Pastel Accounting software won't run on Vista

[Dave A]

Apparently Pastel Accounting software so widely used by businesses in South Africa does not run on Vista OS computers.

There goes about 95% of the South African business market for Vista until the problem is fixed, I guess.

[Yvonne]

Nor is it compatible with Nedbank Nedinform internet banking, or QBooks accounting! I was under the impression that the long delay in releasing it was so that this software would not have all the "teething" glitches of previous microsoft windows programs!
Just purchased a new computer with the Vista software and the full office package as an O.M.E. package.
I have the option to purchase another full copy of Windows and Office97 to overcome my problem.
So someone else in the office was fortunate enough to get an unexpected new computer!!!!
Darn!
Yvonne Symons

[Dave A]

The bleeding edge of technology indeed.

On the subject of Quicbooks, I see 2007 has been out overseas for a while, but is stubbornly not available here. I needed some extra licences on 2003 (which as it is no longer supported are no longer issued). They are determined to sell me 2006 whilst I'm holding out for 2007.

If anyone has any valid Quickbooks Pro 2003 licences available, please let me know. Will pay R500.00 per licence.

[duncan drennan]

If anyone has any valid Quickbooks Pro 2003 licences available, please let me know. Will pay R500.00 per licence.

Can you actually do this under their license agreement? What I remember from it was that this kind of transaction had to be approved by them in writing. Practically I don't see how it really matters though.

[Dave A]

You never know. Some retailer might have some old stock

Heck. Quickbooks is trying to sell me old stock!! Why must I buy 2006 when 2007 is out?

[Yvonne]

I never ever read the full license agreement and just click on accept.
Yip! I know - ignorance is bliss!

When is a QBooks license "valid"?

If a person purchases a program, and for some reason no longer needs it, is it illegal to give the program to another person, after having uninstalled it on your own computer?

Also Dave you say that the QBooks 2003 is no longer supported.
Just curious, have you ever needed assistance and support from QBooks?


Thanks
Yvonne

[Yvonne]

Has anyone tried the Microsoft accounting package, presumable this is written for Vista.
Are Microsoft hoping that we will change to their program if QBooks and Pastel are not compatible?
I heard it was free software, but do not really know anything about it?

Yvonne

[Dave A]

Also Dave you say that the QBooks 2003 is no longer supported.
Just curious, have you ever needed assistance and support from QBooks?

No. The software comes with a help facility that has met my needs every time. And despite having numerous staff over the years put it through all kinds of abuse, I think it has decided to close down because it has a problem on a total of about 5 occassions. And every time reopening had everything just perfect, except the transaction that was in the process at the time of the crash was absent - no problems there either

It really has been incredibly stable.

Has anyone tried the Microsoft accounting package, presumable this is written for Vista.
Are Microsoft hoping that we will change to their program if QBooks and Pastel are not compatible?
I heard it was free software, but do not really know anything about it?

I was toying with a Vista machine this morning at Makro and quietly noticed that. But I didn't get round to running the biz package. More browsing to see what was on as opposed to how good it might be and it does seem to be part of the Vista essentials or premium (?) package at least. (The basic business packaged version).

But now I'm going to take a closer look next time I get the chance.

[duncan drennan]

If a person purchases a program, and for some reason no longer needs it, is it illegal to give the program to another person, after having uninstalled it on your own computer?

It really depends on the particular end user license. I just remember from the QuickBooks one that you couldn't transfer your license to someone else without written permission from them, but that was with the 2006 version.

[Dave A]

Well, I'm going to be transferring a copy from one machine to another over the weekend, so I'll double check it then.

Thinking about it, without the written permission aspect, there's potential in a second hand licences dealership
And I wonder what the legal position would be on the transfer of ownership being unreasonably withheld. Part of Quickbooks marketing is that there are no renewal fees.