Running the Enterprise off Windows (Score 2, Informative)

I've investigated this same issue for a while and I would like to weigh in with the little I've gleaned: First, an observation: Separate notionally the idea of open source and the idea of running on linux/unix / not windows. Essentially, for the enterprise you need a robust Database product, easily achieved opensource via PostgreSQL or MySQL with a plethora of interface design tools available. Perhaps you would consider this bookmark: http://www.dbexperts.net/ Here you are not compromising anything by going opensource! Implement your own CRM in this environment. Open source is not there yet with an accounting package that you want to run your enterprise on. That does not mean you can't run your accounting on Unix/Linux and thereby eschew the Microsoft Domain. Until October 2003 the Silver bullet for enterprise accounting was Appgen. Alas they are in play. Refer to this website to get the latest dope. http://www.aaxnet.com/product/appgn.html This address is for a dedicated VAR who has been tracking the progress of the AppGen product. Worthwhile to click to his homepage while you're there. He speaks gospel. Finally, you need your office product, and since you are on slashdot I am confident you know about openoffice.org. I kind of wish they would make an open office "lite" commensurate with ThinkFree Office in code size, capability etc. because the full open office suite can be overwhelming for some management and clerical types (and even geeks who would rather use other tools to do the esoteric stuff.) Finally, for groupware, I find that although it is a content management system per se, Plone specifically and Zope generally can be used to inplement groupware via opensource. Otherwise use http://www.share360.com/index.cbml which keeps you off microsoft but accesible via Microsoft community. There are probably some great project management products coming online based on opensource. Til then you could demo this product for project management: http://www.webintellisys.com/index.html Hope this stimulates you to fulfill the goal of weaning the backoffice crew from Microsoft SQL, MAS 90, Solomon etc.