NewB Q's: Free OS +developer Install/Mods VS Pro

[cha]

Hi All,

I'll apoligise now for possible NewB silly questions..

I'm a 2 person business "husband & wife to be exact" and looking for some assistance. I currently have data stored in a number of different software packages, and looking to elliminate many of these unecessary resources and use a product like Sugar as my "so called" dashboard interface.

a) Like so many before me, I'm trying to get my head around the limitations between Free OS VS Pro version. I understand the basics like no support with Free OS, & it's "out of the box limited functionality" etc.. however, is it possible to update & install the available community extensions to give the Free OS Version same features as the Pro?

I'm not against paying, however just trying to weigh the cost/flexibility factor eg: go the Free OS Version and Paying a SugarCRM developer/experience user to customise it to my needs, VS Pro Version, and still having to pay them to customise it to my needs + the added costs of each potential user is unrealistic for me especially when I potentially have some users who would only require access once a month to review & update their tasks.

b) Integration with typo3, has anyone had success with this?

c) Workflow & BPM
Some parts of my business revolve around statutory regulations that change frequently. I understand that Sugar has a flexible workflow engine, but how flexible is there any documentation relating to the worflow limitations? and, if my procedures change can "a novice" implement these changes into Sugar?

d) Project Management
For one single job, I have a number of tasks, follow ups, contacts, suppliers & procedures that need to be completed. Is Sugar flexible enough to say create new /or rename fields, implement worflows procedures for particular tasks, etc.. (Sample Task EG:
1. Client calls > arrange meeting with client > if meeting is business > print & take documents X, Y & Z to meeting
2. Job Won > Documents A, B & C required from Client > if Client is business documents X, Y & Z are also required > Received yes? no?)

e) Intergration with Email & Word;
I think the Word Merge plugin is fantastic, however will we still need to use Outlook as our email client? can Sugar do this? or would somethin like thunderbird do the job?

f) CRM Function
Can Multiple Contacts be linked to Multiple Companies, or visa versa?

Thanks for your time.
PS: If any experienced users from AUSTRALIA would like a paid job to assist in customising Sugar for me please give me a yell, I'm located in Victoria.

Cheers
Sim

[ftreml]

Sugar Professional requires at least a 5-users-package, so you may give your children access too ?

ad a)
that depends on what features you are talking about ... there are some free reporting solutions out there, and a free outlook plugin, and others.

ad c)
AFAIK, workflow is handled with Sugar Professional and Enterprise, not with OS. All workflow requirements are custom code changes when buildling on Sugar Open Source.

ad e)
Please have a look at http://sugar.go-mobile.at/en/zuckerd...erdocs-client/ and http://sugar.go-mobile.at/en/zuckero...eroffice-mail/ and http://sugar.go-mobile.at/en/zuckerreports/ for MS Office, OpenOffice and Thunderbird integration