From a book called Access 2013: The Missing Manual:
At this point, you're probably wondering how much that part in the center of Figure
21-1—the SQL Server database engine—actually costs. Microsoft sets the price using
a complex licensing scheme that ratchets up the cost depending on how many
people use the database at once. Usually, it runs into thousands of dollars, and it's
not uncommon for a big business to shell out $20,000 or more.But before you skip this chapter in disgust, there's something you should know: A completely free version of SQL Server is out there waiting for you. Amazingly enough, it's almost as powerful as the one that costs thousands of dollars and requires you to pledge your first-born child to Microsoft.
Honestly, I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. Any thoughts?
Best Answer
The phrase "pledge your first-born child to" is a sarcastic figure of speech, akin to "sell your soul to". It's saying that someone is asking you to pay too high a price for something, and is often used when you might be getting yourself into a situation that could be hard to get out of later.
In the context of technology, it's often used to say that you'll be tied to a certain platform or system, and switching might be difficult or costly.
For example, say a mobile phone company is offering you a free phone, but you'll need to sign a two-year contract to get it. Some people might think that's too long to commit to one carrier, particularly if you could buy the phone yourself at a reasonable price. In that case, the person who is advising you to reconsider that "deal" might say something like:
or, similarly:
It's very figurative speech to say you might regret something down the road.