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Forums > Living in Kunming > Where to find software?

I think it reasonable to ask for referrals about software. When you look on line, a lot of the 'specialist' software reviews seem to be either out of date, or covering a very sparse offering, or sponsored. Not the mass market stuff, but the specialist stuff.

I have looked at stock control software reviews, and found the products that are reviewed either over complex, or just not suitable for small/SOHO/owner driver sized businesses.

There is also the more modern phenomenon of younger people who are APP literate, but not computer literate. The super geeks that used to snigger at older people's lack of computer literacy are mostly in their 30s or 40s now. I have had students who couldn't even use Windows competently, but are using all of the newer tech gear to the max.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Where to find software?

Most business software is pretty generic. It all has a learning curve as well. You can run your business using an office suite of software (Microsoft Office, and equivalents, even Andriod and Ios).

Use spreadsheets for financials (accounts, billing, taxes), and even mailing lists. and for stock and order/inventory too.
You can use simple databases for customer info (database in some office suites) but you can also do this in spreadsheets.

Mailing, letter writing, labeling can be done with word processor software (like MS Word).
There are a lot of business specific packages, written by enthusiastic people with some software writing experience and a specific business need, these will cost you money, or pirated. From past experience, these packages, as they are not created by big software companies, are not supported by the vendor for very long. In 5 years time (not long at all) you could be stuck with obsolete software and a big job of transferring all of your data to a new system.

I am guessing that you already have office software, and so it won't cost you anything, apart from time learning how to use it more fully.

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If they worry about cost, and only provide minimum service until things pay for themselves, then they will always be in a debt cycle. For example, if the service only runs the cheapest (minimal) service from 9-5 people cannot possibly use it for work. They screw themselves.

There is a real need to bite the bullet. Then the best returns can be realised, only if they take the risk and run the service as a viable alternative to driving. Short term loss will be high, but utilisation will follow very quickly.

There is a need to follow the models of service provision in Shanghai and Beijing, but accept that the break even point in Kunming will take longer to realise. However, if you don't, the losses will continue for many years.

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Not sure, but would that be transiting? I think transit ticket is for an onward journey to a third country.
Perhaps you could fly from somewhere, via Kunming, to HK or vice vesa.

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Shanghai and Beijing are also major business hubs and doing a few days extra business, while breaking a long haul trek, makes sense. Also, both cities are tourist centres in themselves.

Kunming is neither. Kunming wants to be a trade centre with ASEAN, but that is not yet happening. Kunming is not really a destination, more of a spring board to Yunnan (which you cannot do in 3 days). All you can really do is play golf, which some people do.

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I think the crime was getting caught, and so publically. Getting caught on camera and having it go viral is an embarrassment to gov. This is not good for social order.
There has also been a trend towards more unruly behaviour at airports, some of which have gone viral (like the Shandong woman in Guangzhou airport). This case in Kunming might be an exemplory/detterent sentencing.
Either way, it is a step in the right direction.

Reviews

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A reasonable choice of lumber that has improved over time. Fancy hardwoods like walnut, and mahogany are in abundance. There are some plywood and rubber-wood boards available. There are also some kiln dried imported softwoods and merbao available. Some of the lumber is very green, so look for the kiln dried if you need stable timbers.

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Echo everything said by others.
Breakfast great and the serve from 8am. Most other places say 9am and they still are not ready.
Sandwiches are cheap 22-32, and really packed full of filling. We got some sandwiches for a day out, the only mistake I made was ordering two, as this was too much. These are seriously good sangars, and they are wrapped in alu foil.

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In fairness to Metro, they are a wholesalers, and not really a supermarket. Hence the need for a card, which can be got around.

They have improved in the year I have been away. They now carry a more consistent range of imported foodstuffs and they also seem to have sorted out the mported milk supply.

They have a wider range of electrical appliances now, there is a coice of more than one toast. There is also a better range of seasonal non foods, like clothes, shoes, garden furniture and camping gear.