Letter from my boss

[Marvin Bellamy]

I've actually been running some intranet servlets and apps off the 
PostgreSQL backend for some time, which the powers-that-be have been 
using.  The sticking point was not really related to the product, but 
that the business types wanted to be able to say "We're using Oracle." 
 Too bad there's no the same enthusiasm when it comes to making a 
commitment to the hardware and the training we'll need to use it.  It's 
pretty frustrating being tied down by business issues when all I want is 
a DB solution that meets our needs and that I can use *now*.  We're a 
small company, so you'd think there'd be more concern for budgeting, 
especially when we're loosing time *and* money...

Chris Midkiff wrote:

>Some people seem to just like spending money.  We've been using MySQL and
>PHP for web-based development for quite a while now.  Unfortunatly, we still
>use VB for most of our desktop apps.  If anyone knows of a way to build a
>GUI program, with a little bit of bussiness logic and a database connection,
>for the windows platform, with development speed approching that of an
>experienced VB programmer, _PLEASE_ let me know what it is.
>
>Oh well, one battle at a time.
>
>btw:  Did you _Show_ them the working PostgreSQL solution?  Showing someone
>a working system, and letting them know how much it will save them, seems to
>be a much better way of getting the point accross than telling them about
>it.
>
>Chris Midkiff
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Marvin Bellamy" <Marvin.Bellamy at innovision.com>
>Cc: "Kclug" <kclug at kclug.org>
>Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 11:48 AM
>Subject: Re: Letter from my boss
>
>
>>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
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>