Hi everyone,
I just ran across some really cool and interesting stuff a friend of mine told me about. It looks like it is worth looking into for some.
The first is Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation. It is a server OS that has most of the features of the big boys, and the neat thing is you can upgrade from it to any of the more robust OS. It has a domain controller, terminal services, active directory and more. Plus, it has the speed and reliability of server architecture. The really cool thing is it's FREE. Yes, free. It comes installed in certain OEM machines.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/foundation.aspxDell is one of these. So, you get a Dell Server T100 with a Dual Core Intel Pentium Processor with 2.70 Ghz. A 250GB hard drive with SATA controller and pretty much everything else you need. 2GB of RAM which can be upgraded to 4GB for the cost of a movie for two. $30. Now, the OS doesn't have Exchange or Sharepoint something many wouldn't need or want. Be sure to scroll down to the operating system section in the configuration. Foundation is free. The least expensive Microsoft OS is $610 and you could go as high as $8460.00.
http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=ca&CS=cabsdt1&l=en&oc=PET100_F2Finally, for those who do want something like Exchange, Sharepoint and Web Conferencing, Microsoft has come up with BPOS. This is Microsoft's Business Productivity Online Suite. I am not sure of the cost. I have heard around $10.00 per month for each user for Outlook, Exchange, OWA, etc.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...99d9ede5-ce15-476c-9a3f-d42a481d287e.htmSo, for $699.00, you get a introductory but fairly robust Dell server with a full fledged Microsoft OS at the 2008 level. For the added $10.00 per month per user, you can get the BPOS. I know this seems like maybe it's a waste, but if you can trial it or try it for three months or so, I think you would see what the big deal is about Exchange Server, etc. And, SharePoint is....well...Sharepoint. The greatest piece of software Microsoft has ever devised. The email has antivirus built right in, the biggest entry for viruses in any environment.
If I didn't already have a network, I would be all over this.
Oh, and I forgot. The OS is good for 15 users. No CALS. Generally, if you purchased an OS, it would run $1,000 or so, and the client licenses may run you more than this.
