As a long time Notes developer and user of this site, I know where we and IBM stand on this issue. However, given that some in management in my company are strongly considering moving to Exchange I need to research comparisons between Notes & Exchange. Especially with regards to e-mail and messaging. Now I know both Lotus and Microsoft publish several articles on this subject with each giving totally disparate views on the subject. What I need to find are independent articles and analysis comparing the two platforms. Does anyone have a link to such articles on the web?
Subject: Domino vs. Exchange Comparison
The question is a little like asking “how long is a piece of string”?
The answer of course is, “as long as you want it to be”.
Seriously though, I would like to know why your management team is considering Exchange? Is the consideration related to keeping everything on one platform? Or is the consideration related to “we know about Microsoft” and we all know that Microsoft cannot be wrong!!!
Regards
Rolf Pfotenhauer
Subject: RE: Domino vs. Exchange Comparison
We’re in a similar position. My company is only 450 people, and this year we were acquired by a much larger company. We’re on Lotus Notes 6.5 and have been a customer since release 3. Our parent company is on Exchange 2003. You can guess the rest.
We use Lotus Notes for much more than email, and honestly, switching all my users to Outlook just to make the parent company’s network administrators happy is 1) Short sighted of them. 2) Would cripple my user’s productivity – we have many important applications in Lotus Notes. 3) Migration just for the sake of migration adds no value ($) to our bottom-line.
So, I’ve been stressed these past months. There’s now a corporate bureaucracy to deal with in the IT department.
Subject: Check out: www.lotus.com/compare
Subject: RE: Check out: www.lotus.com/compare
Unfortunately almost all the examples given are by Lotus, IBM or partners. I need independent analysis from companies not associated with or paid by either IBM or Microsoft.
Subject: If you need independent analysis, then you need to avoid Lotus.com or Microsoft.com
The main issue today is to look at roadmaps. IBM is talking about ND7, 8, and even 9. MS has just announced (at TechEd) that they do not have a planned roadmap for Exchange. Where would you want to place your $$$s?
Here are some non-IBM/MS sources for review:
Forrester Research TechRanking: http://www.forrester.com/TechRankings/CategoryMain/1,,59,00.html
Industry experts consistantly choose IBM Lotus Notes/Domino over the competition
Network Computing - 10th Annual Well-Connected Awards - Enterprise Groupware Server (May 13th 2004)
Groupware is a vital part of doing business, as collaborative workspaces, group calendars and instant messaging become necessities, not luxuries. And IBM’s Lotus Domino 6.5 is our top choice in this growing–and increasingly competitive–market because it makes life easier for users and administrators alike. We liked the IM support within the main Notes client, and Domino’s robust Web client gives users access to mail, calendaring and to-do lists from most anywhere. Admins can develop custom applications tailored to business needs. This standards-based application development is also multiplatform, so enterprisewide administration can be accomplished from a single console. Domino suite just keeps getting better with each revision.
Network Computing Editors Choice Award (April 1, 2004)
“Domino has the easiest user administration interface, and it includes more built-in functionality than its competitors. Domino’s application development is standards-based and multiplatform, and the client software is infinitely configurable”
PC Magazine - Editor’s Choice Award (February 17, 2004)
For small and midsize companies looking both for basic e-mail and for group calendaring, the choice comes down to Domino or Exchange. In Domino’s favor: better multiplatform support, easier setup, and more features (such as instant messaging) included in the base product. Notes also offers unmatched customizability, with a programming language and interface design tool that lets you build collaborative tools, workflows, and databases tailored exactly to your company’s needs.
Linux World - Domino Web Access wins Best In Show (January 23, 2004)
Domino Web Access is the latest version of the rich browser mail client for Domino, and the first to support Mozilla on Linux
InfoWorld - Best Enterprise Collaboration Platform (January 5, 2004)
For its “greatly improved interface, both for the Web and stand-alone,” Lotus Notes and Domino 6.5 was selected the “Best Enterprise Collaborative Platform”
ZDNet Australia - Editor’s Choice Award (August 22, 2003)
IBM’s Lotus Domino 6 Enterprise Server and Lotus Notes 6 is an impressive collaboration product that is packed with features
Subject: and 6.5.1 has the IM/Awareness integration (including free Sametime servers) free…
I’d also include your document on “are you getting the most out of notes” to ensure they’re aware of all the features.
Subject: great points…
If you are not familar with the content Wayne is mentioning, here is the presenation:http://www-306.ibm.com/webcasts/WCPGateway.wss?jadeAction=WEBCAST_LAUNCHPAGE_HANDLER&WCP_WEBCAST_ID_KEY=0420021
Subject: RE: If you need independent analysis, then you need to avoid Lotus.com or Microsoft.com
This is exactly the information I needed.
Thanks
Subject: Domino vs. Exchange Comparison
While I cannot provide comparisons for you, I can tell you that Binary Tree does have tools that will help in the migration from Notes to Exchange. Binary Tree has long been known for tools in migrations from Exchange to Notes and would be able to help in either direction. Please visit http://www.binarytree.com for more information.