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>>I have not tried MSDE. But it its a sql server lite, you are much better server by a product such as Sybase Anywhere, unexpensive, easy to install and scalable to the workgroup (50 users max). The size of the exe 1Mb!
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>Francois, last time I checked Sybase is not inexpensive as the number of users grows. What prices are you aware of?
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>Peter Robinson

Our price reached thru a commercial agreement called CAP is around 50-60 English pounds per declared seat (no payment per server). While not nil, we find this pricing to be fair. The software (a watcom make) is really a snap to install, a great tool.

You have to accept the fact that this engine (both technically and commercially ) is fit for organisations where the number of users is typically 5 to 30/50. Also you would use the engine for db sized in Mb (typically 10 TO 1 000) not terabytes.

Above this number of users and/or size, only big names should possibly recommended (we have no significant experiance in this field). But admin costs have nothing in common. Despite a ful-fledged c/s tool, Sybase Anywhere does not require a professional admin.

This product is both unexpensive and effective but it is not a product developped by Sybase themselves. Its marketing position is very comparable to the one of Fox within the MS portfolio.

Users love it but it is a kind of step-child in sybase product list versus their current db stuff namely SQL server (same initial code source as MS sql).

Great stuff no promoted by the marketing people.... kind of not making enough money with it:(

There is a small quirk however. Their most recent version (6.0.3) is not as fast as the previous ones. We have preferred to stick the tried 5.4.4 stuff.