Sterling Ball got rid of all the Microsoft products in his business.

Why? Because the Microsoft-supported BSA raided and sued his business for having software sitting unused on hand-me-down PCs in his clerical department. After settling for $100,000, and having the BSA drag their business' name through the press, he vowed to never use a Microsoft product again.

Ball claims that he "saved $80,000 right away by going to open source" and has been able to inexpensively run thin clients in his company. Productivity has gone way up, because only needed programs are installed: "For somebody whose job is filling forms all day, invoicing and exporting, why do they need a Web browser?"