Comments on: Sun’s Java Desktop System, or c’mon Dad, not in front of my friends… http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/ the craft of software development, free/open source software advocacy, and the rest of life Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:27:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Tom K. http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/#comment-28 Tom K. Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/#comment-28 Just about every corporate IT department I know could care less about MS Office, except for one thing. Microsoft Exchange and Outlook are the infotech equivalent of the alien with the tube down your throat. You can't get it out without killing the patient. If Sun is serious about swiping market share from Microsoft, they need a viable Exchange/Outlook alternative, and they need to sell it HARD. Otherwise they're wasting their time. Just about every corporate IT department I know could care less about MS Office, except for one thing. Microsoft Exchange and Outlook are the infotech equivalent of the alien with the tube down your throat. You can’t get it out without killing the patient.

If Sun is serious about swiping market share from Microsoft, they need a viable Exchange/Outlook alternative, and they need to sell it HARD. Otherwise they’re wasting their time.

]]> By: Barry Hawkins http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/#comment-29 Barry Hawkins Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/#comment-29 You're right; I forgot to mention that they have a version of Evolution with Exchange connectivity support. That's what I get for being in hurry! Thanks for the reminder. You’re right; I forgot to mention that they have a version of Evolution with Exchange connectivity support. That’s what I get for being in hurry! Thanks for the reminder.

]]> By: Tom K. http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/#comment-30 Tom K. Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/#comment-30 Evolution is OKAY. It's decent by the traditional linux "It's cheaper as long as your time is worth nothing" standard. It's clunky in the way it interfaces with AD. Last time I checked, Evolution operated by hooking into and parsing the OWA web interface from Exchange, because MS wouldn't open up their native Exchange interface to competitors. Evolution is better than nothing, but it can't functionally compete with Outlook, and that's saying something. :( I know SuSE and Oracle each built Exchange-killers, plus Lotus Notes has prolonged its slow death more than I ever expected, but Exchange is the linchpin of Microsoft's deathgrip on the enterprise server. Until that changes, Sun might as well be content with other spaces. PS - The darn thing is, everyone I know who administers Exchange hates it and wishes there were a good groupware alternative. I know it's not easy, but boy would it be profitable... Evolution is OKAY. It’s decent by the traditional linux “It’s cheaper as long as your time is worth nothing” standard. It’s clunky in the way it interfaces with AD. Last time I checked, Evolution operated by hooking into and parsing the OWA web interface from Exchange, because MS wouldn’t open up their native Exchange interface to competitors. Evolution is better than nothing, but it can’t functionally compete with Outlook, and that’s saying something. :(

I know SuSE and Oracle each built Exchange-killers, plus Lotus Notes has prolonged its slow death more than I ever expected, but Exchange is the linchpin of Microsoft’s deathgrip on the enterprise server. Until that changes, Sun might as well be content with other spaces.

PS - The darn thing is, everyone I know who administers Exchange hates it and wishes there were a good groupware alternative. I know it’s not easy, but boy would it be profitable…

]]> By: Barry Hawkins http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/#comment-31 Barry Hawkins Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://www.yepthatsme.com/2004/11/13/suns-java-desktop-system-or-cmon-dad-not-in-front-of-my-friends/#comment-31 Yeah, ActiveDirectory integration still stinks I believe. That's another chapter in the "extend and embrace" book of Microsoft successfully feigning compliance with standards. As a former Exchange admin, I don't miss that part of life much. Yeah, ActiveDirectory integration still stinks I believe. That’s another chapter in the “extend and embrace” book of Microsoft successfully feigning compliance with standards. As a former Exchange admin, I don’t miss that part of life much.

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