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What are your licensing plans?

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by j sheesley 1 view

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Microsoft has been under pressure because subscribers to its Software Assurance program haven't been as willing to resubscribe as it has hoped. Does your company use Software Assurance? What do you think of the program overall? Is it worth the effort and cost?

As an alternative, how does switching to Open Source software sound?

5 replies

by oz_media

I have never bothered looking for MS licencing as it is a ridiculous concept.

I do deploy Novell Licensing which works well and is affordable at te server level. My desktop recommendations are always Ximian or SUSE now, open source with a minimal cost.

If I can deploy 300 SUSE workstations at a cost of less than $100.00 each, including Open Office, what possible reason would anyone have to PAY through the nose for Microsoft's unstable and barely equal offerings?

It just doesn't make economic sense anymroe.

the only drawback in the past was user familiaruty with Windoze. With SUSE and XD2 desktops offerig more for less in an interface that is somewhere between a MAC and a Windoze look, this learnig curve is completely eliminated. I have seen new users (who ONLY know basic MS skills)adapt to SUSE without any effort whatsoever. Seasoned MS users will find it that much easier still.

Again, why would anyoe in thier right mind CHOOSE to pay a LOT more for MS? There simply isn't ANY logic behind it anymore.

by pgm554

I am an M$ reseller and I still don't understand the licensing schemes.

All I know is that when they were trying to pull this one ,I had a lot of confused and bewildered customers.

Sometimes I wish I didn't have a conscience (like M$) and that way I could sell all of the uneeded software and services my customers "really" need.

by tomsal

Hey Oz figured I'd ask you directly since I saw you post about linux before so I assume you are experienced with the platform, but anyone may answer of course....

I'm rigging up my office at home for my own R&D lab...I've played with Linux in the past (Redhat and Mandrake) but now I want to actually get serious with it....in your opinion, which distro should I go with for maximum learning potential and/or the version with the best value in a corporate environment?

My purpose with my home lab projects is improving my skills in other packages besides Microsoft, to add to my resume.

(also I'm just a geek and I do it for the "fun" of it too).

Thanks for your input.

by naomi37

We still use MS desktops and some servers (others are Netware and Apple), but we don't buy the continuing fee bit. It's just Microsoft's clever disguise for making more money off the same stuff. We figured out a year ago that we can pay less for "full installs" every 3 to 4 years. That may change, of course, if the price of a full license increases, but meanwhile, we are definitely looking into open source at least for desktops. (I have to get some training before we go wild with it, though - I'm the only support for 50 people here.)

by haileyan

I do not upgrade anymore than every 3 years. That includes Server OS and Office Suites and then I can upgrade for far less that SA costs anyway.

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