I too am not a fan of anything Google. Way too big and has the problem most big companies have in that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. No means to have direct phone support contact that I'm aware of. Reports in the past where they've "accidentally" indexed your personal computer into their online database (yeah, right - accident). Anyways... as said this is off-topic and nothing at all what I'm looking to do.

Office 365 only moves some (not all) of the daily management to the Cloud. I really have to ask what for? I can already install, manage, backup the data and have 100% full control (you do not have 100% control in the Cloud). The costs are not broken down into Server and CAL but the bottom line is the per user cost includes those fees. Then you're shifting dollars spent inside to outside but you're really not saving all that much money but you are adding another layer of non-control to the mix. There is certainly a market for the Cloud and I'm sure some companies that don't run an internal IT or a very small one might benefit from it, but its not to simply move your inside IT to the outside where you now have very limited sight and control compared to owning and running it internally. At that point why not just outsource the whole thing including your job and be done with it. But again you're simply shifting dollars from one pot to another pot. Use the Cloud where it makes sense for your companies needs.

Bottom line for me is I'm tired of spending huge amounts of cash every time I turn around. Maybe there is no easier/better/cheaper way and I'm stuck on this wheel with Microsoft and Exchange but spending well in excess of $100K in a 5 year period simply for "rights" to use the software is a bitter pill to swallow.

Regardless of which route taken I'm sure it's a lot of work. Was just curious if anyone had either taken the step or done a fair amount of research and testing in this area.

Thanks everyone