Opinion on MS Access

[dolfan]

The discipleship/recovery ministry we're doing is a bit record intensive, tracking progress through the curriculum for everyone. There is a paper-file system and a database system available; so you have two ways of tracking data and progress. Now, the database option requires that you use Access. So far, no one is stepping up to the plate on using Access, and the ones who are saying, "maybe I can do it" seem to dislike Access a lot. The criticism is that Access is a scam and that Excel can do everything Access can do. That seems odd, but since I'm no spreadsheet or database guy, I'm gonna have to take their word.

I looked at whether the software would work with Open Office's version of Access, and it won't. (BTW, another issue is that none of us seem to HAVE Access on our computers except at work, and I don't even have that. That creates problems that make Access, for now, a non-starter.)

So, here's my question. Is Access easy to use? Is it really just a way for MS to get hands in your pockets two different ways? Because, right now, I'm looking at the prospect of paper records for a bit and I don't really want to do that.