Tag Archives: microsoft

Is Microsoft selling you the one vendor and everything will work story?

Posted on by Vaughan Rivett

Over the past few months, I have been talking to several customers who are looking at making a decision to use one vendor for all of their software.  The idea is that if they only purchase Microsoft software, then all of their products and solutions will work successfully together.  Not only that, but it would seem that Microsoft is also offering license agreements which allow for the use of their software now, but pay later.

This is a cleaver move by their marketing teams, if they can get well embedded into an account, they can then lock the customer into a proprietary environment which will aim to lock out their competitors’ offerings.  However, everytime one part of the solution is upgraded, there is usually a requirement to upgrade and patch a greater solution.  It is kind of like painting one wall on your house, you are going to end up painting the whole thing.

Most companies that I talk to make it clear that they have different applications in place to run their business.  They also state that those applications are there for a reason.   When I am talking about possible solutions, my focus is always on how to leverage existing investments to make people more productive.  In some cases, it becomes obvious that some applications can be retired for various reasons, but that is something that my customer would conclude after a review of a total solution.  It is not something that I need to recommend.

Buying into a Microsoft single vendor strategy could also hold a business back from cutting edge innovation.  I am not talking about new innovations in software, but more so the ability to use software which allows employees to become more innovative.  Take for instance, Microsoft SharePoint.  The next upgrade is due out in about 2013.  IBM Connections will have had at least another two major upgrades between now and then.  As people change the way that they work IBM will be offering them tools which keep pace with what it takes for them to increase productivity.

Today, business partnerships may mean that one company needs to connect their system with another company’s system.  While, Microsoft may sell a message that all of their products work seamlessly together (I don’t agree with that), you need to consider how easy it will be to integrate with non-Microsoft applications, many of which conform to open standards.  Keep in mind that Microsoft Standards are often different to what may be deemed to be a “common” standard.

Here is a blog post which I thought we quite an interesting read, take a look at Acoliver’s comments

Two Aussie’s from the outback have the Mac vs PC arguement, while one claims to have deleted Google.

Posted on by Vaughan Rivett

Right now as I write this, I am sitting on an Aircraft traveling to one of the most southern locations on our planet, Invercargill, New Zealand.

I am being amused by two very rough looking Aussies.  I think that they may be here for the Rugby World Cup.  They have just been having an argument about Apple Mac vs Microsoft Windows.  The conversation is interesting as they are obviously both very novice in their knowledge.  The foundation of their argument is very simplistic, blunt and honest.

What is making me laugh out loud is that the Microsoft Windows user is convinced that he deleted Google last night.  The Mac supporter has just told him that if he was using an Apple Mac, he should just be able to drag Google out of the trash.

What a funny conversation!

Simple diagram highlights the cost of moving from Lotus Notes to Microsoft Exchange

Posted on by Vaughan Rivett

I am always interested in talking to people who have made up their mind to migrate from Lotus Notes to Microsoft Exchange. It would appear that the cost of such a change is never fully considered or understood until well into the project. Below is a simple diagram which shows that most migrations mean more servers.

This is only an example of part of the cost.  For instance, more servers also require more support services etc.  Despite all that Microsoft may say to sell their software, even if they give it away, usually, the total cost of ownership is still a lot higher.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Lotus Domino Server and Lotus Notes is still RAD!

Posted on by Vaughan Rivett

Hardly a day goes past where I don’t have a conversation in which someone is comparing Lotus Notes to Microsoft Exchange.  The thing that I can never get over, is that the two are completely different.  Microsoft Exchange does email and does it really well.  Lotus Notes does email and again does it really well, but, Lotus Notes is also an application development platform.

So what do I mean by “RAD”?  It’s an acronym for Rapid Application Development.  Basically, what it means is, if you have a business problem which you want to address through the use of technology, you can quickly create an application and deploy it to everyone within the organisation just by sending them an email.

Take for instance, The Salvation Army in New Zealand.  When an earthquake caused significant damage and claimed many lives in Christchurch, The Salvation Army played an important role in relief work.  As a result people were being flown in from all around the country and managing who was coming and going was becoming hard to control.  Each person coming to assist needed flights and accommodation.  Overnight, an application was written to manage this process.  An application which could be used offline with synchronization to a central server.

Business changes from day to day.  It is important to be able to keep up with the demands which are driven by the market in which you operate.  To be able to use simple technology to support this, can take the headache out of having to create your business around an IT solution.  IT should not be dictating process to the businesses.  Through the use of Lotus Notes, even a novice computer operator can begin to develop databases and applications which support the requirements of the business.