OT:Exchange good? - And the flame wars begin (Was:Re:newhotness?)

[Craig White]

On Mon, 2009-02-23 at 14:14 -0700, Stephen wrote:
> This is mostly a personal prefrence discussion, but this one is a bit overbaord:
> 
> "I suppose you can justify whatever you believe to be costs as you see
> fit. The SBS version is by intent a hampered product to encourage
> adoption - sort of like the drug dealer giving the drugs away until you
> get hooked."
> 
> it is mean for a company that will be of the 20-40 users and no higher
> than 75 users. it isnt meant as a get started now and then watch it
> all grow. it is meant to fill a small business niche of one server for
> your office covering your needs in that one box. it grows to 75 users
> but is really not meant for that scale. if you are going bigger then
> they will suggest seperate servers for those needs.
> 
> the trick really here is on the IT consultant or professional invovled
> to advise them properly on the needs and their expected growth.
----
I am generally 'overboard' when it comes to the notion of open source or
more specifically, free license software because I have this notion that
these distinctions actually matter to the people on this list.

Even the discussions of TCO are actually besides the point when it comes
to free license. I'm quite certain that Microsoft has commissioned a
report that concludes in all instances it has a lower TCO.

In only one instance have I ever recommended that a client use Exchange
and that was because he already owned SBS 2K3 and only had to buy the
Exchange licenses and because he was a mortgage broker, the client
software was all Windows based and things like Point are hardwired to
use MAPI client. Even then I felt soiled implementing it - probably
because I do feel that open standards and free software matter far more
than the initial euphoria of using Outlook. I know that ultimately, they
are going to pay for that choice.

I apologize for expressing my dismay towards those who choose a
proprietary software package and disfavor open source/free license
alternatives. It's a particular blind spot of mine.

Craig