>Can you provide an apples to apples comparison?
Sure here's my scenario....
I ran 3 Dell Poweredge servers each with 4 CPU's.
Microsoft Solution
------------------
Comes with phone support, though I don't need it.
Available everywhere, I chose ebay, cost was:
New Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition & 25 CAL !!
Buy It Now $999.00
Unlimited updates for the life of the product... FREE
(And you do not need terminal server licenses, you can always log 25 users
remotely into the machine. A terminal server license is akin to using
eXceed to access your xWindows interface on your linux box).
RedHat Solution
---------------
Standard Subscription $1,499
-or-
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Basic Subscription
$349x2 (4 cpu) per year
(no phone support)
-or-
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Standard Subscription
$799x2 (4 cpu) per year
-or-
JBoss Enterprise Application Platform
Standard Subscription $4,500 per year
It's really a no-brainer... Microsoft is cheaper due to mass distribution.
If you want RedHat you'll be buying it (and their expensive updates)
forever from them, and paying LIST price.
Read the following story and you'll understand why so many people feel
screwed by Redhat. I will never again support RedHat due to their 180
degree turn where they chose to alienate 90% of their user base; a stupid
business practice. If you choose to use their products, expect to be
screwed (fair warning).
http://www.newsforge.com/software/03/11/03/1657205.shtml
> Sure RHEL is expensive
"The Bottom Line:
If you want to use an enterprise-level Linux distribution with the Red Hat
name on it, you are going to spend significant money.... "
To be clear... I didn't say "do not support Linux". What I said was "do
NOT support redhat". Linux is awesome and everyone should use it. But,
RedHat's solution will cost you more or at least the same as the Microsoft
solution. So much for saving money....
Sean C. Sheridan
scs@CampusClients.com
Campus Party, Inc.
444 North Third St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 320-1810, xtn 117
(215) 320-1814 fax
http://www.CampusClients.com
http://www.CampusParty.com
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