IT Report

Shared address books for XYZ Ltd staff and for projects with Microsoft Exchange e-mail server

This would save staff time in creating individual address books and failed mail deliveries due to incorrect addresses. Exchange server would hold the central store of messages and schedules with Outlook being the approved mail client to take full advantage of Exchange's features: Outlook for the Mac cannot be purchased separately and is a less developed version when compared to the PC format. There would be less connection problems as the Microsoft system does not limit the number of people access the server at the same time whereas the current e-mail server is limited to 4 simultaneous connections. Microsoft is also bringing out a new version of their e-mail service this year which is rumoured to have significant advantages for group working.

I don't know what email system XYZ company is using but MS Exchange is hardly the only game in town. Other options include the very popular QuickMail Office and QuickMail Pro, and CommuniGate Pro running on OS X Server or other platforms. And less we forget, the multi-platform and very successful Intranet server app called FirstClass Intranet Server by Centrinity. And then there is one more: Eudora Mail Server and Clients, including Eudora Mail for the Palm Pilot OS.

IT Report

Windows computers can do anything (except make the tea)

There are a number of specialist applications such as digital archiving, document management, project management and timesheet processing which would be beneficial to XYZ Ltd. However as these are not mass market products developers have to target one computer type which is usually Windows: these types of applications are usually not available on the Mac.

The Mac OS has over 18,000 software and hardware products available. Some of the 'best of breed' products are both Mac exclusives and Mac-first developed products. Almost all of today's best software was developed and created on the Mac first. Take FormZ, for example. Or better yet, MS Excel. Mac first creations and still better on the Mac. To look at software available for AEC visit see our list. If you don't see it there visit Macintosh Products Guide (MPG).