I am not sure where you picked up a 200 user number, but that really isn't relevant.

When considering the type of activity we do, 20 cores is not a lot.

When running high speed quant trading or risk simulations or market data scrubbing, you need a serious amount of horsepower.

Simple OLTP is not the issue.

In speaking to MSFT, the strategy they are offering is downsize to standard edition where possible and consolidate on Enterprise where feasible.

That works to a point.

Obviously we cannot move our entire enterprise operation overnight.

However, we were a firm that has moved most of our systems off of Sybase to SQL Server over the past several years. We were content to stay with SQL as a single "go to" Database.

The new pricing model has compelled us to bring in other RDBMS vendors and starting with the simpler applications, we will be moving away from SQL Server.

Based on last quarters earnings, it looks like the Tier 1 customers (Big banks) had no issue with the price increase as SQL Server revenue exceeded expectations.

Lets see what happens with the secondary markets. I believe many small to midsize firms who are enterprise users will not quickly upgrade with this new pricing model.

I believe MSFT may be starting to feel this pressure as I am for the first time hearing about discounts on SQL 2014.

I think the loss of a large number of midsize firms would create a vacuum that other RDBMS would rush to fill.

It is not difficult to create a Transact-sql clone if the market exists.

Herb