Date:         Thu, 6 Mar 2008 16:46:27 -0800
Reply-To:     Chris T <chris.tinnon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Chris T <chris.tinnon@GMAIL.COM>
Organization: http://groups.google.com
Subject:      Re: Rant: I really hate the SAS pricing structure
Comments: To: sas-l@uga.edu
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I believe most of the cost comes from the inclusion of Integration
Technologies and Enterprise Guide.  The really disturbing thing is
that we use these only to execute regular ol' SAS code.  We don't use
any of the fancy BI stuff that (I think) comes with it.  We're not any
of these fortune 500s with all the success stories with BI and how
it's saved them millions.  We just don't have the need.  But we have a
lot of data that needs crunching.  I'm so sad.  :(

Also, the WPS software is something I have looked into.  I got an
evaluation copy recently but haven't given it much evaluation.  A lot
of our code utilizes proc report (not very well, should probably use
proc summary...), so it would require a significant time investment to
rewrite it, since I believe WPS doesn't support that at this time.

From a business perspective, I simply can't understand how they
rationalize charging such a fee for someone getting new hardware.
It's seriously a Mafia-esque shady move.  Because of this, they simply
won't be getting this money, and I'd wager it's going to the same
thing for many other small shops they do business with.  Hardware
upgrades simply shouldn't come with such a disturbing software cost
increase.  We'll hack our way through to find a better solution in an
effort to avoid getting jacked in the ally.

Such is life, I suppose.  Thanks for the replies...I was a little
worried of getting shunned for being so bitchy.  ;-)