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Microsoft to Add Exchange Support for Mac OS X
rgmoore writes "MacNN is reporting that Microsoft will finally make a full-fledged Exchange client for Mac OS X. Today, Mac users can only access the full range of Exchange services by using Outlook 2001, available only under Mac OS. Mac OS X users could either use Entourage, or they could run Outlook 2001 under the Classic environment. Microsoft is now promising to update Entourage so that it will be able to access all of Exchange's services, and they're even promising it will be available as a free update. Since many companies love to use Exchange and have made a big deal of Mac OS X's lack of a viable client, this is a big step forward for Mac users in a corporate environment."
I'm sure this thread will have a lot of Microsoft bashing. The fact is that as bad as Exchange is (and it can be a pig to admin), there are precious few alternatives for a centralized email/groupware server. Especially one that integrates seamlessly with Office.
The reality for a lot of people is that they have to use Microsoft products in the work place. When Entourage works with Exchange, at least those people who'd rather use a Mac (and not Classic) will be able to use one at work.
I know you can use OWA, but it isn't the same thing.
I for one can't wait until I can use my Powerbook at work and nothing else!
I've actually been happily surprised by Exchange in our 20 user environment. Coming from sendmail, I expected it to be about 10 times annoying than it has been. Of course, by typing that, my Exchange server is crashing this very minute. Anyway, it's nice to see them finally coming around with a client for OS X. I was very surprised that it was not in the original Entourage release in the first place.
Having said that, it's about God damned time Microsoft got on the stick and provided a true OS X solution for Exchange connectivity. POP, IMAP, and OWA are not optimal solutions, and for places who don't want to be bothered with Classic, continuing to run Outlook 2001 is not an option.
Once this application makes its debut, there's only one dickhead company left who needs to get their ass in gear and produce an OS X native version of their product. <cough>Quark<cough>
BTW, in *recent* news,Apple released OS X 10.2.4 late this afternoon-- it's in Software Update if anyone's interested.
~Philly
In the announcement the say it will be compatible with Exchange 2000 servers and up. This is not good. Most of the corporate world hasn't had a reason to move off of Exchange 5.5 yet!
Sound waves should be free!
A lot of companies have the same problem my university does, they can't upgrade from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2000 because it requires Active Directory. Switching to Active Directory requires a lot of careful planning and in most cases, visits to every seat. It'll happen eventually but it's a lot harder than upgrading a cluster of groupware servers.
This summer our new Macs will run OS X, a first for us outside our department. Fortunately the Exchange server has IMAP enabled so we'll start them off with Entourage without the update then apply it when the server is ready. They won't have group calendaring but all the Macs are going to faculty who only really want email anyway. Entourage makes a pretty good Exchange+IMAP client, the main thing I miss is the Global Address List.
Connector is a proprietary product distributed in binary form. There are no OS X binaries. Nat Freidman has said Ximian would port it if there was enough demand, but considering Evolution barely runs on OS X under X11, much less under the native APIs, that demand does not yet exist. With this announcement, it is unlikely it ever will.
I suspect the Exchange widget for Entourage will work the same way Connector does, provideing webDAV/XML services to the client via Exchange 2000's Outlook Web Access facility.
It is cowardly, and a betrayal of whatever it means to be a Jew, to act as a white man
-James Baldwin
This is not an Exchange client, but "enhanced Exchange functionality" added to Entourage. The only enhanced functionality they seem to be talking about it sharing calendars (more on that below)
The previous Mac Exchange Clients were free. Entourage isn't - a stand-alone copy runs about $90. While it's "free" if you buy office, it's not if you just want Exchange server connectivity.
Microsoft is charging OS X users twice: once for the CAL (Client Access License) and once for Entourage.
There are another two options in a corporate environment that work - one not so well and one that works great:
1. Web Access. This one only works for viewing *your* calendar items: a true shared calendar, i.e. one that lets you see not only what you are doing but what everyone else is doing doesn't work using via Web Access.
2. Citrix. If you're lucky, your company has Citrix implemented for something. Ask your friendly MSCE to create a profile for you that has whatever version of Outlook your company's running. Then you get real feature compatibility.
Note: if you do this, don't use the OS X Citrix client -- it's buggy as hell. Grab the Java version.
I've been running this on my OSX box for about a year now, and it works great, whether I'm in the office or logged into our domain (either VPN or Dial-up).
While Ximian looks promising, they don't appear to have any interest in developing for OS X, and unless they can present a really compelling argument for why I should do so (other than, "we're not Micro$oft"), I don't see why I should give them $60 for their product as opposed to $90 for straight from the horse's...
Whatever.
- learn to swim.