InfoWorld
Lead with Knowledge
HOME/ SITEMAP
SUBJECT INDEXES
App Development
Broadband
Business Intell.
Business News
Business Strategies
Careers & Mgmt
Collab. Software
Content Mgmt
CRM
Database
E-Business
End-User Apps
End-User Hardware
Enterprise Apps
Ethics
Government
Licensing
Middleware
Mobile Computing
Networking
Online Community
Operating Systems
Processors
Security
Servers
Storage
Telecomm.
Web Services
Web Technologies
Wireless
XSPs
NEWS
CTO ZONE
TEST CENTER
FEATURES
COMMUNITY
OPINIONS
INTERVIEWS
FORUMS
RESEARCH
EVENTS
WEBCASTS
ADVERTISE
ABOUT InfoWorld
Reprints
ABOUT US
About InfoWorld
Services
Advertise
Contact us
Reprint
Employment
WHITE PAPERS

Learn to secure your PCs from new and unknown hacker attacks.

Free IDC White Paper - Discover Secure File Sharing for the Enterpriseattacks.
SEARCH:  
Home  //  Community //  Opinions //  Article
Print Article    Email Article
Window Manager
Brian Livingston
These insa-a-ne prices

TELEVISION VIEWERS in the New York area were bombarded in the 1980s with ads for a discount electronics chain known as Crazy Eddie's. After unveiling the latest specials, the store's madcap pitchman, actor Jerry Carroll, ended every ad with the manic tagline, "His prices are insa-a-ne!"

The deals were actually pretty good, but more than the prices were a little nutty. Eddie Antar, the company's CEO, was convicted of securities fraud, ordered to repay investors $121 million, and sentenced to eight years in prison. (Released from prison in 1999, Antar and his relatives are trying to revive the brand.)

Microsoft has recently announced a rebate for the Windows 2000 Server and a bundle of related software that is equally "insa-a-ne." And fortunately, I don't see signs that any Microsoft executives are going to jail, so this is one discount that I recommend you look into. The rebate offers resellers of Microsoft's Small Business Server 2000 up to $500 in cash back. Despite its name, SBS isn't a different platform. It's good ol' Windows 2000 Server packaged with several applications. For an ERP (estimated retail price) of $1,499, an SBS buyer gets the following.

The Windows 2000 Server with five client log-ons

The Exchange 2000 Server e-mail package

The SQL Server 2000 database program

ISA Server 2000, a software firewall

Fax/modem sharing and other features

Licenses to install Outlook 2000 on five PCs

The list price for a five-user Windows 2000 Server and this lineup would be over $5,800. Buying SBS, of course, tends to lock you into using Microsoft software instead of other alternatives. But if you've already decided, SBS costs less than the $999 ERP of Windows 2000 Server combined with any one of the programs listed above.

SBS isn't for large enterprises because it scales only to a maximum of 50 log-ons and doesn't play well with multiple Windows 2000 Server domains. But if you run a small business that plans to become a Fortune 500 company, SBS easily upgrades to the full-meal deal.

Microsoft stresses that its rebate isn't a price cut. It's a refund for consulting provided to customers by resellers. But in reality, resellers may now cut SBS to $999 or less to stimulate sales.

Those other alternatives I mentioned earlier include open source. When I asked about this, Katy Hunter, a Microsoft group product manager of small to midsize business, replied, "It's largely Linux when we look at our competition in the small-business space."

The software giant wants to convert consultants from Linux to Windows badly enough that a source within Microsoft says the company debated (and is still considering) SBS price points as low as $799 or even $599. Hunter disavows this, saying, "We think the current price is an awesome value."

Next week I'll examine our server future.


Send tips to brian@brianlivingston.com. He regrets that he cannot answer individual questions. Go to http://www.iwsubscribe.com/newsletters to get his Window Manager column and E-Business Secrets e-zine free via e-mail.



RELATED SUBJECTS

Servers
Click here for all of Brian Livingston's past columns.
SUBSCRIBE TO:    E-mail Newsletters  InfoWorld Mobile InfoWorld Magazine
Home  //  Community //  Opinions //  Article Print Article    Email Article
Back to Top
 ADVERTISEMENT
 

SPONSORED LINKS

Click here to receive a FREE Success Kit from Oracle.
SPEED, PERSONALIZATION AND INTEGRATION: THE KEY TO E-COMMERCE SUCCESS.
Protect Your Data: Get your FREE Enterprise Backup Intelligence Kit from ADIC.
New HP digital projectors — click now for limited-time introductory offers.
SeeBeyond Webinar - Topic: UCCnet, Thurs., 9/26/02 , 8-9 am PST

SUBSCRIBE
E-mail Newsletters
InfoWorld Mobile
Print Magazine
Web-based training
ABOUT INFOWORLD  |  SITE MAP  |  EMPLOYMENT  |  PRIVACY  |   CONTACT US

Copyright 2002 InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.