[ianhannaford]

Just a quick note to say a couple of things...

1 - Launch Date
Many of you have shown your support via our site and most have asked when we are launching our new software. The product is fully developed but before we release to everyone we wanted to take it on a test run in a few real businesses. Feedback has been positive and we look set for launch soon after the 24th June!

2 - Greatest Thanks
I would like to extend a personal thank you to everyone has given me advice and ideas so far on this forum and directly, all your thoughts have been taken into consideration in the final stages of development and most of the requests have been included.

3 - Continued Development
Once we are live I'm almost certain that some of you will have specifics features that you would like and as with all of the product we launch there will be a fully interactive site so that you may request future enhancements and discuss with other users how to use Window Cleaner Professional (more on this once we launch)

Thanks again and Ill post again once the software is available to everyone.

Ian Hannaford
www.windowcleanerpro.com

[windows_chepstow]

Ian,

Wor Lass often tells me I'm 'anal', and I know this is a tiny-weeny small bit of critisism, but your company name, 'Window Cleaner Professional' doesn't 'do it' for me.

'Window Cleaning Professional', sounds a little better.

Of course 'Professional Window Cleaner' would be good, but I think someone's using that already.

Your competitor, 'George' is good. 

I think you need a better company name; honest.

These days, apparantly, image is everything; so the bloke that sold us our sign-written polo-shirts told me (so I've had some good advice on the matter).

How about 'Window Cleaning Organiser'?  'Organ' for short!  (I can just imagine the posts here; 'Does anyone use Organ?'  Or, 'Whizz-kid window cleaning systems'?  'Whizz-Kid' for short

I know you've sweated blood, sweat and tears; burnt the mid-night oil, making sure your window cleaning programme works, is efficient and the beez-knees; so I apologise for critisizing you.

I'll probably never buy it too (sorry also); I like my spreadsheet.  But you could do with a name change.

Regards,

Tosh.

[ianhannaford]

Hi Tosh,

I take no offense at all and your feedback is more than welcome. The name Window Cleaner Professional (Window Cleaner Pro, or WCP) just seemed to happen, it was not really chosen, someone wrote it on some of the orginal specs and it just stuck.

At this late stage (just prior to release) it would be a headache for us to change it, but maybe in the future 

Spreadsheets work great if you know how to use them (sadly not me  ) and are ace at figures, sadly however they do have their limits. The ability to raise and handle invoices/receipts, emailing customers quotes, printable worklists, flyers, reminders, debt notifications etc are things that spreadsheets are not desinged to do.

I do hope that you find a little time to download and try our software , even if you dont end up using it fulltime, any feedback is always welcome - negative or postive.

Thanks again Tosh for your advice about the name

Ian

[Paul Coleman]

Hi Tosh,

I take no offense at all and your feedback is more than welcome. The name Window Cleaner Professional (Window Cleaner Pro, or WCP) just seemed to happen, it was not really chosen, someone wrote it on some of the orginal specs and it just stuck.

At this late stage (just prior to release) it would be a headache for us to change it, but maybe in the future 

Spreadsheets work great if you know how to use them (sadly not me  ) and are ace at figures, sadly however they do have their limits. The ability to raise and handle invoices/receipts, emailing customers quotes, printable worklists, flyers, reminders, debt notifications etc are things that spreadsheets are not desinged to do.

I do hope that you find a little time to download and try our software , even if you dont end up using it fulltime, any feedback is always welcome - negative or postive.

Thanks again Tosh for your advice about the name

Ian

Your quite right about spreadsheet limitations which is why I use a database and word processor (for mailmerging the invoices etc)  in conjunction with it.  They were a headache to set up though at the beginning and I'm sure that your program would be suitable for someone who doesn't want such headaches.  If I had known about George or a program like yours before setting my stuff up, I probably would have bought it.

[Spruce]

Hi
Trouble with trying to find a suitable name in our business is that a 'window cleaner' is usually associated with Microsoft and a cleaner that removes internet tracks.

