[antiRepublicrat]

Linux boxes are simply more difficult and time-consuming to administer. I don't know how you can even question this premise. Anybody with half a clue knows this to be a fact.

My last Linux-oriented administrator would easily question that. They're quite easy, if you know what you're doing. Since you don't, you assume no one else does.

Of course it is. If you don't have the functionality and need it, you're going to have to endure some kind of cost to provide it.

If my specs say MS SQL Server required, then I don't even consider Macs or Linux, so there's no TCO comparison.

So is managing a network of PC clients. But you need to administer them properly from the start -- which you clearly aren't willing or able to do.

Where did you get that last part from? Even if Windows networks were as easy to manage as Mac networks, that only brings the TCO equal on that front, and if you're buying quality desktops (not the sub $1,000 trash) the client hardware cost is about the same. But don't forget you paid much more for your Windows servers. Now count in the historically lower incidence of Mac client problems and the current dearth of Mac malware, and you'll save boatloads on your Mac TCO.

Server apps typically aren't as difficult to port to different architectures as desktop apps

You're right, that can definitely be true, but not always. It would be extremely easy to port a Java app to OS X, but good luck with the .NET apps.

[Bush2000]

My last Linux-oriented administrator would easily question that. They're quite easy, if you know what you're doing. Since you don't, you assume no one else does.

You must have me confused with someone else. I use and administer Linux boxes every day; in all likelihood, I could mop the floor with anybody you could provide. So I'm familiar with the differences between the platforms -- and, I must say, administering Windows boxes takes far less time than Linux. BUT: You have to make an initial investment in configuring them properly. That means no running as Admin, turn on the firewall, install an antivirus program, push updates and app deployment thru global system policy, stop malicious email attachments at the server, do proxy filtering to limit what people can do online, etc. That's just rational IT policy. And you've already admitted that you're unwilling/unable to do them same. Which means you have to deal with cowboy users causing damage. I don't; hence, it doesn't take me much time.

If my specs say MS SQL Server required, then I don't even consider Macs or Linux, so there's no TCO comparison.

Many users are faced with equivalent dilemmas -- and the dearth of choices on the Mac makes it harder.

Where did you get that last part from?

See above