Lotus Domino VS Exchange?

Okay, before you start assuming, this is just my quick 30-second answer to the difference between Lotus Domino and Microsoft Exchange.  I use this analogy when explaining to others that really do not know much about the topic.  I’ll give you my personal opinions at the end.

Entire Books and Libraries have been created to determine the real differences.  This is not meant to go into any detail

First off, let me preface by saying, anyone can make an email server.  SMTP/POP3/IMAP are not difficult protocols.

“Microsoft Exchange does a great job of messaging, and, oh… by the way…. it can also do collaboration.  Lotus Domino does a great job of collaboration, and, oh…. by the way….. it can also do messaging”.

The main focus that I’m trying to point out is, IBM/Lotus understands that anyone can do email, so they put their Research and Development into the collaboration piece.  The sending/receiving email is just a side-note bonus item.  Whereas, Microsoft spent a lot of time in the messaging piece and the management of it.

Now, this post isn’t to bash Exchange lovers.  There are a lot of things I miss on Exchange that Domino doesn’t do.  However, I did want to give my 30-second explanation on the major difference between the two.

My personal opinion is, in this day and age, we are beyond the need for simple messaging.  If that was the case, we would still be running sendmail systems (some of us still are) using Eudora Pro.  You can only take it so far.  At this point, businesses are more interested in effectively collaborating efficiently and without geographic boundries.  Anyone can send and receive email.

Technorati Tags: Collaboration, Domino, Exchange, Messaging