[KLUG Members] Applix Mail/OpenMail question.

[members@kalamazoolinux.org]

>While chasing the Samsung Connect/HPOpenMail mention in AW and RP's emails
>yesterday, I came across a brief reference that said Applixware's Applix
>Mail/OpenMail is HPOpenMail compatible.
>That makes me think that it is M$ Exchange compatible.
>could not find any information about this on the Applixware or
>VistaSource

You should contact Unique Systems, as they (at least used to) support Applix. 
I'd imagine Glenn Jacobsen (a past KLUG presented) would be able to answer your
question if no one here can.

I used Applix a little, but a LONG time ago,

>websites. (It appears that Applixware is now owned by VistaSource, but I
>couldn't really say that with any certainty).  Does anyone have any
>experience with the Applix Mail/OpenMail product?
>Like Scott (and a whole lot of other people), I have been looking for a
>Linux based Exchange work-alike or Outlook compatible workgroup server to
>share Calendars, Free/busy time and manage projects with shared folders. It
>appears that all the pieces and parts to put together an Open Source
>solution are out there. But until the Open Source community focuses on a
>product and establishes the standards and feature set, it appears that
>there will continue to be a plethora of half-way done projects for sysadmins 
>to struggle with in order to avoid feeding the dollar hungry Micro$oft Maw.

EXACTLY!  If you've spent any time on the OO (or other groupware related
projects) list you know how true this is.  The amount of what is basically
bickering is amazing.  Alot of this stems from the people who use groupware most
heavily - the truly anal.  On one side you have the "We hate Exchange,  why
would we want to create another one" people whom you wonder why they are even on
the list.  On the other side are the "If it isn't Exchange no one will use it,
people aren't interested" people.  And one REALLY wonders why they are on the
list.  Proposing (as I have, and MANY others) on one of those lists that a basic
API based on something like XML-RPC or SOAP/SOUP, etc... for calendering be
created (as it seems in part that phpgroupware has already done) and build
modules for the various clients (Outlook, Evo, Moz, etc...) are simply shot down
with "if it doesn't have feature 275642.2312 it will be useless" or just drowned
out.  Starting with something that ***WORKS*** (meaning: does something useful
today) and building on that is simply a concept that seems lost on that
demographic.  Open Source works well,  but like everything else it has flaws. 
This is one niche where it has fallen flat on its face.

>>From my gleanings, it appears that right now the $34/workstation Bynari
>Exchange connector with the free Bynari server is about the best deal out
>there for an Exchange work-alike.

Agree.