Cybertel runs Microsoft everything. We didn’t choose this; it’s what we bought into.
We have old Windows NT 4.0 servers running Exchange and Small Business Server. We have Windows 2000 on our web and database servers. We need to upgrade the intranet software.
Good luck trying to buy it. There are about a dozen part numbers, none with a reasonable explanation of what you’re actually purchasing.
The upgrade to SBS appears to be the cheapest route at around $700 — or $900, depending on whether you want to get screwed a little now or a lot later. “Standard” pricing means next time you want an upgrade, you pay full price again. “Upgrade Advantage” means you pay more now but get upgrades for the next year or two. And of course you’re never buying Microsoft upgrades for the new features — you’re buying them for the bug fixes.
I swear it’s a lot easier to steal Microsoft software than to purchase it legitimately.
Why not just move to Linux, or (as I’d prefer) Mac OS X Server? Linux is free. Mac OS X Server is $500 for a 10-user license, $899 with an unlimited license, with reasonable upgrade pricing. Sounds good to me — but then it would become my responsibility to administer. Like the “Moose Turd Pie” story: whoever complains, they get to be the cook.