What do they use for accounting, appointments, etc.?

Eric,
Some readings for you on MS Jet, Access, Engine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microso...atabase_Engine
Access has come a long way, and yet it is not built for serious work. Only for prototypings, school works, etc..

Here's a plain English comparison of MS Access vs. SQL:

http://www.cypressinland.com/access_vs_sql2.htm

Here's the Microsoft white paper "Microsoft Access or SQL Server: What's Right in Your Organization?"

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/solutio...re-access.mspx

Both are very informative.

One additional thing about the upsize thing is you can simply copy your Access DB do the upsize to SQL and test the waters. If you feel comfortable then move your users over otherwise have them work on the original DB. No harm or productivity lost.

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11 X5d JB/Cinnamon w/Bamboo/Premium/Tech/Cold/Rear Ent/Rear Climate/iPod/Roof Rails/Running Boards

I should be able to answer more questions once I get this up and running. Purchase of the additional modules were necessary.

It does electronic insurance claims, invoices, recalls, etc.. They have other companies do the mailing based on the information on your database. I think it is 69c/postage.

I cannot tell you how MD version works, since I am working for eye doctors (actually free-bono). My understanding is it cost them 15k initially. It does inventory controls, and very customizable!

I don't know what your CEO's specialties are. I could ask around if you like.
In general, if you getting practice management software, tradeshows are the best place to go. They have show specials...

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or MS certified Administrator they require for the installation.

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BMW The Ultimate Oil-Leaking Machines!

Ok...I decided on a server. I'm getting:

Dell PowerEdge 850 Rack Mount Server
Pentium D Processor 2.8GHz, Dual Core, 2x1MB Cache, 800MHz FSB
RAM: 4GB DDR2 667MHz, 4x1GB Dual Ranked DIMMs
SCSI RAID 1 with Dual Channel PERC SCSI Controller, 128 MB Cache, 1-Internal & 1 External Channel
2 36GB SCSI Hard Drives, 15k RPM

Rack Mount 1500 UPS

Rack Mount PowerVault 114T Tape Backup with Single DAT72 Drive

Since our last server was not a rack mounted unit, we also are purchasing the rack itself, as well as the keyboard/trackball/LCD screen rack mount combo kit.

Everything together is costing around $5600.

I do have one more question though. I need some sort of backup software. Nothing fancy, just a simple program that allows me to put the tape backup on a timer so that it backs up the entire server while I'm gone during the night. I rotate 5 tapes, one for each day of the week. I need the capability to be able to browse the contents of a tape as well as restore single files from a tape. Here are a list of the tape backup suites that can be bundled with the server:

Yosemite Backup Enhanced Pro Suite [add $299]
Yosemite Backup Basic Suite [add $39]
Yosemite Backup SBS [add $219]
Symantec Backup Exec QuickStart Edition Server Protection Pack [add $49]
Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Server Protection Suite [add $289]
Symantec Backup Exec LAN Server and Workgroup Protection Suite [add $449]
Symantec Backup Exec Continuous Protection Suite [add $699]
CommVault Galaxy Express File Server Edition [add $449]
CommVault Galaxy Express for Microsoft SBS [add $269]

Obviously I would prefer the cheapest solution here. I'm guessing that most of these software packages do much more than what I need. Someone even suggested to me that maybe Windows 2003 Server's built in backup program would be sufficient for me needs. Any advise?

Windows Backup is all you need if you're on the cheap. Sounds like you don't have much data so do like a Normal daily backup of shared files and one weekly backup of System State.

Have you considered using an external USB 2 hard drive like from Maxtor? They are way faster than DAT but if you want to do offsite backups then CDR or DAT is your best bet.

My $.02

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11 X5d JB/Cinnamon w/Bamboo/Premium/Tech/Cold/Rear Ent/Rear Climate/iPod/Roof Rails/Running Boards

Yeah....I use DAT because I want to keep the backup tapes offsite, and I just rotate them each day -- 5 tapes, one for each day of the week. While RAID 1 protects us from hard drive falure, it does not protect us if our office building burns down.