Re: [Fwd: Samba beats NT at its own game...]

[John Beimler <klug@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> 
> > I don't know of anybody that would buy NT as a server unless they have M$
> 
> clients.  Correct me if I am wrong.  <
> 
> I don't understand what you mean by this. When you purchase NT Server you
> receive 5 user or client licenses. [...]

[Executive summary:  A client for a NT server also needs the software licesnses
to connect to that server.  90 some percent of the time, that is going to be
another Microsoft OS, which is going to run you in the range of $100-$800. A
microsoft client doesn't cost, $35, it is MUCH more.]


What I meant was, you can't give M$ $35 and expect a full verison of NT 
workstation to connect to your server.  You are purchasing the ablility for an 
OS you already own to connect to that server.  So it really is not $35 a client, 
its more its $735, if your statement that NT & Office is $700 true.  

Each client needs  an OS too, and if you are putting in NT server, my guess is 
you have some sort of M$ client OS's, like 95, 98 and NT.  I have only seen one 
need for NT  server on a Sun/HP-UX/unix-like network.  That is a Citrix server, 
so that people could run M$ apps without having another PC on their desk.  So 
here is a much larger cost than $35 for a NT license.  No way you are going to 
be able to pick up terminals/thin clients without a LARGE expenditure for client 
software.

The $35/client is just icing on the cake after you have blown over $1000 per 
client pc on an OS and office/productivity software.  

In a small office that I worked for (who refused the linux option BTW) they 
upgraded from 8 Windows for Workgroups to 95 clients and a NT server. They
ended up spending around $6000 just on microsoft stuff.  That investment was 
needed, but that ammount was also their net income for a month.  As the 
microsoft prices rise, the upgrade and retail prices seem to be merging. So if 
there is a Microsoft upgrade they need every other year they are paying a 4% 
Microsoft Tax on the company's income.  

I am going to leave out the other costs that come with Microsoft products like
downtime, I think everyone knows about that stuff.  

john