I have 5 computer systems that are x86. I purchased 2 of them and still only spent less than $400 total without dropping a dime in Microsoft's pocket.
Main machine, used for development: 2.8GHz AMD w/2GB mem. Connected to the network but not the wide area network. Windows 2000 Advanced Server 4 user license. Running SQL Server, Oracle 9i, MySQL, Postgre, DB2, and Informix databases. (purchased)
Alternate machine, also for development: 800MHz AMD T-Bird w/784MB mem. My original development system but back burnered for the 2.8GHz system. On the network but ghosted off the hub. Currently setup for Teir-2 with SQL Server and DB2 for SOAP development in Java. Also running Windows 2000 Advanced Server. (given to for development)
Laptop, also for development: 800MHz P-III w/784MB mem. Portable web site for landing new contracts. Makes a better business card. Three hard drives are used to swap out the OS to show off different software solutions. Running Windows 2000 Professional. (given to under contract, later told to keep)
All-in-one system (Gateway Astro): 400MHz Celeron w/512MB mem (used for the kids and other members of the family). Running Windows98 Second Chance. (given by Gateway around the same time I was let go)
Hub system: 333MHz P-II w/784MB and 120GB Raid type 2 running NetBSD, hosting email, mail exchange, ftp, web pages, telnet, dhcp, and alt-os java test bed. (purchased)
The only reason why I use Windows 2000 is because Microsoft contracted VAX instead of writing it themselves. I get my ram dirt cheap cause I'm willing to test if the ram chips are good for a local computer shop... generally 80% of the used memory is bad... shhhhhh.
When I get some money together, I will replace my long time dead Amiga... with what I don't know.
:pint: