What is wrong with using MS Access for a fifty station online purchasing system or though rare, when might it be OK. What is wrong with using SQL Server for a "Mom and Pop" shop of three computers?

Answer 1

MS access is great when there is little traffic. Its minimal maintenance costs makes it perfect for that situation. It just does not handle many simultaneous queries.

On the other hand, SQL server is designed for high volume traffic, and it is supposed to be scalable, i.e. handle large volumes with appropriate increase in resources. There is nothing wrong with using SQL server for a minimal setup, as long as the substantial start-up cost and administration cost is not a burden to the administrator.