This could easily turn into a rant or a megawhine so first the facts. I have for a decade operated a business, a veterinary practise where we have a networked set of computers. On this network we are on the net, we have shared wordperfect word processing, quickbooks, excel and a veterinary software program that does client data ,animal data,reminders, inventory control, business analysis, invoicing and rudimentary word processing and mail merging. We/me are moderately adept at most of these programs. Up to recently the vet. software was DOS based working on a windows ME network. We have been very happy with the whole system. Then yours truly goes to a convention where I am made to feel the neanderthal because I don't have a windows based vet software program with all the bells and whistles(said bells and whistles being picture sharing capability, practise analysis better inventory control etc etc etc ). Got the system and have nothing but trouble since, Ram size, drive size, speed issues. My supplier and my network geek all of course blame each other but are united in advising a rapid upgrade of all 9 computers and some printers. My head is spinning with the advice ( probably accurate and certainly well intentioned )that I'm getting from all quarters but it's beginning to like the focus of this business is computers and my budget looks the same! Most of the advice I get seems to focus on the details of how to fit this to that or how to patch this to be compatible with that and don't address the fundamental questions of how a tool fits into a business. Nobody seems to realize that the computer system is only a tool and serves us and the real focus of our business. So, rant narrowly avoided, here are some of my questions; Am I really on the bigger and bigger computer is better treadmill? Do I have to stay?
Is DOS really a dinosaur? If so,in my software it was a lightning fast, accurate, reliable thrifty dinosaur!
Do all business owners feel as captured by the computer world as I do ?
Is wordperfect truly on the edge of extinction?
I'm not desperate enough to go back to a one-write system and typewriters but I certainly don't need these tempermental Lamborghinis to do my Chevrolet tasks. Kim
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