THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA"

Small Biz Thoughts by Karl Palachuk: Software Assurance Ripoff:
http://smallbizthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/04/software-assurance-ripoff.html

I'm with Karl.

When does Software Assurance make sense in the SMB marketplace?

Right NOW for SBS 2003 since we know SBS 2008 is coming.

NOT now for desktops since we don't know what's coming.

NOT now for Office for the same reason.

I have access to e-learning and it's either not targeted enough, or I've never been able to find the online learning that is relevant and I gave up trying.  And if you are under 50 desktops you don't get Training vouchers.  So no benefit there.

I bought just enough Windows SA licenses to get my foot in the door to buy the Microsoft Desktop Optimization pack.. and don't get me wrong but there is really cool software being  offered in that bundle... but I just cannot justify covering all my desktops to gain access to it for all machines.

Want to know where ERD commander went to?  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/enterprise/dart.mspx Inside DART.  And while it's offered to Certified partners for internal use, it's my opinion that we need this in the consultant space.  If I'm registered or SBSC partner, to gain access to ERD Commander, while you can purchase a license as you need it for your clients, to gain access to be able to purchase it, your client has to have that Desktop OS on software assurance.  This basically locks out folks in the SMB consulting space from having access to it.  None of your clients have enough SA coverage on each network, nor do all of them have the MDOP license.  Apparently you can (if your clients agree) to move licenses from one client to another... but let's get real.  What a hassle that is.

Down here in the under 50 desktops, I don't buy Volume Licenses of Vista, I buy them as the hardware changes out.  I'm the bizarre one for buying Software assurance on Vista and then the MDOP.  If you know of a SMB client in the under 50 desktop range that either has purchased software assurance and/or the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, I'd love to know and love to know how many.  I don't think there is that many.

The techmeme/blogosphere/Gartner recently had a big hullaballoo about the Windows collasping, I don't think it's collasping as much as being too Enterprisy.  Ergo why the Apple Mac platform is making traction in consumer and reportedly in some smb locations.

The MDOP offering is case in point of how Microsoft's licensing is too Enterprise-y lately.  There's no way that the SMB consultant can justify Software Assurance coverage on all desktop workstations. 

I understand that businesses must limit their offerings.  Too many times, and too many vendors say that catering to the SMB marketplace is hard to impossible.  We're demanding down here.  Unwilling to pay.  Expect too much.  Supporting us costs too much.  Okay, I understand and I can see that myself. We are cheap down here.  But like Karl points out... we pay when there is value.  When it makes sense. 

But that's the key, Microsoft.  Some of your Software Assurance offerings just aren't making sense.... at least not to this pencil pusher.

Software Assurance on Small Business Server.... yeah right now it makes sense.  Windows and Office.  Sorry... just not.