"Why are people using SQL Server instead of MySQL"

SQL Server and MySQL are two databases that battles each other in the database market.

"Why are people using SQL Server (Microsoft Access ) instead of MySQL"

Well first off MS SQL is not Access. MS SQL is an enterprise level database and while MySQL may be used in enterprise settings it lacks many features of a true enterprise level DBMS which result in tricks and workarounds that must be done to compensate for its smaller feature set. It can be done, however enterprise level companies have the money to spend on MS SQL and trust Microsoft. I think the basis of your question is probably "why use an expensive DB when you can get one for free?" and that's probably due to compatibility, userbase, support, reliability, and feature set.

My question is
why are people using MySQL instead of Postgres?

-b

MS SQL Server competitors are more likely Oracle, IBM DB2, Sybase, Informix, et al, not MySQL

MySQL in it's current version is really missing some important features of a full-fledged DBMS.

would it even be fair to say mysql compares to mssql? That's like a big kick in the balls to mssql, man, i hope my company isn't paying 20,000 for a license that could be free, wow would we feel like a bunch of idiots....

i second the mysql postgresql quetion. My response is name, most people (most NEW people i should say) have not heard of postgresql but mysql is ALL over the place so they naturally go with that one *shrug*, it's ok, those people tend to not have to do many tricky things

firetrap, your needs may be satisfied by mysql, but to consider it on a corporate/enterprise level... God save the company....