Well, I have worked with Postgresql (v 7.3) and accessing it through the JDBC/ODBC drivers I can work with it just as a normal Access database using OpenOffice. I think M$ Access will be able to access it with no problem using the ODBC driver too. On the other side if you want a more compact solution (no client + ?DBC + Server + network) OpenOffice alone provides for direct DBF support (the old 80's dBase files). DBFs don't really work as a relational database but OpenOffice offers a decent SQL front-end to it. I wrote time ago a little OpenOffice application for facturation using the DBF solution and some "small" StarBasic scripts and after a few years is still working. (the development process is pretty much similar to standard HTML+JavaScript though forms are not send to a server but just process and write data before invoquing a new form -word, spreedsheet or presentation)If you are interested I can mail it. (I was thinking to hang it in SourceForge but I really have not time ...).
The reason I asked about the comparisons of the databases against M$ Access is that I have used it to create a database of some 20000 http links and I am looking at moving it toward a linux solution. HOWEVER the winner must have a decent user GUI interface to add records/create forms etc ie something that is close to the look and feel, without the BSOD :), to M$ Access for the storing of large tables and being able to produce reports/forms on a certain portion of the records.
Comments please, but do be kind... --