I've tried them all, from mainframes to communications to embedded micro controllers, and the one thing that would make life easier for SMBs is a universal OS.
My team generally finds it harder to install windows than Linux, especially when it comes to getting drivers, and having to be there for reboots.
We have found that running win4lin or vmware, solves the problem of missing apps.
You get more bang for the buck with Linux and can utilise all your older hardware, even 486s.
One tech head can service 400 Linux users.
Using a made up custom psuedo language, users can be taught shell scripting, and get all those hand written systems onto the corporate information network.
Just move sideways from the Microsoft approach, and the benefits to SMBs accumulate very rapidly.