Why don't you check out MacPractice (http;//www.macpractice.com/). I
know it is not linux, but it is a form of unix. You get a very
sophisticated and polished os with a great dental software system.
They are using mysql as the database so you can hook other apps into
it if you wanted too which is very cool. I have not purchased yet,
but I have seen the demo videos of the software which are available
if you contact them. There pricing is very reasonable too. I agree
with you on the windows crap. it is crap. terrible interfaces and
difficult for staff to pick up on it. I will be purchasing the system
this week. My intention is to by have the Mac mini ($500) in the ops
and choose a monitor which is best value (doesn't have to be apple
monitors which are expensive) and run the front desk with iMacs. I
will have and Xserve as the server running Tiger Server.

I have some more specific info if you want. Just contact me off the
list. rob@...
Rob Stark, DDS
On May 19, 2005, at 12:05 PM, scottperkinsusa wrote:

> For 7 or 8 years in the late 90's I owned a software
> company with two programmers, two salesmen and two tech
> support/trainers etc. We specialized in Dental Patient
> Mgt and polished the programs development using FOXPRO.
>
> We had 32 different relational database files with 106
> prebuilt indexes and 103,000 lines of very high level code
> code. This was DOS actually and it ran fantastically with
> Novel or Lantastic for multi user environments up to
> 7 or 8 users. I had spent 75 thousand toward conversion
> to OS.2 when IBM pulled the plug. The reason FoxPro was
> used was because it was an integrated screen management
> and relational database engine all wrapped up in one.
> Really it is still better than anything else Microsoft
> has ever come out with but they orphaned it somewhat
> as it never fit in with their long term plans.
>
> I had 46 installed systems ranging from single users
> to 12 user systems. I could NEVER go the Windows route
> and DOS was declared dead by my competitors and sales had
> dried up so I sold my customer base to a competitor and assisted
> in the development of data conversion routines to their
> windows system. Basically I broke even on about 8 years
> of effort. During development it was very easy to obtain
> demo copies of prominent competitor systems to study
> the user interfaces and functions.
>
> I remember at the trade shows that there were two
> UNIX system vendors with Dental packages for larger
> clinics but cant recall their names.
>
> Anyway, I am still friends with many of my former
> Dentist clients and they are asking how to get away
> from the Microsoft crap.
>
> I know there are some strong databases for Linux like
> Mysql or Postgresql, but I only know of them as used
> in internet related work. Are there some good combinations
> of Linux development packages for use in multiuser environments
> such as a dental office with 3 or 4 front office assistants
> and a terminal in 5 or 6 operatories as well as the
> Dentist's office and consult room ?
>
> I have an old High School buddy dentist friend
> who would pay 5 or 6 thousand dollars for commercially
> supported software using Linux/Unix that is proven
> and stable and without the Microsoft crap.
>
> To the guy who mentioned that he had seen a few
> Linux based alternatives, can you please supply
> some contact info for them?
>
> Scott Perkins
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