>>Just think, you get a brand new $200 computer from TigerDirect or Wallmart->Online with Lindows on it, install Wine, your VFP app, maybe MYSQL for a >backend, OpenOffice, and now there is Novell for Linuix too. Just think the >$ you can save a client! hehehe
>
>A few points. First, if your VFP app uses an ActiveX Control, the whole Wine/Linux option goes out the door. Second, from what I have read, the setup requires a load of additional work - so in terms of time - I don't know if the client would be saving any money. Third - and this is based on Tamar's post - automating OOo is a bit of a chore.
>
>All that said, when MySQL 5 is released, that may very well prove to be the real deal - especially since that does run on Windows.

hahaha...yes John, all points understood. But ......
Lets say you have a client that's going to purchase 1500 computers and a windows OS and MS Office for each. Figure they'll save $300 on each PC, $200 on each OS, $500 on MS Office + whatever...so that's what...1500machines times 1000bucks per machine = a cool $1,500,000. Now just exactly how much "time" do you have to spend to eat up 1.5 million bucks? mmmm.. ok lets say yer at $85/hr, so that's roughly about 17,647 hours extra developer time. Considering 50 weeks at 40 hours per week, 2000 hours per year per developer...so that means at $85/hr you could get 8.82 extra developers for the year. So, if it is going to take you more than 17,650 or so hours to figure out how to automate OOo and wack a few activex's out of your app then ya you wont save the client any money. If it takes you 17,650 hours to do that you should consider a new carreer too. (maybe a lawyer or something..hehehehe)

And good to see you back John!