<<< HUMANE::DISK$SCSI:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DIGITAL.NOTE;1 >>> -< The Digital way of working >- ================================================================================ Note 4961.100 Exchange doesn't! 100 of 111 KANATA::TOMKINS 85 lines 18-APR-1997 12:03 -< Stop it Bill, you're killing me! >- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is there really a message backlog being built up, or do the messages just get dumped into the bit-bucket? I am a very opinionated Macintosh user. I have not and will never be an advocate of Microsoft nor PC products. I do however support them to the best of my skills, and without sounding too pompous, I do so better than most people within DIGITAL, in spit of sloppy programming, poor or non-existent architecture, short-sighted implimentations or otherwise, shoddy workmanship. I personally provide much of the bleeding edge technology support and implimentation in KAO for the Manufacturing Engineering community, outside of CCS, as many requirements are well in advance of CCS plans. I run the kanata VAXcluster, PATHWORKS V5.0 integrated into a Windows NT domain mfgeng, the first Windows NT Domain in Canada. I directly support most of the engineers in their most immediate needs, they call, I respond and leave when they have a smile on their face. I am not going to blame CCS, they are having a real hard time of it, having been in communication with Microsoft now for almost two days. This Microsoft Exchange architecture stinks, and it stinks BIGTIME! The various problems with mail, the lack of scalability, the delays or failure to even deliver mail, all these things, including licensing costs are downright despicable. VAX systems work and they work well. The last time I had to re-boot kanata was for that nice little obscure bug in time. kanata is up, it's up all the time, every time all year. Most of my Windows NT systems require reboots every 60 days or so, many Windows NT workstations require reboots in shorter timerames and when Microsoft thought they were copying the Macintosh interface and putting it into Windows 95, they couldn't even get that right, there are a pile of subtle things they missed entirely. Pretty interface that Windows 95 thing, but not very functional. I am on a tirade here as I am quite pissed, that we, who used to be the SECOND LARGEST COMPUTER MANUFACTURER WORLDWIDE, have come to this, the acceptance of mediocrity within our midst, this Microsoft stuff. I have never in 15 years lost any VAX mail. I have never failed to deliver VAX mail in 15 years. I have never had a CRITICAL system such as VAX mail down for two days. The majority of engineers that I support conduct almost 85% of their daily activity in TEXT FORM. They process huge amounts of mail, ECOs, drawings, BOMs, and all kinds of other stuff that relates to manufacturing products. This Microsoft stuff is a hindrance to the efficient conductance of our business and now, it is directly impacting our ability to conduct business at all. If you have ever wondered why business has declined so much in America and Europe over the last 8 years, if you have ever wondered why so mnay firms such as ourselves have had to hold massive layoffs, why so many businesses in your local community have gone bankrupt, why so many storefronts remain empty for so long after the businesses are long gone, why so many people worldwide are un-employed, you need look no further than the Marketing Juggernaut, Microsoft. Microsoft have sold the world a promise and failed to deliver, a bill of goods that they never make good on, and they keep changing all the while all the time. How many of you have filled out the Microsoft Registration card. It says, by filling out this card, we will enter your name in a draw for a vacation for two. Anyone ever get that vacation. Anyone know anyone that ever got that vacation. That card also says that Microsoft will keep you informed of changes and updates. I have yet, to receive a single notice from Mcirosoft telling me that any of the products I use have been updated, openly, blatantly, silently or otherwise. Anyone else, no. We have let ourselves be duped. Microsoft is killing us. The mangled up OS/2 on IBM and then later on everyone said how sad it was that IBM never did get OS/2 to work right or really ever went anywhere with it. Geez, everyone bought that Microsoft line that IBM was to blame for the woes of OS/2. Hell folks, wake up, Microsoft screwed IBM and they're screwing us. I could go on, and in some places in the past, I have. I know that some people will not agree with me here, many will be offended, and some will call for my head and others will tell me that the train is leaving the station and either I'm on it or I'm not. I have yet again stuck my neck out on the line and attempted to provide my honest opinion on the matter. We could nail these people and they way they have hoodwinked the world, and in the past when it came down to the short of it, nations rose and did just that. Regards, Richard Tomkins