Glyn,

I've been in the museum bizz for about 10 years and have worked with a few
different software systems.  I used the Unix based Argus when I was at the
Burke Museum, now I am the Collections Manager at the Kona Historical
Society in Hawaii.  We installed Pastime Software about 9 months ago. I
must say I prefer Pastime.  It does everything that Argus does and it is
very easy to learn and use.  It is written in Microsoft Visual Foxpro so it
has pretty graphics and it's fast.  Pastime can also be equipped with
digital imaging. I heard that Argus starts at about $10,000.  Pastime is a
fraction of the cost, starting at about $500.  They have a web site at
http://pastime2000.com/.

Mary Parr
Collections Manager
Kona Historical Society
[log in to unmask]

----------
> From: Glyn Balkwill <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Collections Management Software - what and how much?
> Date: Tuesday, September 09, 1997 7:33 PM
>
> Dear museum colleagues
>
> A colleague of mine at the Local History Museum in Durban has asked me
about
> commercially available software for collections management. I know about
a
> number of products but have no idea of relative costs.
>
> I have heard of:        Argus
>                         Multi-mimsy
>                         Collection
>
> I have also heard mention of `Collections Large' and `Collections Small'.
> Are these versions of Collection or something quite different.
>
> Are there other commercially available programs anwhat is the ballpark
cost
> per user?
>
> Please reply to me directly as I know this has often been discussed on
the
> list but I have seen little mention of pricing.
>
> Thanks very much
>
> Glyn Balkwill
>
>
>
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> * Glyn Balkwill                                Tel (w)  : 27 (0)12
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> * Deputy Director, Collections Management      Tel (h)  : 27 (0)12
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> * National Cultural History Museum             Cell     : 27 (0)82
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> * PO Box 28088                                 Fax      : 27 (0)12
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> * SUNNYSIDE                                    Email    : [log in to unmask]
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> * 0132  RSA
> *
> *
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> * Any opinions expressed are strictly my own
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>
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