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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.
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.