Zimbra

fselendic · #**131** (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KermitTheFragger

Perhaps I'm daft; But I don't understand what all the fuss is all about.

For example look at this part of the license:

1.5 - This Agreement does not limit Your right to distribute files that are entirely Your own work (i.e., which do not incorporate any portion of the Software and are not Modifications) under any terms You choose.

This is way more liberal then the GPL !

So why is this logo part such a big deal ?

Because if Yahoo/MS stop developing Zimbra, someone else will have to. And it is not usual for either OS people, nor companies take badgeware licensed work and continue it. Thats why, after all, badgeware is invented

Although, yep, it is nice to have at least this kind of freedoms and opened source.

aheittman · #**132** (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centrex

I don't think Google Apps is an alternative worth mentioning. Do you really want your stuff stored on a server you do not control by an organization with a dubious privacy policy ?

A policy that includes fine print which mentions things like "we may never delete your data, even after you close your account".

Zimbra has been sold (by partners) as a hosted service as well as an installable software product. Google Apps offers a credible alternative to hosted Zimbra, with advantages -- such as a third party archiving and discovery service, and duplicate forwarding to an organization archival server -- that most hosted Zimbra resellers do not offer.

If an organization is very concerned with privacy and control of its data, all hosted alternatives will be poor choices. The language in Google's policy is typical of all hosted providers (including many of Zimbra's, which I have personally reviewed) and exists to limit their liability in the routine care of the data they host.

Zimbra will remain a great choice for admins choosing to operate their own mail server, provided that Microsoft does not kill it.

*greenrenault* · #**133** (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aheittman

provided that Microsoft does not kill it.

And the chances of that would be? Zero, for two simple reasons:
1. Zimbra competes directly with MS Exchange. And is better (oh dear!).
2. ZImbra is a product that is built on an open source software stack, which cannot be ported to a Windows server and actively promotes Linux adoption.

So if M buys Y and gets Z. Then for Z to survive, it must be the community that continues to develop and support it.

I just hope that the components of what is currently the Z Network Edition are released back to the community under the YPL so that this work is not lost also and can live on.

Russianspi · #**134** (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 08:08 AM

It wouldn't be so bad if Google bailed Yahoo out. This post I found on Slashdot has the story: Yahoo may consider Google alliance, source says | Reuters. That sounds way better than a Microsoft buyout...

dijichi2 · #**135** (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

I don't mean to be critical, but many of you just need to learn how to roll with the wind. Any good admin will have a backup plan - but speculating and complaining on a forum isn't going to scare away the beast.

The Zimbra community and staff has always been good to each other, and I'm sure there will be a workable solution to whatever comes out of this. Mergers and acquisitions are an inevitable part of living in a capitalist economy.

Haven't any of you seen Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? If you haven't let me share something with you:

DON'T PANIC! Keep over-thinking this one, and you might just disappear in a puff of logic, QED.

If anything, maybe we ought to express a little concern for the people who put their blood, sweat, and tears into Zimbra over the last few years, and hope they still have jobs in the next few months/years/whatever.

-n8

Yes, v.well said. The folks at Zimbra generally have been a great company to deal with and have put many hours of blood and sweat into a revolutionary product. I hope it works out well for you, as well as us.

Quote:

It wouldn't be so bad if Google bailed Yahoo out. This post I found on Slashdot has the story: Yahoo may consider Google alliance, source says | Reuters. That sounds way better than a Microsoft buyout...

Manna from heaven...

leog21 · #**136** (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 12:21 PM

Sorry I didn't know where to post this.

What do you think will happen to Zimbra if MS aqquires Yahoo? Zimbra is marketed as the Exchange killer. Do you think MS will let Zimbra live?

homesnatch · #**137** (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 01:54 PM

Step 1 - Yahoo buys Zimbra
Step 2 - Microsoft buys Yahoo

Step 3 - Zimbra disbanded because MS already has Exchange.

You better hope Step 2 doesn't happen. Yahoo funds a lot of open source projects.. that funding goes away if MS buys them.

jeffreyheinen · #**138** (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leog21

What do you think will happen to Zimbra if MS aqquires Yahoo? Zimbra is marketed as the Exchange killer. Do you think MS will let Zimbra live?

Historically, Microsoft has been the type to buy out companies. Rebrand what it can sell, and kill that which competes with it's own products. That's why so many people are scared of this news. People here can not see how Microsoft could allow Zimbra to survive, let alone thrive and grow. People on Flickr don't see how they will continue in positive ways with their system either.

I would, however, like to point out that Microsoft must know that it is in trouble. Look at it's recent offering in Vista. Look at how long the new Office took. And for all the complaints of bloat-ware and proformance issues and others that have been leveled at it, you would think (hope?) that they hear and understand at least a small subsection of them. Buying Yahoo! could be a very good thing.. if they capitalize on it in the right way. Meaning.. let Microsoft become more like Yahoo!. Yahoo! is the stronger brand in many sectors anyway and they are better structures toward acting on the new technologies and processes (Software as a Service) as well.

Of course, that would mean a radical shakeup of the whole operational structure of the company as well as changes in the way the company "thinks" on all levels. (I do like the term Company DNA. I think it fits.) Which I don't see them being willing to do. (The critic in me feels that some of the high-level execs there might not be able to even grasp this concept. But I don't know them enough to say that.)

I've spoken with my boss, and no one at my company is worried too much about it. We are going to keep on with our Zimbra system for now and keep an eye on the news. (Oh, and I'm going to keep laughing as Google and Microsoft continue to bicker with each other about monopolies.

)

ronpoz · #**139** (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenrenault

And the chances of that would be? Zero, for two simple reasons:
1. Zimbra competes directly with MS Exchange. And is better (oh dear!).
2. ZImbra is a product that is built on an open source software stack, which cannot be ported to a Windows server and actively promotes Linux adoption.

So if M buys Y and gets Z. Then for Z to survive, it must be the community that continues to develop and support it.

I just hope that the components of what is currently the Z Network Edition are released back to the community under the YPL so that this work is not lost also and can live on.

I hope so. These articles, although based on opinion, make me slightly nervous.