http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/092007-no-price-hike-sql-server.html I missed this news from PASS. My first thoughts are, hmmm, not sure if I believe this one!
Applied marketing. The price hike came with 2005, so with the next version MS can proudly say "Our prices are stable!". []
Well. relatively speaking SQL is still quite a bit cheaper than Oracle JasonL for more MS/Katmai related check out http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde/archive/tags/SQL Server/default.aspx http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde/
Better we don't go on that side of debate in comparing with other vendors, there are always ups & downs with all the products, better to make good usage of these tools for your tasks.