Focus On: Groupware

Arguably one of nature's more beautiful creations, SQLite has been a blessing for harried network managers and developers across Techdom. The combination of freeware with quality, elegance, scalability and an "anything goes" license, SQLite is a very hard act to follow. It has just one little problem that sounds like it's driving SQLite's developer nuts: multithreading. Here's hoping this weeks' revision fixes it.

Sane Lotus developers are being overshadowed by unreasoning partisans who consider even the mildest slight an attack threatening IBM Lotus' very existence. By screaming at every perceived slight, they are turning away friends and enemies alike, while undermining a solid collaboration product's future.

Exchange wasn't successful enough as a straight SMTP mail server... at least not for Microsoft's taste. The field is simply too crowded with excellent competitors, both Linux and Windows. So Redmond added more features and set its cap for the Lotus Domino-dominated groupware segment. There, Exchange has enjoyed steady gains, despite Domino's powerful clustering and cross-platform abilities. This has left a lot of users wondering if IBM has the stomach for the fight.

The end is near for Exchange 5.5 as Microsoft terminates product support January 1, 2006. For those who haven't already upgraded or switched, the big question is (as always): Microsoft Windows, Linux, Apple OS X or Other? All communities will find more highly regarded solutions for the enterprise than ever before, spanning both Open Source and Commercial worlds: Bynari Insight Server, eGroupWare, exchange4linux, FirstClass, Kerio MailServer, Kolab Server, Lotus Notes & Domino, Novell GroupWise, Open-Xchange, OpenGroupware and Scalix. Late Additions: Merak Email Server Suite, Zimbra Collaboration Suite.