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Old 01-23-2018, 08:45 AM   #3
bvelke
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Columbia, MD
Posts: 200
5 yr Member HT/PT Owner
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmurphy View Post
Bob - I don’t run a tour biz, and in fact don’t run ANY biz, but I’ve been somewhat fascinated with this software: http://keyhut.com/pos.htm

Simply because it’s so lightweight, simple, easy, and harkens back to an easier time. No need for massive complexity. I don’t know if it’ll meet your needs - but something simple with minimal maintenance sure sounds appealing. And this is from an IT guy. :-)
Yeah, in addition to my tour company, I'm a programmer and have run a software development company for almost 30 years, starting with MS/DOS. So it was fun reviewing the web site and details of the software. The developer reluctantly created a Facebook page too (https://www.facebook.com/daleharrispos/). But through all of this, the picture is clear to me.

The developer is "retired" and tinkers with the program on the side. It is DOS so he is constantly frustrated by changes to hardware and has to deal with umpteen compatibility issues, hardware drivers, control codes, etc. -- problems that are mostly nonexistent in modern operating systems. He's getting older and is a little grumpy. In other words, the program (and his users) needs his constant attention and nobody else can pick up the slack.

But the real deal-breaker for me is that he uses a proprietary file format. The file structure is documented but there are no professional tools with which a programmer like me can natively open and work with the files -- or maintain the system when he is not around. I'd consider it otherwise.

Don't get me wrong - the developer reminds me a lot of me! He seems like a nice guy, often funny in his grumpiness, and I'd like to have a beer with him. But I can't commit my company to him.

Thanks for the blast from the past, however.
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Last edited by bvelke; 01-23-2018 at 09:34 AM..
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