Vanessa:
I have a similar setup to yours, working well at this point, and it cost me nowhere near what you're being quoted. Wcoghill and Bert are right; somebody there is making it too complicated, and too expensive.
I know next-to-nothing about servers. I basically have a glorified peer-to-peer setup, with a beefy "server" PC containing the main AC database, and about the same number and type of PCs & tablets you have. The wireless ones are connected to the "server" via a wireless network, and the wired PCs are connected via a wired network.
This is working pretty well for me now, but I know a server operating system would be best, and I hope to upgrade in the near future. It is hard to make a change during cold & flu season; it would have been better if I could have had it set up properly from the beginning.
Bert is very knowledgable about networks and other frightening technology, and I would like to publicly acknowledge that he has been very generous with his time, trying to educate me in these matters.
(BTW, Bert: what does that "_no spam" tag at the end of your email line signify? Does it have special power, electronic or talismanic, to ward off evil-doers?)
Wcoghill: please think about adding a tagline with your name and location under your profile. I like talking with you, but I feel funny calling you "Wcoghill". It seems like I called you Dr. Coghill one time and you objected. Maybe I could call you "W"?
