>Anyone care to explain why SQL Server database is so expensive.
>
>Prices are (MS Web Site):
>
> U$ 3,700 Workgroup Edition
> U$ 5,737 Standard Edition
> U$ 23,911 Enterprise edition
>
>Can these sort of prices really be justified?
>
>I may be wrong, but it just seems a bit of a rip off. It’s just a bit of
>software on a DVD.
>
>It’s high time someone came up with an alternative.


Doesn't seem that expensive to me, especially compared to other large database systems, like Oracle.

And then of course keep in mind that this list does not include two other versions of SQL Server: SQL Express and SQL Compact Edition, both of which are completely free of charge...

Markus