Michelle owns a company called Eskhaleni Technologies, who are registered Microsoft Partners. Because of this she qualified for a Action Pack Subscription, and we both have been on an extensive drive to sort out all our software licenses. We ordered the subscription at the end of March and it earlier this week. I was suitably impressed with the range of software that the subscription comes with for a meagre R2508.00 per annum license fee. What peaked my interest is the Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2 that comes with the subscription, and I am in the next few days planning on upgrading the network and install it. I am particularly interested in the Exchange 2003 and ISA 2004 that is supplied with it, and also noticed R2 comes with Windows Update Services (WSUS).
Michelle and I recently decided it’s time to legalize, and we have spent some time reviewing the software we use and need. I was amazed to find quite a few open source or freeware replacements for most of the software I used to have in my collection, including Photoshop (Paint. NET), ACDSee (Faststone Image Viewer), and Nero (ImgBurn). We have since removed all software we don’t have licensed. I did however buy licenses for Total Commander as well since it is a everyday tool I can’t be without. There is only 3 more applications we have to buy licenses for in the next few months and then we will be happy. It’s strange how suddenly I have become more aware of the importance of supporting software developers as well as the companies providing these software solutions.
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