Windows' SMB bundle offers few new upgrade enticements

Tests show base product is still as solid as when it was released three years ago.

While Microsoft may be aiming to rope in the 8 million small businesses that stand without a networked server with the R2 version of its Small Business Server 2003, our testing shows that although the base product is still as solid as when it was released three years ago, the few additions in the new release won't attract many new customers or entice existing users to upgrade.

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While Microsoft may be aiming to rope in the 8 million small businesses that stand without a networked server with the R2 version of its Small Business Server 2003, our testing shows that although the base product is still as solid as when it was released three years ago, the few additions in the new release won't attract many new customers or entice existing users to upgrade.

For comparison's sake, we installed a fully functional, prerelease copy of SBS 2003 R2 (scheduled to ship in August) and a retail copy of SBS 2003 on two different systems. Microsoft does a good job of leading new users through a string of installation wizards and retains the To Do List configuration page that appears as the first choice under the standard management menu. The collection of server-management task items on the server administration home page provide a complete server overview.

Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) in the SBS 2003 R2 Standard Edition, SQL 2005 Workgroup, and Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 headline the new feature list. Tying SharePoint collaborative tools deeply into the provided ISS Web server doesn't offer many advantages but pushes users down Microsoft's new collaboration path.

ALL-IN-ONE NETWORK SERVERS MICROSOFT SMALL BUSINESS SERVER 2003 R2 Microsoft Related Content

4.1

Price: Standard Edition: $599; Premium Edition: $1,300 (13% lower than SNS 2003). Upgrade prices are $299 and $699, respectively. Pros: To Do List page helpful for less-technical administrators; added Windows Server Update Service helps with security; more reporting screens and monitoring feedback than competitors; servers. Cons: Only minor technical advances from SBS 2003; offers only five user client-access licenses with system, customer must purchase one CAL for every concurrent user (to a maximum of 75); pushes Exchange Server onto neophyte administrators. The breakdown Manageability 25% 4 Scoring Key: 5: Exceptional 4: Very good 3: Average 2: Below average 1: Subpar or not available Features 25% 4 Ease of setup 25% 4 Documentation 10% 4 Reporting tools 10% 5 TOTAL SCORE 4.1

Click to see: Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2