Medical Billing Forum

General Category => General Questions => : margemib October 30, 2009, 06:26:22 PM

: Business or home premium
: margemib October 30, 2009, 06:26:22 PM
Hi guy’s
I need opinions, I have vista business on my laptop, do you guys really think this is necessary in the medical billing field, or do you think Home Premium is just as good.
margemib

: Re: Business or home premium
: PMRNC October 30, 2009, 07:14:31 PM
I don't like Vista period. I'm still on XP Professional where I will stay until Windows 7 releases at least two security patches. I found Vista to be so incompatible with most software applications so I rolled it back to XP Pro.
: Re: Business or home premium
: margemib October 30, 2009, 08:01:02 PM
your right about vista it is horrible and is slow at times.
margemib
: Re: Business or home premium
: Pay_My_Claims October 31, 2009, 11:37:43 AM
NOT A VISTA FAN
: Re: Business or home premium
: Michele October 31, 2009, 10:59:44 PM
I like Windows XP Professional too.  I have found the same problem with Vista, not compatible with a lot of programs.

Michele
: Re: Business or home premium
: margemib November 01, 2009, 12:21:21 PM
Vista can be beautiful to look at but causes a lot of problems with other programs.
But in your option do you think a professional program as opposed to a home edition is better to run the business, and why?
margemib  :)
: Re: Business or home premium
: NuBiker November 01, 2009, 01:10:43 PM
In my opinion, you should look at the software you run,as well as other tasks you use your computer for..
Personally, I always purchase the business edition, XP PRO, as well as Office Pro..
In January I plan on getting new laptops win WIN7 and Open Office..
: Re: Business or home premium
: margemib November 01, 2009, 03:55:15 PM
Hi Nubiker,                                                                                                                                                                     are you going to use open office in place of microsoft office?
margemib  ::)
: Re: Business or home premium
: PMRNC November 01, 2009, 04:06:43 PM
I never get the new edition to windows until there are at LEAST two service packs.. usually this is about a year after release. There is a reason why you can still get downgrades to XP with all the major computer dealers.
I have mine custom built. I'm thinking of getting another built now but I will go with XP Pro. I prefer the professional versions. I have a personal computer in my bedroom which is only used for personal reasons, music, video's..etc. I like to keep everything separate.
: Re: Business or home premium
: margemib November 01, 2009, 04:15:12 PM
Thanks Linda for your opinion!
I value the opinion of experienced billers.
margemib  :)
: Re: Business or home premium
: NuBiker November 01, 2009, 04:52:02 PM
I am looking into it. All I need is a good word processor that has the ability to cut/copy/paste. We don't do any graphics, so Word (and Office) is kinda overkill.
One good feature of Word - that I use a lot, is the ability to convert a Word doc into a PDF file. I am always sending PDF's to new patients. Anyone can open a PFD file these days.  So if I can find a fast work around, I think I will go to Open Office. I wanna start in January 2010, so I have plenty of time to investigate.
Only thing is, The Boss likes Outlook, so I will have to purchase that separately.
What is holding me back is we use Quickbooks. I need to hang around their forum, and as soon as I hear good things about Quickbooks and Windows 7, I can seriously look into getting a new laptop.

Hi Nubiker,                                                                                                                                                                     are you going to use open office in place of microsoft office?
margemib  ::)
: Re: Business or home premium
: margemib November 01, 2009, 05:05:36 PM
Hi Nubiker,
This link will take you to free software I also have that converts documents to pdf files.
I have not used it in a while but as far as I remember to convert you act as if you were going to print a doc. and from the drop down list you choose the cute software and instead of printing it will convert the doc into pdf, and after that you can do what you need to do.
http://www.cutepdf.com/
margemib  ;)
: Re: Business or home premium
: NuBiker November 01, 2009, 05:11:52 PM
Many thanks Marge, I am going to check it out.
Now about that laptop I am considering....
I either want one with the largest screen they sell, or, I would like to get a cheapo netbook, and connect a 21 inch monitor, a USB keyboard, and a USB mouse to it.
Any opinions on that??
: Re: Business or home premium
: margemib November 01, 2009, 05:25:55 PM
You know it has no hard drive on it to save documents.
It is just for going on the internet that is what I hear about it.
So you cannot have open office or any other program on it.
margemib
: Re: Business or home premium
: NuBiker November 01, 2009, 05:50:58 PM
Well there goes that idea, LOL.
: Re: Business or home premium
: PMRNC November 01, 2009, 09:22:17 PM
I can't live without office. I use every program nearly every day. I also convert a lot to PDF so I have the full version of Adobe that lets me convert (and protect) anything really. The only program I hate and don't even think I've ever opened it or ever will is Excel I hate spread sheets!! I love power point, and with Publisher I can do my marketing materials on and use my other graphic programs with it.
I was looking at the Windows 7 and really I'm not seeing a good reason to go to it for a while.
: Re: Business or home premium
: margemib November 01, 2009, 09:31:02 PM
I love my office program also, and I think your right about windows 7, I'm not in any rush to make that change.
margemib  ::)
: Re: Business or home premium
: Pay_My_Claims November 02, 2009, 09:53:43 AM
Hi Nubiker,
This link will take you to free software I also have that converts documents to pdf files.
I have not used it in a while but as far as I remember to convert you act as if you were going to print a doc. and from the drop down list you choose the cute software and instead of printing it will convert the doc into pdf, and after that you can do what you need to do.
http://www.cutepdf.com/
margemib  ;)

