Mail, PIMs, CRMs and not Windows :)

[p.lussier at comcast.net]

In a message dated: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 11:07:26 EST
"Brian H. Chabot" said:

>I've always been fond of web-based applications when you need real 
>cross-platform support.

They are nice, and I agree.  The problem being that the sales weenies 
want/(think they need) something they can use "offline" as well as on.

>Some that immediately come ti mind are:
>
>PHPGroupWare: www.phpgroupware.org
>Though not a CRM app per se, it performs most of the functions of one, 
>expecially with the DoubleChoccoLatte plugin.  This is probably the 
>easiest to use if it fite your needs.

I'll check it out, though, I'm skeptical of just about anything 
written in PHP when it comes to deploying it in a corporate setting.
Not that I think a decent app can't be written in PHP, just that it 
seems that most I've seen aren't for corporate use and lack such 
obvious things as authentication against a centralized and 
established directory services infrastructure (i.e. NIS, LDAP, etc.)
(e.g. how many great looking apps have you seen which require you to 
create user accounts which reside in a MySQL database, and don't even 
encrypt the passwords...)

>Compiere: www.compiere.org
>CRM and business sales Process.  No integrated PIM.

I'm not sure that the CRM needs an integrated PIM.  I need two things:

 - a PIM replacement for Outlook
 - a CRM

>TUTOS: www.tutos.org
>By far, the most robust groupware PIM I've seen.  It has a bit of an 
>initial learning curve, but does quite a  bit.

I'll check it out.  Though I'm having trouble convincing people that 
Macs are good and Windows is bad "because of the learning curve"...

>PHProjekt: www.phprojekt.com
>This has all the features you'll probably need... if you can make it 
>work right.  Last time I tried it, it was rather buggy. But, hey, if you 
>know PHP and want to make it work,it's robust and fairly easy to learn.

Then it's a no go.  I don't have the time, inclination, nor interest 
in learning PHP or debugging an app and trying to sell them on it.

>Good luck and let us  know what you settle with.

Will do, though it's looking like I'll have to get used to Windows, 
Outlook, and SalesForce.com :(

Thanks,
-- 

Seeya,
Paul
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