Re: [Fwd: Samba beats NT at

[Adam <adam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>> | A single NT Server Client License goes for around 35 bucks.
>> True, but it is pretty close to $100 if you throw an Exchange license into
>> it.  Also, since you work at Herman Miller, don't you get this stuff cheaper
>> than most of the world?
>And now that you have to have a license per machine instead of per concurrent 
>use.  Large international companies are sending multi million dollar checks 
>to Redmond.  
>

This is what really stinks.  I can see non-concurrent licenses for machines,
but for applications.  That just doesn't make sense.  Because I have 200
users I need to buy 200 licenses for Word when no more than 10 people will be
using it at the same time.  I just end up not buying Word,  it cannot be
cost justified.

>As far as I can see Microsofts pricing just keeps going up.  I can't believe
>that many companies wish to spend $500-$1000 per user, every couple of years
>for basic productivity software.  Plus a new machine to run it on.  Plus 
>training.

We don't wish too, but in the UNIX word it may be just as unavoidable.  If you
need an unlimited user version of AIX and a sixty concurrent user version
of Informix Online you've hit a pretty good number.  But upgrades are FREE!!!

>
>I have yet to find a feature in Word 2000 that I use regularly that was not
>also included in Word 2.0.  
>

We still have a rather horrible character based office suite that runs on AIX,
but for what 90% of my users do it is perfectly adequate.  An interoffice memo
doesn't require DTP capability.  I am very interested in things like AbiWord
for this reason,  even with a limited feature set it will easily match the
realistic requirements of managers, secretaries, and front-line office 
workers.  Marketing departments may require something more sophisticated,  but
then you give them what they want.  I think MS-Works exceeds what most people
need.  IMHO.