Carl Tyler's Blog :: A lot of noise about Exchange 12 being 64 bit only going on around the different blogs.

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Most, if not all saying how crazy it is. To be honest, I'm not so sure. Lotus spent lots of money maintaining 16 and 32 bit versions of SmartSuite, did it make any difference? not really, maybe there were one or two companies that were happy to stay on the old hardware and not move to 386 processors, but most had already upgraded their PCs to 386 and were waiting for an OS and apps to support it. That came and Microsoft had all 32 bit apps, whilst Lotus had a mix and match of 16 and 32 bit.

Obviously this is very different to the desktop wars, but there are a few things to keep in mind, isn't Exchange 12 still like a year away? Do the Lotus Partners have a really good understanding of the hardware in use at the majority of Exchange customers today? Do we know how many of them are already running 64bit processors? Hell my laptop is 64bit, but I'm using half the bits

Also if this is such a mistake, everyone should shut up and let Microsoft do it, don't make them think twice about the decision. Then help clear up the mess afterwards.

I so like playing devils advocate.

Comments

1 - I think the main difference today is that people are not changing their hardware anywhere near so frequently. On my current contract in an investment bank (so not short of cash) they are still running some Domino servers on 5 year old hardware quite happily. The assumption that hardware will be continually upgraded is a mistaken one I believe.

Posted by Matt White At 11:15:57 AM On 11/17/2005 | - Website - |

2 - I think Matt has a point. When we decided to get a BlackBerry server last year, they wouldn't let me buy new hardware. I have an old Dell server with 1GHz processors. It does the trick, but it's a prime example of not buying the newest hardware.

As it was mentioned earlier this year, only 40% of Exchange customers were at 2003. From what I've heard of Exchange upgrades, do you think that a lot of those remaining 60% have upgraded to 64-bit hardware? I wouldn't think so. Probably a lot of the newer 2003 implementations may be at 64-bit hardware.

At the same time, I do feel like it's a good idea to "nudge" customers along to the latest hardware. But you have to consider the ramifications of this rip and replace technique. Even if they are running 64-bit hardware, the OS is still 32-bit and it would need to be upgraded immediately before upgrading Exchange. This means that you are crossing your fingers that the OS upgrade doesn't have any issues and then you have to kick off your Exchange upgrade. There's just too much to go wrong there (judging from MS's upgrade track record).

Like I said at Ed's site - the customers can always upgrade to Lotus.

Posted by Chris Whisonant At 01:28:20 PM On 11/17/2005 | - Website - |

3 - Oh i can hear it already...why use Domino, that 32 bit app when you can use Exchange on 64.....those guys are loosers and they smell funny. Now you have to be reading this in the voice of Cartman from Southpark for it to be funny.

Really who cares about Microsoft? I know for one I don't and I also knwo that they are never going to offer anything that does not require a VisualStudio.ney purchase to make thier code work.

You can't just install and run you have to .net the crap out of it and that is always going to be the Microsoft way.....that way you will always come back to Lotus. I say let them and watch the 7% of the morons out there install it and do a rip and replace too while they are at it. I for one grow tired of the advanced POP server called Exchange and the ease of being able to shut up an Exchange Admin in a few short seconds due to thier loyal stupidity......bring it on!

I know that just made no lick of sense! But thats the way I like it!

Posted by David Vasta At 02:31:17 AM On 11/20/2005 | - Website - |