We will be opening a new maritime museum in about a year (spring 97). During our development and subsequent operation we will need a progression of computer resources. Your comments on what is available, appropriate and easily used would be extremely helpful. Software, hardware (including printers and network hardware) and operating system(s) must be considered. Below is a list of activities we need to support and an initial estimate of what would support it. Any advice you can offer us on what to obtain or where to obtain it would be greatly appreciated. I m thinking that we will need three separate computing systems: 1) Accounting; 2) Operations support; and 3)Exhibits. Accounting - This will likely be a stand-alone (to simplify security issues) PC clone system running accounting software on DOS or Windows. What accounting packages would you suggest? Operations support - Likely a small networked PC clone system running Windows NT. Will support the following areas: General office functions - Microsoft Office Professional. Time-phased planning - I ve briefly used Microsoft Project in the past. Is there a better tool for aiding our development plans? Membership database, Volunteer database - Is specialized software to be preferred here, or should we make up our own Microsoft Access databases? Newsletter - Microsoft Word for Windows seems to be appropriate here. Any comments? Collections management - I ve heard of Argus running on a Unix system being used to support this function, but it would be a lot simpler to manage the same kinds of systems throughout the enterprise. Is there anything more appropriate than Argus? If Argus is the way to go, does it run under Windows NT? If not, will it run under Linux on a PC clone? Library management - What software is preferred to support this function (cataloging and the like, beyond normal office functions)? Interactive exhibit displays - In-house web page system or specialized display system, most likely networked and fed by server system. Need interactive software at each station and networking software: PC clones running Netscape Navigator on Windows NT Server/Workstation with captive display accounts on boot-up? Are there better ways to go? Donation sources for computing resources - Are there any companies you know of that supply the above items that are likely to offer donations or deep discounts? Can you recommend anyone? Thank you for anything you can offer. If a summary of responses is desired, I ll make one. Tom Fuller Santa Barbara Maritime Museum 6 Harbor Way, No. 177 Santa Barbara, CA 93109 [log in to unmask] 805-568-9000 (voice-mail for the museum)