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What advantages are there in using Lotus Notes?
We are a small company with only 35 email users and are running Lotus Notes on an AS/400. I am looking at alternatives because of the problems we have had. The system is slow, users don't care for the Notes client (prefer outlook) and our setup with our ISP includes free email service. So, I'm thinking why not get rid of Lotus Notes and have the users pull down their email from the ISP into Outlook. The only down side I see is that the AS/400 gets backed nightly and having email stored on user pc's would not be backed up.
My other solution is going with a managed exchange email service like Rackspace. Anyone know anything about them? I'm the only IT guy here so having our own exchange service probably isn't feasible and I really think getting rid of Lotus notes would make my job easier. I appreciate any comments or suggestions.
My other solution is going with a managed exchange email service like Rackspace. Anyone know anything about them? I'm the only IT guy here so having our own exchange service probably isn't feasible and I really think getting rid of Lotus notes would make my job easier. I appreciate any comments or suggestions.
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Yes, we only use Notes for email. I just started looking at several of the hosted exchange providers and may have another problem. The ones I have looked at so far require users to have Windows XP or Vista. We are still on Windows 2000.
It quite strange to hear that Domino for 35 users is slow. Usually, even entry-level desktop computer can serve more than 20 users without problems at decent speed. On very old systems, yes, Domino can be slow, but usually other mail servers even can't start on those configurations.
Maybe adding some RAM speeds up system considerably. Or, there is something wrong with software or hardware setup, what slows system down. Of course, if the system has very old and slow processor(s), then there's not much to do.
I have teached some of Exchange administrators to migrate from Exchange to Domino and they are pleasantly surprised, seeing stability and management tools Domino server has. Domino never needs continuous "hand-holding" like Exchange. Neither has it major breakdowns, thanks to bullet-proof architecture.
ISP mail is very nice up to the moment when something happens to internet connection and all company is cut out of communication.
Domino system will work and deliver at least inner mail as long as power line is on. After power-out it will repair itself and work again, with minor damage if any.
Another question is user's preference for Outlook mail client. Then, it's always possible to use Domino Access for Outlook for them. It's free with Notes licenses.
Maybe adding some RAM speeds up system considerably. Or, there is something wrong with software or hardware setup, what slows system down. Of course, if the system has very old and slow processor(s), then there's not much to do.
I have teached some of Exchange administrators to migrate from Exchange to Domino and they are pleasantly surprised, seeing stability and management tools Domino server has. Domino never needs continuous "hand-holding" like Exchange. Neither has it major breakdowns, thanks to bullet-proof architecture.
ISP mail is very nice up to the moment when something happens to internet connection and all company is cut out of communication.
Domino system will work and deliver at least inner mail as long as power line is on. After power-out it will repair itself and work again, with minor damage if any.
Another question is user's preference for Outlook mail client. Then, it's always possible to use Domino Access for Outlook for them. It's free with Notes licenses.
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I found only one provider that will still support Windows 2000 clients and that is Mailstreet. Anyone have any comments about Mailstreet? Also, the reason XP or Vista is required by most providers is because they are only running Exchange 2007 and that does not support Outlook 2000.
If all you are doing is using Notes for email only, then it's Exchange ftw