Zimbra Starter Edition

[gbr]

I read the announcement, and I was thrilled. I was ready to get my credit card out. And then I realized you left us Linux users out in the cold.

Windows users can sync outlook, and through outlook and activesync, sync their Windows Mobile 5 devices.

Mac users can isync IMail, and using one of their other sync apps, sync with their Windows Mobile 5 devices.

Linux users can... oh yeah. Nothing.

You know you can never please everyone. I know that. But I would have preferred a 5 user license that included backup and Mobile sync instead, at the same price point.

I've almost gotten Windows completely off my desktop, and now I'm being forced to put it back on.

[gmsmith]

There is always Zimbra Desktop...and the full NE Professional version doesn't have any specific Linux sync tools either, so I am trying to understand what you feel is missing for Linux users?

[gbr]

I can't sync to my PDA. And I've been through this before... I'm not buying NE for my 2 man shop.

Synce and Funambol are pains. NE will sync with my WM5 PDA.

[jholder]

What would you suggest? Besides the fact that Zimbra itself runs on Linux, I don't think we're living Linux users out in the cold.

We're open to opinions, please let us know how we can improve.

[gbr]

I actually came up with a suggestion in my message. A Starter Edition that supplies Zimbra Mobile, so I can sync my WM5 PDA.

[jholder]

But Zimbra Moble isn't Linux. Is your concern with lack of Linux Sync (as you say) or with lack of Zimbra Mobile?

[gbr]

Then perhaps I misunderstand what Zimbra Mobile is.

What I want is actually very simple... I want to sync my Windows Mobile 5 device with my Zimbra Server, without having to kill myself with synce or funambol.

If the answer was a $399 solution from Zimbra, similar to the Starter Edition, I would buy it.

[juanfermin]

Originally Posted by jholder

But Zimbra Moble isn't Linux. Is your concern with lack of Linux Sync (as you say) or with lack of Zimbra Mobile?

What's kind of funny is that I was putting together a quote for one of my clients who's opening up a small dentist shop with 4 people. When I saw the Zimbra Starter edition, I thought, "Great" this would be better than Gmail because we can get the Push Email on the Phones... Oh wait, no we can't. Oh well, back to Gmail, since I only have a $1000.00 budget for this. Hell, I would have even paid the $500.00 Mobile license fee if I could, but it's not an option on the Starter edition??? That's just crazy talk!
Newsflash guys, not every shop is 25 people!

To answer your question, YES it's the lack of Zimbra Mobile, I mean seriously is there a SINGLE person in the U.S. left without a Mobile Phone? I think not. Any solution that doesn't include Mobile support, AND Archiving support, you might as well go with Gmail, otherwise what differentiates you from them?
Let's see:

• The Ability to "Star" special Email.. Oh yeah Gmail does that
• The ability to IM within an organization and have it all archived? Oh yeah, Google Apps does that.
• The ability to Archive Messages? Oh yeah Google Apps Premium does that at $30.00 a user (small shops???)
• The ability to Collaborate on Documents? Google Apps, Zoho all free.

The HUGE point here is that having the Mobile AND Archiving feature would have put you over the top. Out of my 78 different clients, not a single one of them has more than 25 employees, and the VAST majority of them are very small shops of 3 to 10 people.

Having a Starter Edition like with with Mobile support would have allowed me to offer them a REAL alternative to Exchange or Small Business Server with Exchange, but I guess it's just not in the cards.

[tsch]

I have to second the opinions voice here. Including Zimbra Mobile, even at a surcharge would definitely add a lot of value for small businesses. I would certainly go for it and a lot of my clients would too.

[dahamsta]

Originally Posted by tsch

I have to second the opinions voice here. Including Zimbra Mobile, even at a surcharge would definitely add a lot of value for small businesses. I would certainly go for it and a lot of my clients would too.

Thirded. I'm in grace on NE at the moment, trying to justify the Starter licence, and I can't see it happening. That's €400 in licencing gone. I'd prefer less seats with Mobile for the same price.