Mark, My comments to your post would be one of what is your real business? I think maximizing billable hours from a consulting standpoint is very different than building viable software solutions for today's market. I have a couple of green screen guys myself that love their 10+ year old app and are reluctant/too price sensitive to rush into changing it.
What I get from each of them is increased need to do more 'modern' things based on competitors or new business requirement where integration to other things is a requirement (web and MS Office are the most common). As the new request come in, I use the opportunity to modernize the environment wherever possible. I would think one way if my goal was generating hours and quite another if my goal was developing software. I would think that every MV software company out there has dumped or is trying to dump their green screen. If they don't, they flat out won't be able to sell it. Mike Randall, MCP -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of MAJ Programming Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 7:22 PM To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: Re: MV Books (Formerly: [U2] Incubator - News from the board) All: I'm no stranger to voicing my observed professional opinion regarding MV (or other topics) to see where my opinions lie with everyone else. Perhaps I'm fortunate in that my 15 or so clients are pretty content with their current MV systems, despite how far out of the 'norm' they may be. While I speak for myself, I'm sure that the accumulated opinion of my clients still bodes well for their green screens. None are in technical businesses. A few are in manufacturing, publishing, distribution and other tangible businesses. Theirs is a gradual evolution in that new ideas may take a while before they can be applied to their companies. As many will offer flames, I cannot pepper every conversation with my clients on the latest and greatest technologies. I've been down that road and it ain't as easy as many of the others on this forum may expect. This may throw down the gauntlet as many may feel that I'm dropping the ball and not being the best for my clients. How can I be doing such a bad thing for my clients when my average tenure with them is 10 years and I pretty much remain until they get acquired or go out of business. Only 2 exist that have retired their MV systems for something else. I don't feel that I'm inhibiting my own growth as I truly wonder what direction to invest my vocations in. I don't want to endeavor into the new languages, especially java or <dot>net as I don't want to compete with every 22 year old fresh college graduate for those jobs. I'm already making money with my VB project and if all goes well, I could feasibly ramp up to this project generating 50% of my current income. While VB may not be the latest and greatest, it is an example of the client (customer) not really caring what's under the hood. They like my car. Thanks Mark Johnson ------- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