[ianhannaford]

Yeah thats a good point 

If it causes us too much trouble then I might create a competition so that people can suggest a name but like I said to Tosh its a bit too late at the moment.

[poleman]

Any Idea of cost for your software Ian

[ianhannaford]

We will be a running a special offer when we launch which means you will be able to pick up
Window Cleaner Pro for around the £50 mark

You will also be able to download a fully functional trial version to see if it will suit your business. I am currently writing a walkthrough manual to get you up and running within minutes so you should be able to tell whether you like it or not fairly quickly.

Ian

[D.Salkeld_Ltd]

Ian,

I look forward to the launch.

Tried George but didn't do what I wanted.

Built my own DIY "Lotus Approach" Database.  Quite good but messy.

Anything to make accounting easier.

Will you have a version to put on my SPV (Windows Mobile?)

David Salkeld

[ianhannaford]

Hi David,

Thanks for the post. I think we have made the accounting real nice and easy and hopefully it should look after itself as you add cleans and manage debts 

We are planning to create a version to run on palms and SPV's but we have decided to postpone until we have released the desktop version. This way if there are any features that are missing we can get them right first and the then create the light version.

Hope that answers your question

Ian

[macc]

Ian,

I look forward to the launch.

Tried George but didn't do what I wanted.

Built my own DIY "Lotus Approach" Database.  Quite good but messy.

Anything to make accounting easier.

Will you have a version to put on my SPV (Windows Mobile?)

David Salkeld

Hi David.

Im hoping its a good programe. I tryed George but found it a bit beyond me.

Looking forward to seeing what you have come up with Ian.

Macc

[AuRavelling79]

Am I being a bit thick here? (Rhetorical question )

Tosh - I think it's the software that's called "Window Cleaner Professional" not the company - sounds right to me.

[ianhannaford]

Hi Malc,

Your right its the software thats called Window Cleaner Professional.

Ian

[rosskesava]

Have I missed something?

I went on the website to try the program but the website is still under construction.

I must have missed some earlier posting which I find odd as most week nights I always have a look.

I agree about the name though - I think, and it's just my view point, it does need changing at some point. It doesn't roll off the tongue easily enough (sorry to sound picky). Also I'd get it confused, is it Professional Window Cleaner or what? It don't sound much but if you're a search engine it may make a difference. Also, and sorry to go on, but how many people can spell 'professional'? Again, when doing a search...... I must sound like I'm picking holes but I don't mean it that way.

I use George at the moment but I have a few niggles with it, one is that it doesn't go on an up to date PDA.

Also, does your program write itself to the windows registry? A stand alone DOS program is so simple with little complications for crashing.

Cheers

[ianhannaford]

Hi Rosskesava,

Sorry the website is down as we are preparing for launch. I take everyones point about the name but we will have to see how it goes. If its a real problem then well change it otherwise it would be more beneficial to spend the time adding extra features.

The software is built on Microsoft's .NET framework and as you have pointed out we have not gone near the regsitry as this makes the program more portable for things such as handheld devices. We decided to leave the WCP light version until we have released the desktop version but the plans are on the table to offer a palm version and a version to run on more up todate devices (We may even have a mini version that runs on a mobile phone and then syncs with the desktop!)

Cheers

Ian

[carl stanton]

 missed this one but, not been onlne for a while,
but anyway,   looking forward to it,
 

[ianhannaford]

Thanks Carl,

Me too...We have had some real positive feedback from the cleaners that are using it at the moment where as previously they all used to play noughts and crosses with pen and paper 

Ian

[Trevor Knight]

Ian,

Can you post some screensnap shots so we can get a preview please?

Cheers,

Trev

[Davie T]

Anyone got anything good to say about George?  I will continue to use it.

[ianhannaford]

Hi Trevor,

I have uploaded a few screens so that you can take a look at the look and feel.

http://www.windowcleanerpro.com/accounts.gif

and

http://www.windowcleanerpro.com/rounds.gif

Cheers

Ian