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Petition to Get Ximian Connector Ported to Mac OS X

Posted by pudge on from the stick-it-to-the-man dept.

babbage writes "There has been some talk recently on various mailing lists about getting a Mac OS X version of Ximian Connector extension to Evolution, which allows Evolution to interact with Microsoft Exchange 2000 servers much as Microsoft Outlook can. It is already possible to build and run Gnome and Evolution on Mac OS X, thanks largely to projects such as Fink. Ximian is aware of this interest, and has indicated that if enough users expressed a serious interest in buying the product -- the target number was 500 paying users -- they would be willing to produce a Mac OS X port of Connector. To that end, I've set up an petition to help gauge user interest."

3 of 27 comments (clear)

  1. Follow-up to my own comment... by mjpaci · · Score: 2, Informative

    From the Ximian Connector website:

    Ximian(TM) Connector is a unique extension to the Ximian Evolution(TM) groupware suite that allows Linux and UNIX users to manage personal information and collaborate with co-workers using Microsoft Exchange 2000. With Ximian Connector installed, Ximian Evolution will function as an Exchange 2000 client, enabling users to manage their email, personal and group calendars, address books and tasks lists using existing company Exchange 2000 servers. As a result, workgroups, departments and companies using Ximian software can cost-effectively enhance productivity, integration and support for their growing populations of Linux desktops.

    (emphasis mine)

    --Mike

  2. A fortune waiting to be made by d0n+quix0te · · Score: 4, Informative

    To the first good, cocoa based exchange compatible client. I can easily see 100k-500k licenses. I bet, Ximian can make more money on a OS X native exchange client than anything else.

    But these guys seem to be blinded by the GNU cause and don't want to make money.

    Think about it Entourage is priced at $150. And lacks Exchange or group scheduling functionality.
    Make a cocoa based PIM with group scheduling and exchange support. You can sell it for $100-$150. Even at a modest 50,000-100,000 units sold that is $5-10 million dollars. This is not improbable given that the number of OS X customers by year end is ~3 million.

    Ximian should get off their ass, hire a Cocoa programmer and develop such a product.

  3. Why? Outlook is a free download by O · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://www.microsoft.com/mac/download/outlook2001/ outlook2001.asp?navindex=s13c

    --

    1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 -- Mathematics is the Language of Nature.