>
> ----End Message----
>
> This weekend, I'm converting our Dual Proc HP Server from Win2000 
> Advanced Server to Redhat 7.2.  Great to see this all coming around 
> after a year of sharing the gospel around here.  Linux Advocacy really 
> does work.. and articles in the Wall Street Journal don't hurt none.  
> They even want me to show how feasible it would be to replace windows 
> with Linux on the desktops for the sales/office personnel.
>
> _WOHOO_
>
> Chris Midkiff
>