Comments on: Microsoft giving away business search tools

Software maker slims down SharePoint into a free server-based program for managing corporate search, aiming to take on Google and start-ups.

[Penguinisto]

LOL! Had to happen sometime...

Seriously - have you used Sharepoint? It's basically a glorified Wiki + search engine, and fairly worthless at doing both.

Between generated URL's that stretch out for miles, the unearthly slowness of accessing and actually using the thing, and the gawdawful scripting that's required to get it to be even halfway usable?

Blecch. I was able to replace it here @ work with TWiki (http://twiki.org) and but few other bits and bobs. As a plus, I could plug other useful enterprise-grade apps into it, and I didn't need to get a big old honking Windows-based server to run it on.

/P

[MikeeeC]

TWiki

Wow! If you were able to replace Sharepoint with TWiki, either your Sharepoint implementation was handled by a total incompetent or your users have very low expectations...

[kmomrik]

SharePoint

Have YOU used SharePoint? I'm not sure what product you were using, but the SharePoint that I've been gladly administering for the last 8 months has been barely short of rock solid (and the only issues that I've had were "administrator inflicted"). "glorified Wiki"? Did you happen to look at any documentation on the product before you haphazardly dove into it. The 'wiki' function is a new addition to MOSS 07. The search engine is very robust and easy to configure, on top of being much cheaper than most other "Enterprise Search" solutions (Google Enterprise search - for example - would have cost us in upwards of $20,000 per year). As far as URLs... if you don't know how to properly configure it, then YES they will stretch on for miles. If you set everything up PROPERLY, it is very manageable. "unearthly slowness or accessing and using"? Man, you must REALLY not have your prodcut set up properly. I've got many users access many different parts of SharePoint (searching, wikis, discussion boards, shared documents areas, Knowledgebases, etc) with virtually 0 lag time. "gawdawful scripting"? I've found SQL and aspx to very intuitive and easy to use scripting interfaces. What interface are YOU using that is so terrible? "big old honking Windows-based server"? Do people actually do the things that they SAY they do when they post these things!?! I've had MOSS running on a VMServer!!! Yes, it runs WinServ03, but it is a VIRTUAL SERVER running along side 4 other VM servers on ONE BOX! Where is the resource hogging?

Remember "'Tis better to be THOUGHT OF as an idiot then to open one's mouth and remove all doubt"

[jmdunys]

Advanced warning?

AS usual with Microsoft, the PR machine is in full swing. The company says: "Microsoft plans to put out a "release candidate" test version of the Express product Tuesday, with plans to release the final server software--and its paid counterpart--early next year.", and the articles are titled "Micrsoft giving away".
Sorry guys!
Microsoft cannot give away something that is not out yet!

Are they detecting a threat in Leopard server or Linux's Search facility? Who knows? The important thing is the timing of the announcement.

[FO-FI_FO_454]

NOW THAT'S CLASS - BRAVO MICROSOFT!

I'll sum up my feelings about this news with the title of a tune, one of my Top Ten Tunes of ALL TIME, which is:

"It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it."

This is a CLASS ACT, from the CLASSIEST of worldwide software developers and a "friend" to all of us for the past 20 years. I'm an end user, just me, since the mid 1980's and the name Microsoft has become a household tradition in my home, just like Bread, Water, Air, Electricity, and Telephone - Microsoft is a STAPLE in my home, a part of my life. No, I don't get any perks by writing this, and surely, my 3 or 4 purchases of the Windows Operating System in the past 20 years hasn't made anyone in Redmond Washington richer, or for that matter, me, any POORER. If asked, under Oath, how much enjoyment I've had in the past 20 years from the Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, I'd have to say "Your Honor, the enjoyment I've had from Microsoft in the past 20 years is Priceless." So, now, Microsoft is "giving it away" - that's CLASS - that's REALLY CLASS. This can only help the technology sector, the business sector, which ultimately should help the consumer, worldwide. That's the American Way - BRAVO MICROSOFT - KUDOS MICROSOFT.

Thank you for this opportunity to TalkBack and have a wonderful week.

[MSSlayer]

Wow

Your life must suck if you spent it with one of the most incompetent software houses on the planet.