save me from exchange!

January 3, 2006 2:48 PM

Save us from exchange! Are there any alternatives (preferably open source) for calendaring we can use rather then exchange?

The sales guys at my company want to be able to synch up their calendars so that everyone can see what everyone else is doing, and they'd like to be able to do it in outlook. The problem is that we (the developers) don't want to run exchange. The sales guys need to travel, and be able to use their calendars without being online, so web-based systems won't work.

I have no idea what's involved in business calendaring, but we basically need something that works as well as outlook without the need to use exchange server. I think what this entails is that they'd be able to add an entry on their PDA or laptop, have it synch up with the main system whenever an internet connection is available.

posted by delmoi to computers & internet (18 comments total)

Pay someone else to run exchange server for you in their datacenter.
posted by jeb at 2:50 PM on January 3, 2006

Lotus Notes? As a former Notes user I think it's foul demon from the depths of the fiery abyss, but it might fit your needs.
posted by blue_beetle at 2:53 PM on January 3, 2006

jeb: Intresting idea, but it looks like most places charge about $10/mo/user
posted by delmoi at 2:56 PM on January 3, 2006

Jeb's idea is one.

The other one might be opengroupware.org ... but you have to buy a license to use Outlook with it and AFAIK it's good to have an uber linux admin around to set it up.
posted by SpecialK at 3:05 PM on January 3, 2006

Well, we have plenty of Linux nerds around here.
posted by delmoi at 3:06 PM on January 3, 2006

I setup an opengroupware installation at my last job for ~500 users. As far as I know, it's still in heavy use - people happily do all of their calendar sharing, contact organization, etc. As SpecialK says, the Outlook connector costs some change (I pushed my users over to Thunderbird and Sunbird with minimal complaints). It also handles network palm sync nicely.

Opengroupware.org
posted by zerokey at 3:12 PM on January 3, 2006

Slap the self-wanking sales droids upside the skull.

Or, check out scalix - but it's also an email system as well.

god, why do people think they NEED Outlook calendaring. How did people get along before Outlook?

I think that the sales people should clearly define *exactly* what features they NEED in their calendaring solution. I have found the open source world to be a dismal failure when it comes to taking down Exchange in the calendaring realm. (sorry folks, it really is a failure.) However, if you get them to tell you what features they absolutely need, you can focus in on a solution at that point. If they don't need free/busy time, resource scheduling, delegate rights, or any of the more 'advanced' features, then sure, maybe one of the open source solutions will work.
Are the sales people going to VPN in?
Meeting Maker is an option.
Oracle Calendar is another. I believe that both of them have Outlook conduits.
posted by drstein at 3:18 PM on January 3, 2006

Ok, I apologize for being cranky. I've just been frustrated too many times by sales droids that believe their world will come crashing down around them unless they have Microsoft Outlook. I've found that a large percentage of them don't even use any of the features, and they just want it because some *other* marketing slob has it installed.

If I think of any other possible solutions, I'll come back and relay the information to you. but for now, the best thing that you can do is try to figure out exactly what features they *must* have in their calendaring solution and go from there. chances are, they won't even know and will just say "whatever comes with Exchange."
posted by drstein at 3:24 PM on January 3, 2006

delmoi-- i think we actually pay more than that when you factor in options and stuff, but it still seems really cheap to me. I think admin'ing a groupware/email server w/ storage, backups, spam+virus filtering, etc. in this day and age would cost us way more than $10/user/mo in admin time. Never mention buying the hardware and stuff.
posted by jeb at 3:25 PM on January 3, 2006

open-xchange.org: "The Open-Xchange™ Collaboration and Integration Server Environment allows you to create, store and link appointments, contacts, tasks, email, bookmarks, documents, forums and many more elements and share them with other users. This environment can be accessed via any modern web browser and multiple fat clients like KDE Kontact, Apples iCAL, Konqueror, Mozilla Calendar, and many more, based on open standards and interfaces. If you download the Outlook OXtender, then the Open-Xchange™ Server can also be accessed via MS Outlook and Palm devices. Browse the Wiki and the download section for further information."
posted by ori at 4:07 PM on January 3, 2006

Well, I mentioned exchange hosting and opengroupware to my boss, we'll see what he has to say about it. Hopefully we can try it out for a bit and see if the clients are any good.
posted by delmoi at 4:08 PM on January 3, 2006

Often, the monthly service fee also includes outsourcing your e-mail helpdesk, which means no more helping sales guys with their e-mail.

Also, are the salespeople crackberry-addicted?
posted by Good Brain at 4:12 PM on January 3, 2006

jeb: we already have an email system that doesn't use exchange, so all we'd need to do is use the calendaring system.

I have found the open source world to be a dismal failure when it comes to taking down Exchange in the calendaring realm.

Well, oracle also failed, so it can't be too easy. It seems like a lot of companies basically use exchange at their core, so switching over just isn't an option. Seriously though, how hard could it be to write something like this?
posted by delmoi at 4:12 PM on January 3, 2006

I mean, write something like this when you don't have to figure in backwards compatability.
posted by delmoi at 4:23 PM on January 3, 2006

drstein writes "How did people get along before Outlook?"

PROFS/Office Vision
posted by Mitheral at 5:33 PM on January 3, 2006

Take a look at Now Up-to-Date & Contact.

Disclaimer: day job.
posted by cptnrandy at 8:16 AM on January 4, 2006

open-xchange.com/EN/product/livecd.html
posted by suni at 7:02 PM on January 4, 2006

"Well, oracle also failed, so it can't be too easy."

I don't think Oracle failed. I've had contracts at a few pretty large organizations that shunned Exchange in favor of Oracle Calendar. Genentech & NASA Ames (NASA uses Outlook in some installations, though) are just a couple. And since Oracle is buying everything under the sun, each slurped up company gets the Oracle products.

Larry E *hates* Exchange. ;)
posted by drstein at 10:04 PM on January 5, 2006