Why C/S GUI?

>Billy Wheeler <billy.wheeler@digitec.co.za> wrote (edited): >>-> We're searching for a gui front end to replace our >>-> character-based Fourgen running with SE. > >>What I can't understand is why anybody would actually want to. >>this out into the forum for general debate, I would like to know what the >>material advantages of Client/Server GUI apps are in the business environment. > >>Employing c/s for a core business app just shifts the stress of the application >>from the server to the network and means that you have to have access to >>serious network management skills as well as everything else.[snipped] >>point to c/s/gui, or what? > Then rodney writes: >Because it's what the user (customer) wants. That just about sums it up. >[snipped] >However, the world isn't about us. It's about them. As long as the customer keeps demanding the latest and greatest we get to stay in business. >[snipped] >Oh, and GUI is cooler. I would take an application that has neat-o >pictures and toys and all that before a plain old character one (all else >being equal, of course). >[snipped] From the customer side, it doesn't make 'good business sense': I'd say it would be foolish to throw away a working character based application and buy/pay for a new GUI application that does the same things. IMHO - Character based is best in a large, fast paced data entry shop; The hardware requirements are less, and with experience comes greater speed. If the pace is slower and the labor is inexperienced, GUI is better. This is provided the laborer has used another GUI tool before. (Teaching someone the ins and outs of GUI is such a pain) The latest trick is to develop both. You sell your product to the Manager, accountant, and other high level personel based on the GUI buzz and whistles. But once you're into production, you sell the character-based to the people who actually have to perform the work. -- uunet!kmart!jregep [Remember when Informix SE and character screens were the latest and greatest?]