Is there a Linux equivalent for this?

Thanks!

What is 'the "The Agency Manager" insurance software (TAM)'? -- a link would help.

Even w/o a link, I would guess not; it sounds both proprietary & commercial, & aimed at an industry not interested in Linux or Free Software.

If you're really, really, lucky you might get it to run under WINE. What is the oldest ver. of "Winders" it will run on?

The link for this commercial product is here:
http://us.appliedsystems.com/agency-...t-systems/tam/

Whether the industry is interested in Linux or Free Software or not, my business is. I'm building a model for a data security setup that practically any bone-throwing ape (and I mean that in the most affectionate way possible) masquerading as a business owner can follow.

A Linux/FOSS version of this software would reduce small business startup costs in this business even more.

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BTW, I spent a few years in Life & Health. (CLU, FLMI x2.)

Thanks.

Good for you. What's the old phrase? ... "Smarter than the average bear."

Nice wording -- worth a bump to your rep.
Does your "data security setup" include the desktop; & if so, how are you dealing w/ the weaknesses of "Winders"?

Of course ... no argument here ... preaching to the choir ...

Seriously, what luck are you having explaining that to those apes & the sheeple they hire? How about training the sheeple?


My suggestions
Have you contacted them about the "LAN-Based Install" mentioned here: http://us.appliedsystems.com/agency-...mplementation/?
Are they a "Winders" shop (i.e., chimps catering to apes)?
On 2nd thought, that's probably pointless, you were asking about Linux equivalents.

Which of these have you looked at?:
http://www.google.com/linux?q="insur...cy management"

Sorry about the long delay... been on vacation! (And still on it)

How was the experience? Last few years has been tough but I reckon it'll be one of the last lines of business standing no matter what.

Yes, and my way of dealing with Windows is to do away with it. I've been forced to keep things simple because of the fear of going out of my league (like messing with anything involving Exchange Server or trying to switch an office away from Microsoft PowerPoint*), but for most small businesses it works fabulously. As for desktops... diskless workstations booting CentOS. Employees don't even get a chance to install strange apps, and all internet access is logged. Not that Windows can't do this, but CentOS (in particular) is far and away a cheaper way to do it; although on rare occasion RHEL is a better choice.

The security aspect primarily involves diskless workstations and the ability to remove all company data from the premises at the end of business hours. This of course means relying on Cintas/Iron Mountain/take your pick, but hey, your data is seriously secure when you're away. Again, nothing here that Winderz can't do, but in this case CentOS does it for less. Plus there are additional security benefits Winderz can't beat, like not being vulnerable to all the confickers of the world. PLUS it's HELL getting Windows 7 to network and fileshare with non-Windows 7 machines, in my experience: no flavor of Linux has this problem that I have experienced.

Interesting question. I come from a blue collar background - I can relate. I've done a lot of trial and error, putting people in front of linux machines and letting them tell me what's wrong with the experience. Linux goes a LONG way now in selling itself.

The problem is not with look and feel / user interface issues - OpenOffice is easy to switch to, as is FireFox, which is used by a lot of businesses unless you have to use Citrix and MSIE. Linux has gone out of its way to mimic the most convenient aspects of the Windows user experience. The problem is mainly with data migration from Windows to Linux and the downtime associated with switching to a new OS. That, and the whole TAM replacement thing. Whenever data migration is a cinch, moving an office to Linux is many times easier.

None yet. I'll try investigating these companies. Thanks!

* I haven't really dabbled in OpenOffice Impress yet.

So, enjoy the vacation. Thanks for taking time from it to write such a long reply.

My L&H "career" was fairly short & some time ago. I started because a local General Agent needed help servicing all the pension plans he had sold. It was in the wake of ERISA, & his secretary couldn't keep up w/ the new requirements. At the time I owned an income tax prep. office & spoke fluent IRS. I later moved to Houston to work in LIC pension dept. When the job moved to Philadelphia, I decided to stay. The license & the designations were by-products of my "real" work.

I have been "Winders" free since mid-May 2005.

Never used PowerPoint, Impress from the beginning.

Good points about cost, do you include the cost of accounting to M$ for multi-seat licenses?

<runs out of steam />

The multi-seat license thing is way down the line in what I discuss: behind the issue of Microsoft phoning home, the problem with viruses, and most importantly, data migration. We're building a Windows & Linux lab at our spare office so college kids majoring in IT can get credits experimenting on how to rapidly migrate Windows data to Linux as FAST as possible. The goal is a one-day turnaround for an office with 20 computers: backup Windows data, erase Windows, install Linux, replace workstations with diskless machines, set up remote boot, set up the central server and the owner's (non-diskless) workstation, restore Windows data, ensure the system is immediately usable. I even have my eye on hiring one guy who can do all this with his eyes closed.

The last standing obstacle for me with any client is that infernal ***TAM*** application. It has no equivalent in Linux that I know of.

"at our spare office" ... Where are you located?

If I am not mistaken, Insfocus has developed insurance data model solutions for Linux. I might be confusing it with something else. Then sorry. Useless post.