Re: Migrating to open source
On Fri, Dec 26, 2003 at 05:33:15PM -0700, Gus & Maggie wrote:
> Hello,
> My name is Roy Havens and I own a small business. Currently I run
> Windows XP Home but the browser I like to use is Mozilla. I am
> interested in migrating all of my computer to open source. The only
> thing that is preventing me from doing so is the MANY M$ programs I
> currently use. What Windows emulators do you have for Linux that will
> run MS's programs? For instance, I use Turbo Tax and Quicken. I need
You seem to have more than one computer. Find a computer on which you
can experiment. Make your transition gradual. There will be many 'small'
problems. Each, by itself, will not be insurmountable, but if you have
a customer waiting for a delivery when you run into a few hour delay,
your customer, and you will be unhappy. Do not count on WINE. It will
work for many things, but probably not all. I use Turbo Tax on a Mac.
I buy a new version each year because the tax laws are always changing.
I don't know who would do the development of yearly updates of an
open source substitute. I wonder if I would trust them with my fate
in a tax audit. Don't want to go there myself and can't recommend it
to another. File formats of Quicken are, I think, public. Others can
write data in these formats to transfer data from open source accounting
programs to Turbo Tax.
There are two classes of reasons for interest in open source: reasons
having to do with freedom and reasons having to do with cost. If you
get involved with open source for reasons of cost saving, be sure to
look into the freedom thing. It may not be your bag, but at least
understand it. You will need the help of freedom geeks. You may even
become one yourself.
Welcome.
> Linux to work with Intuit's programs. Some of the other essential
> programs I use are Floor Plan 3D and Front Page. I have heard of WINE;
> however, the one who told me of WINE has not have much luck with it.
>
> Widows has made it very difficult for a person with a business to
> migrate unless you have an emulator.
>
> Please contact me with any information. Please reply-all your response.
>
>
>
> --
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-project-request@lists.debian.org
> with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact
> listmaster@lists.debian.org
--
Paul E Condon
pecondon@peakpeak.com
Reply to: