OK, given below is a list of some good opensource & free CRM &/or ERP solutions - I am assuming you wouldn't want to spend too much and comml ones are quite expensive. Many of these like opentaps compiere etc are used by MNCs like Toyota, Honeywell etc. so they aren't bad at all. There are some other opensource solutions like SugarCRM which have good support but they are not free - though cheaper than comml ones.
However, before you get into these, here's some advise based on my own experiences earlier in my career in running a small company:-
First, I would suggest that you decide exactly what (& WHY) you need a CRM solution for ?
If you are looking at a small salesforce/workforce of say 10-20 people it may be better to use something simpler as CRM/ERP solutions will take up huge management bandwidth and also require a lot of rigidity in your internal policies and practices which are not possible for smaller businesses which are changing very quickly.
Even if you are looking at a larger sales/work force, i would recommend hiring a good experienced marketing/sales manager rather than spending time and money on CRM/ERP.
Its nearly impossible to fit the infinite range of human behaviours into a set of software rules unless you can afford to have a year or so of time to smoothen out & adapt your policies to your market/product & people and the deep pockets to keep paying the people while you do this.
Its much better that each sales person uses his own low tech ways to keep track of his leads/calls/sales rather than centralizing such things. And 1-4 managers/team leaders give your simplified inputs on the performance and take your simple directions/strategy and convert it into actual tactical/operational plans for the salesmen.
Things at the top of the business hierarchy need to be pretty simplified - and that can only happen if the responsibilities are given to some leaders down the line to use their own brains on how to achieve objectives within given costs & time budgets.
Running a business like a techie is a big NO NO - unless you want to remain small & niche - & even then its difficult. You will need to keep your time & mind on your business rather than the shiny new complex software/hardware which eats up your days while your employees get lesser time to interact with you. You need to leave those things to others - EVEN IF THEY DO A MUCH WORSE JOB THAN YOU. You can only direct.
Most probably what you need is a good contact manager, scheduler or some simple workflow system which can be done by using microsoft's outlook or access add-ins and some well though out paper forms and ledgers/journals.
Here is a simple writeup/overview of CRM (from sugarcrm) - if you think carefully you'll realize that you need this ONLY AFTER your sales guys have been getting good & stable level of sales for at least 6-12 months and you are expanding rapidly and so your managers need these tools to perform better/quicker/cheaper.
Till you are in the start up phase (ie products, customer segments & business models changing rapidly - since you are trying out different things to survive and junking what doesn't work while selecting & improving on what does..) you don't need these things really.
Anyways, that my 2penny worth of thoughts. I am not really aware of your business plans so i could be entirely wrong. Here's the list of CRM packages/solutions (in the order of what i think would be good for you)
opentaps
opencrx
vtiger
openerp
compiere
hipergate
civicrm
Also here's some free & opensource online/e-commerce s/w - I think what what you really need is something like this to manage an online transaction point - if you're a techie then its always better not to compete with the offline people but to use your strengths and have more online presence with only the minimum required offline support. :
ZenCart
ApacheOpenForBusiness
Broadleaf
Whew ! Long Post. I can't seem to resist giving advice - must be growing old !