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e8johan writes "The KDE PIM Team will integrate all their applications into one common interface and create an Outlook-like application.This is being done in the Kroupware project commissioned by the German government. There is a prototype of KOrganizer with KMain embedded into it (shots 1, 2), and another prototype with KMain running as a KPart in Kaplan (shot 1, 2, 3). This looks hopeful and if they manage to build the application as flexible and modular as other KDE projects this will hopefully mature into something great." Kroupware is a catchy name, but I wonder if the KDE team is aware of the English word croup.
wasn't it supposed to be the Outlook/Evolution killer?
This is exactly what KDE needs. Best of luck to the PIM teams because this is the final piece of the KDE on the desktop puzzle that businesses need to supplant outlook/exchange. If it hooks into a nice backend as easily as Outlook does to exchange then we're looking at a contendor.
Have a Happy.
As a geek, I would agree with you. As a past sys admin for email and scheduling, I would have to disagree with you. I managed email and scheduling for a 4500 employee business and we used separate email and scheduling systems (based on Linux/Unix servers). The biggest complaint that I got was that the users had to keep two applications opened to do the job. Another was that it was hard to get reminders emailed to you or meeting invitations emailed properly. The administration liked the fact that we didn't have outlook/exchange and thus avoided many problems (virus problems, etc.), but the users complained all the time.
Also remember that a big part of this is getting something that works client/server. This is one of my personal complaints. I would love to have a scheduling server at home for the family. We have a busy family life and keeping up with everyones schedules would be so much easier if it were in a centralized place. I used to use Star Office as it included email and scheduling, yes I actually bought it for the scheduling server. I didn't really like the one big application, but it had what I needed and thus was my choice. But Sun dropped the email client and the scheduling stuff and that leaves me out of luck.
I have no sig, does anyone have one to spare?
You're absolutely correct. Microsoft's constantly evolving licensing policies guarantee most US businesses won't make a switch because they'll be penalized.
It is the conservative nature of most companies (not the quality of the product) that ensures Microsoft's continued dominance.
But that's just my opinion...
or other imporant Linux functions started relying on Gnome or KDE, it would be the beginning of the end for Linux--because it would then really start being just like Windows.
And why would this be the end of Linux? It might be the end of egotistical elitest Linux hippie types, as any and everyone would be able to use it rather than just the 1337 few but, it wouldn't be the end of Linux. In fact, if Linux were exactly like Windows, do you think that anyone would ever again PAY for Windows? This is exactly what Microsoft fears the most from Linux. If it does get to be the same as Windows, no one will shell out US$300 for a copy of Windows XP whatever when they can down load the "same thing"(Linux) for free.
Indeed, if Linux were to become the same as Windows, it would be a crushing blow to Microsoft, not Linux. BillG can't sell his product against the same thing for free. If Linux were being made by a company and sold for even only US$5 a pop, Microsoft wouldn't be worried. In that case they could afford to give Windows away, just long enought to put that company out of business and then Microsoft could return to charging thier usual prices. But, Linux is totally free. Forever! Microsoft can't compete against that and BillG knows it. So, he must instead make Windows better and point out the shortcomings of Linux to make people want to spend big bucks on his overpriced OS.
The fact is however, that Linux is not becoming the same as Windows. Linux is very different from Windows and that is part of the reason that so many people presently fear using it. But, the KDE and Gnome interfaces to Linux are becoming more Windows like everyday. This is a good thing as it will hide the differences and complexities of Linux from people who do not know, care or want to think about what's underneath. Instead, it will present them with an interface that 99% of the computer using population is already familiar and comfortable with. They will be far less fearful and far more likely to give Linux a try. Then they will think, "I can spend US$300 for MS Windows or I can have the "same thing" for free?!?!?!?!? Hmmmm....."
Exchange is just a simply IMAP4/LDAP3/NNTP/POP/SMTP + Calender server. I say 'just' because all of these services except calendar are already available as open source already.
The functionality you speak about parts of the individual ietf standards and not invented by microsoft. It's now a matter of configuring them to play nice with each other, which is what the kroupware people are doing with kolab. eg make the NNTP server look to LDAP for accounts ( already been done I'm sure), make the calender store appointments in the a user's IMAP folder ( trival, really it is ) etc.
Exchange goes far beyond what you describe. First by centralizing these functions it makes it easier to manage the single application, rather than several different ones. Backups are a breeze.
point all youre data directories to somewhere in /var. backup /var. I don't see it getting any easier then this.
The calendaring goes beyond what you describe. Not only can you receive a meeting invitation, you can also share calendars or entire mail boxes....
IMAP4 standard supports shared folders. You can share a folder to a group of other IMAP users, to everybody, etc. It's a lot like standard filesystem permissions but on folders in your IMAP inbox and managed by the IMAP4 server through the IMAP protocol. This is all support in Cyrus IMAP server already.
What MS probably did was to take the calender info and store it in a special "calendar" folder which is special to exchange. Being a IMAP folder , permissions could be set as needed and subfolders can be created to manage calender between groups. Nobody is going to win a noble prize for this.
Then there is the additional feature of Exchange called public folders.
Same as above. Nice racket MS has running there.
Exchange 2000 also has a NNTP server built in so you can host USENET news or your own NNTP news groups.
INN from ISC works great.
The biggest part of the puzzle missing is Outlook integration, and there are DLLs out there for that. Bynari has one, wish there was a GPL version though. It's amazing that MS builds a service on standards and still manages to make it incompartible with others using those exact same protocols.
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