RE: Alpha5v4.5 or Wait?
This comment refers to A4 or A5 for a 2 person business.
Back years ago, in 92, when I joined a friend to work in a lab parts business I realized we needed a database program. I was trying to use Lotus Agenda but although it provided some help it was not the right product.
After reading reviews I selected Alpha 4, V2.1. It was a wise choice although between the first pruchase and V6.2 I had to raise my voice due to the bugs which Selwyn had a hard time agreeing were present but nevertheless by magic eventually got fixed.
For some years since getting A4 v6.2 I have been happy with performance but worried as Microsoft has been killing DOS. The A4 reports leave a little to be desired but I have lived with this.
When Five came out I was aprehensive with the bug reports and the difficulties and passed initialy. I got V3 but was concerned that lookups took more key strokes than A4, so I quite trying to learn.
When A5V4 came out I got the 3 user copy as it would seem that my concerns about being inferior to A4 had been overcome. I was dissappointed as some trivial look ups were more complicated than in A4. As I use lookups all day long in A4 how could I justify to my colleague a move to A5 which was more complicated and time consuming.
I don't have any "apps" in A4, I just use Chose Open View or Browse, or Find whatever, or change Index. A new Purchase order takes a few seconds to enter, as does a new Invoice. I have taught my colleague and a high school temp which SETS to open and training takes just a few minutes. I prepare all the company reports and write scripts for my own use, although a few help data entry for my colleages. Field Rules are the reason I have faith in my data.
Having attended recent the March Boston meeting I was highly appreciated of the new V5 and I have spent many hours using my A4 data and the A5 beta version to prepare to move to A5V5. I have been impressed with features of V5 and am nearly getting around to handle the programming.
However, with 4 computers at work operating under W3.1, W95 and W98, it seems I would have to spend over $1200 so that I could have some more bells and whistles and assurance that I could operate in an environment higher than W98. Also I wonder if the w3.1 computer will have to be put out to pasture. Currently the old W3.1 is the work horse of my colleague who puts out more quotations than many others could shake a stick at in an early DOS world processing program.
I will seriously have to consider whether to abandon A5 or just use it as a toy for my personal use. $1200 is TOO MUCH in our situation.
Steve Pick
Trycom Inc.
This comment refers to A4 or A5 for a 2 person business.
Back years ago, in 92, when I joined a friend to work in a lab parts business I realized we needed a database program. I was trying to use Lotus Agenda but although it provided some help it was not the right product.
After reading reviews I selected Alpha 4, V2.1. It was a wise choice although between the first pruchase and V6.2 I had to raise my voice due to the bugs which Selwyn had a hard time agreeing were present but nevertheless by magic eventually got fixed.
For some years since getting A4 v6.2 I have been happy with performance but worried as Microsoft has been killing DOS. The A4 reports leave a little to be desired but I have lived with this.
When Five came out I was aprehensive with the bug reports and the difficulties and passed initialy. I got V3 but was concerned that lookups took more key strokes than A4, so I quite trying to learn.
When A5V4 came out I got the 3 user copy as it would seem that my concerns about being inferior to A4 had been overcome. I was dissappointed as some trivial look ups were more complicated than in A4. As I use lookups all day long in A4 how could I justify to my colleague a move to A5 which was more complicated and time consuming.
I don't have any "apps" in A4, I just use Chose Open View or Browse, or Find whatever, or change Index. A new Purchase order takes a few seconds to enter, as does a new Invoice. I have taught my colleague and a high school temp which SETS to open and training takes just a few minutes. I prepare all the company reports and write scripts for my own use, although a few help data entry for my colleages. Field Rules are the reason I have faith in my data.
Having attended recent the March Boston meeting I was highly appreciated of the new V5 and I have spent many hours using my A4 data and the A5 beta version to prepare to move to A5V5. I have been impressed with features of V5 and am nearly getting around to handle the programming.
However, with 4 computers at work operating under W3.1, W95 and W98, it seems I would have to spend over $1200 so that I could have some more bells and whistles and assurance that I could operate in an environment higher than W98. Also I wonder if the w3.1 computer will have to be put out to pasture. Currently the old W3.1 is the work horse of my colleague who puts out more quotations than many others could shake a stick at in an early DOS world processing program.
I will seriously have to consider whether to abandon A5 or just use it as a toy for my personal use. $1200 is TOO MUCH in our situation.
Steve Pick
Trycom Inc.
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