Small Business technology integration help…?

Small Business technology integration help…?

My parents own a small resort with 15 rooms, a gift shop, laundromat, propane sale, and rent out movies in a small town. I was wondering if there were any software programs and also maybe some computer setups that could manage the different accommodations of this place, besides the laundromat as that is all coin-op and runs itself basically.

I would need a really reliable computer/software setup. We have a motel reservation software we are currently using called eZee FrontDesk (2007 version) that runs on our Windows Vista PC that handles just the room rentals however this computer and the program often have multiple problems as I don’t think it was really ready for Windows Vista.

If anyone can point me in the right direction of a very reliable business computer with barcode and credit card add-ons and also a room rental / reservation, PoS, and movie rental software it would be greatly appreciated.

Tags: , , , ,

Under Forum

2 Comments for Small Business technology integration help…?

  • 1. E  |  December 6th, 2010 at 5:56 am

    The first step is to dump the Windows Vista and get Windows XP Professional and get service packs 1, 2, and 3.

    Don’t buy Gateway, or Toshiba. Don’t buy Compaq laptops — see Consumer’s Reports. Dell is good unless you have a major problem and then they will try high pressure sales tactics in your hour of need.

    There are several small business associations that have these software problems sorted out already — look for them on the net and join one……

    Use a computer dealer that is an Intel IPD. They build “whitebox” computers based on Intel motherboards and CPUs that are just more reliable than the average. I am an Intel IPD and have been since 1994. I’m also a registered professional engineer….. I integrated a web based system for multi-beam cancer radiation treatment planning in 2000. That’s serious stuff….

    You just can’t get that level of technology from a discount dealer acting as a clone spouting back the current sales slogan…………

    You could also try Open SuSE 10.2 , but you don’t seem to be angled in that direction……..

  • 2. warren.peace@rocketmail.com  |  December 6th, 2010 at 5:58 am

    Meh, forget the last post. Sure, you can go with a stock newbie answer, but that will just leave you with a “magic bullet” solution you may or may not be happy with.

    Hardware. . . if you’re happy with what you’ve got, stick with it. You can go with something custom built on top of an Intel if you want (I personally would go with an AMD).

    Switching to Linux. . . if you’re up to it, more power to you. It’s an excellent OS, very strong and powerful, but if you go this route. . . be prepared to write your own software.

    First you have to ask yourself:
    What are your requirements and specifications?

    Once you have an answer to this, shop around. . . even if this means hiring a contractor to write some software for you (if you go this route. . . you’ll just want to make sure you ask for weekly status reports, and stay on top of them. . . they’re notorious for working at the last minute, then billing you for the overtime.)

    When dealing with something like this, it’s often easiest to start with an engineer’s approach. Requirement’s engineering is a good start. I can nearly see some of it in your question, but you’ll find a better fit solution, if you sit down and write down your full requirements.

    Ask yourself: What’s missing from the current system? What do you like about the current system? What tasks to I need to carry out?. . . etc.

Leave a Comment for Small Business technology integration help…?

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Trackback this post  |  Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed

Categories