If my recollection is correct, at that time there were over 5,000 PST files with an average size of approximately 2 Gigabytes.

So, here's the thing. Let me put on my OutlookPower editor's hat for a moment. Probably the number one question we get from OutlookPower readers is how to recover corrupted PST files. PST is the file format Outlook uses to store its email in, and is quite explicitly not an enterprise-level archiving technology. There's also a limit to the PST file format, in that all PST files created by Outlook prior to Outlook 2003 had a 2 gigabyte limit. In fact, Microsoft recommends never, ever letting your PST file get above 1.6 gigs, because of the likelihood of corruption and the difficulty in restoration.

If, in fact, the bulk of the White House email records are now stored in bundles of rotting PST files, all at or above their maximum safe load-level, well, that ain't good in a very big way.

For the record, the 2 gigabyte limit (and the 1.6 gig practical limit) isn't a secret. Most IT managers running Outlook are very aware of this, and we, here at OutlookPower have written about it numerous times. So to use PST files as a Presidential Records Act archiving methodology is an undeniable worst-practice.

Mischaracterization of Lotus Notes
There are "religions" in the tech world. There are those who swear by Macs and hate Microsoft and those who love Windows and find Apple incredibly annoying. Likewise, there are religions in IT. There are those who champion Microsoft Outlook and Exchange and those who champion Lotus Notes and Domino.

I support both sides. In fact, I make a good chunk of my living by covering both sides equally. In OutlookPower, we cover Outlook and Exchange and in DominoPower we cover Notes and Domino.

I'm telling you this so you understand that I'm not championing Notes in this discussion simply as a fanboy. Rather, I have years of professional experience with both platforms and consider both to be quality products with individual strengths.

The reason I'm bringing this up is because Congress is dangerously mischaracterizing Lotus Notes as obsolete technology, and that mischaracterization is skewing the understanding of why a transition between Notes and Outlook might have taken place at the White House. Here's some testimony to show you what I mean:

Mr. ISSA. The Clinton Administration used Lotus Notes, right?

Ms. PAYTON. Yes.

Mr. ISSA. Lotus Notes no longer exists, right? It is no longer supported.

Ms. PAYTON. It is no longer supported. Some groups may still use it, but it is no longer supported.

Mr. ISSA. I wouldn't want to do business with somebody still using Lotus Notes or still using wooden wagon wheels. If I understand correctly, though, certainly I checked with the House of Representatives, we can no longer support it for members who want to stay on it.

Mr. ISSA. Okay. So here we have a situation where the Clinton Administration is on a platform that has to be phased out. Simply, they lost the war of who is going to supply emails. A period of time goes on in which Yes, we are dealing, to Dr. Weinstein's concern, with getting good archives, but we are also dealing with the fact that I can't play my Betamax tapes any more, either, and I can't seem to find anybody who has a Betamax player any more.