I must respectfully disagree with the generalization that all big customers screw small vendors. I've been involved in small businesses selling products and services to individuals, small, medium and large businesses for decades. My experience is that individuals and small businesses are much more risky to extend credit to than medium or large businesses. Of course, you have to pay attention to the paperwork...you shouldn't provide goods or services on a verbal order unless you know the customer well. Particularly with medium and large customers, you have to jump through all of their paperwork hoops...get a Purchase Order number, make sure your shipment documents include that Purchase Order number and list the items shipped that match the PO. Invoice them in the format they specify (paper or electronic) and include the PO# and charge the price agreed to on the customer's PO. Make sure you agree on the terms of payment before you accept the order (Payment in Advance, Cash on Delivery, Net 10 Days, or the most common, Net 30 Days). Plan on payment being sent based on their receipt date, not your shipping date (even if the terms are F.O.B shipping point).
I won't say there won't be an occasional snafu that delays your payment, but, by and large, medium and large customers pay as agreed just to keep their own internal systems from getting bogged down in complaints and exceptions. Admittedly, I have never sold anything to Walmart;-}
A few examples of software supported only by Windows:
AutoCAD (primarily 2D drafting/design)
Inventor (3D modeling/design)
LaCerte (US tax return preparation)
I'm sure that there are many more examples of specific applications that are supported only in a Windows environment. If you need to use one of these for the unique functionality or for compatibility with others in your development chain, you are stuck.
Les
>>>What really matters in a serious crisis: 1. Having arable land, and stuff you can plant. 2. Having weapons, so you can hang onto the land and the crops. 3. Having people who will use those weapons on your behalf.
Yeah but if you have gold you can BUY the land, BUY the weapons, BUY the soldiers when the time is right. There's no way for me to buy & store away 2 million dollars worth of guns or corn seeds. My house ain't that damn big.
Only if someone will trade their land, weapons or services for your gold. If society has collapsed and you have a productive, defensible farm/ranch and a crew to work & defend it, would you trade that for a truckload of gold? In an collapse situation, the most valuable thing would be a community with survival skills. With that, you (and your peeps) can take and keep what you need to survive and prosper. In this situation, people and knowledge have value (labor)...stuff, not so much.
In a less severe environment, where civil society (law & order) prevail, then material goods have additional value (capital).
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I must respectfully disagree with the generalization that all big customers screw small vendors. I've been involved in small businesses selling products and services to individuals, small, medium and large businesses for decades. My experience is that individuals and small businesses are much more risky to extend credit to than medium or large businesses. Of course, you have to pay attention to the paperwork...you shouldn't provide goods or services on a verbal order unless you know the customer well. Particularly with medium and large customers, you have to jump through all of their paperwork hoops...get a Purchase Order number, make sure your shipment documents include that Purchase Order number and list the items shipped that match the PO. Invoice them in the format they specify (paper or electronic) and include the PO# and charge the price agreed to on the customer's PO. Make sure you agree on the terms of payment before you accept the order (Payment in Advance, Cash on Delivery, Net 10 Days, or the most common, Net 30 Days). Plan on payment being sent based on their receipt date, not your shipping date (even if the terms are F.O.B shipping point). I won't say there won't be an occasional snafu that delays your payment, but, by and large, medium and large customers pay as agreed just to keep their own internal systems from getting bogged down in complaints and exceptions. Admittedly, I have never sold anything to Walmart ;-}
A few examples of software supported only by Windows: AutoCAD (primarily 2D drafting/design) Inventor (3D modeling/design) LaCerte (US tax return preparation) I'm sure that there are many more examples of specific applications that are supported only in a Windows environment. If you need to use one of these for the unique functionality or for compatibility with others in your development chain, you are stuck. Les
The last forklift I used ran on compressed gas. Actually compressed "natural" gas. It must have been especially green. ;-D
>>>What really matters in a serious crisis: 1. Having arable land, and stuff you can plant. 2. Having weapons, so you can hang onto the land and the crops. 3. Having people who will use those weapons on your behalf.
Yeah but if you have gold you can BUY the land, BUY the weapons, BUY the soldiers when the time is right. There's no way for me to buy & store away 2 million dollars worth of guns or corn seeds. My house ain't that damn big.
Only if someone will trade their land, weapons or services for your gold. If society has collapsed and you have a productive, defensible farm/ranch and a crew to work & defend it, would you trade that for a truckload of gold? In an collapse situation, the most valuable thing would be a community with survival skills. With that, you (and your peeps) can take and keep what you need to survive and prosper. In this situation, people and knowledge have value (labor)...stuff, not so much. In a less severe environment, where civil society (law & order) prevail, then material goods have additional value (capital).
Antarctica? Not really a self-sustaining "colony", but certainly not making anyone money.