[antiRepublicrat]

Microsoft threatens licence dodgers, Changes of tactics as BSA is called in

It might be fun to know your licenses are 100% correct, and ignore Microsoft up until the point the BSA hauls you to court. Just sit back until the judge forces you to put up the licenses, then do so.

One example the article gives for Microsoft discovering illegit software is the CAL issue. This is one place where Microsoft's pricing just plain sucks in comparison to Apple. Windows 2003 Server from Dell OEM with only 25 CAL costs you $3,295 ($3,999 retail). OS X Server with unlimited CAL costs just $999 full retail. So buy a few XServes to run your organization and a lot of worries go out the window, and at a quarter of the price.

Of course, even Apple is proprietary. The only way to eliminate the possibility of audits, and eliminate the man-hours to make sure you're compliant with all of your software, is to use free software.

[George W. Bush]

Windows 2003 Server from Dell OEM with only 25 CAL costs you $3,295 ($3,999 retail). OS X Server with unlimited CAL costs just $999 full retail. So buy a few XServes to run your organization and a lot of worries go out the window, and at a quarter of the price.

I agree generally. But Windows 2003 Server was the finest Windows they ever made. Nuts to those people who think it's only for servers. It is, after all, the source code for Vista (but minus draconian DRM, evil license terms, mediocrity, Tiger copycatting, vast hardware requirements, etc.).

Tiger Server, though fine for many tasks and performing some rather unique functions, does not stand up to Windows 2003 Server in many enterprise tasks and, like Windows Server, fails to meet the Linux offering for most servers on the Internet.

They all have their places though. I'm less mean-spirited on server OSes than I am on consumer/workstation OSes. Probably some deep ugly populist streak in me.

[Golden Eagle]

Of course, even Apple is proprietary. The only way to eliminate the possibility of audits, and eliminate the man-hours to make sure you're compliant with all of your software, is to use free software.

Not true, since free software typically includes *no warranty* and passes the liability to the user, you can still be liable for end use.