Why pay for Oracle when SQL Server is free for Data Warehousing

[cmmrfrds]

The common wisdom in my organization that Microsoft reporting services, cubing and OLAP are free. So, why pay for these features in Oracle. What are the reason(s) to pay for Oracle data warehousing capabilities?

 

[Beilstwh]

Who told you sql-server is free? Just like oracle, microsoft has a free version of sql-server, but it is limited to 2 gig of data and doesn't have a number of features. The real version is very expensive. It is possible that your company is using a bootleg version of sql-server. OLAP, reporting services are also licensed products from Microsoft.

Bill
Oracle DBA/Developer
New York State, USA

 

[cmmrfrds]

Thank you for the response Beilstwh.

I guess the part that is supposed to be free is the Reporting Services and the OLAP, MDX, and Cubing capability. I am having difficulty finding any cost associated with these products. Apparently, the interface to Reporting Services is not very robust, but I understand that Microsoft purchased Pro Clarity to solve that problem. Is there anyway to find out the costs associated with the Micrsosoft products from a neutral source. Is there any feature by feature comparisons between the Oracle and Microsoft OLAP products that you are aware of.