I use that and love it!!
: Re: Business or home premium
: MBP November 02, 2009, 11:51:35 AM
I can't live without office. I use every program nearly every day. I also convert a lot to PDF so I have the full version of Adobe that lets me convert (and protect) anything really. The only program I hate and don't even think I've ever opened it or ever will is Excel I hate spread sheets!! I love power point, and with Publisher I can do my marketing materials on and use my other graphic programs with it.
I was looking at the Windows 7 and really I'm not seeing a good reason to go to it for a while.

Linda, do you use any spreadsheets for backup and your follow up? if yes i see it wouldnt be in excel, what do you use? we talked about spreadsheets and databases in the "follow up" topic last week. thanks!
: Re: Business or home premium
: PMRNC November 02, 2009, 01:06:46 PM
I hate spread sheets..HATE them. In every software I use I get the reports I need. I also utilize report programs to pull data from the PM software. 
: Re: Business or home premium
: MBP November 02, 2009, 01:18:47 PM
do you need backups when you work with web based software? i thought i would print reports weekly for my records instead of spreadsheets (i like them but they are just too time consuming to maintain). do i need to figure out how to back up my information when working with web based sw, in my case office ally? i just keep wondering, why do i need to keep a hard copy of anything that goes into my PM? of course i know why is it important to keep eobs and superbills.. but printing claims or doing all this filing work when it is all in the computer..  ???
: Re: Business or home premium
: Pay_My_Claims November 02, 2009, 02:16:04 PM
Linda is anal retentive like me.........backs up everything!!
: Re: Business or home premium
: PMRNC November 02, 2009, 02:17:03 PM
Hmm not sure what you mean but backups and spread sheets are different things. If I am working on follow-up I use an outstanding claim report, my providers receive monthly reports and for the ones I have in my web based software (or theirs) they can login and view anytime. Backups vary by vendor but you should find out backup procedures. Some will even sell offsite storage. When I give my monthly reports out I store copies (PDF) in each clients folder on my PC. I really don't use anymore paper than is necessary.
: Re: Business or home premium
: PMRNC November 02, 2009, 02:19:07 PM
Absolutely backup .. :)   I spend an hour a day doing incremental and then I do monthly as well, I also have external hard drive in case my computer dies and I have an off site secure storage and a secure server as well....But why am I like this.. Why of course I learned the hard way.. a few times over.. NEVER get caught with your pants down. Unfortunately most people have to learn that way :(
: Re: Business or home premium
: MBP November 02, 2009, 03:15:11 PM
so you back up everything even with web based software? how often?
: Re: Business or home premium
: Pay_My_Claims November 02, 2009, 05:49:28 PM
Hmm not sure what you mean but backups and spread sheets are different things. If I am working on follow-up I use an outstanding claim report, my providers receive monthly reports and for the ones I have in my web based software (or theirs) they can login and view anytime. Backups vary by vendor but you should find out backup procedures. Some will even sell offsite storage. When I give my monthly reports out I store copies (PDF) in each clients folder on my PC. I really don't use anymore paper than is necessary.

LOL, it's nothing bad. I mean I am very funny about trusting just 1 thing as my only source of information storage. I know you have particular quirks yourself when it comes to that.