=== MICROSOFT TEAMS 2026 — POST-INSTALL NOTES === The most complete collaboration suite on the market. All core components (chat, video, files, tasks, communities, Loop) included at base price. The 2026 build adds: Copilot unified across all surfaces, custom recap templates, podcast-style audio recaps, visual meeting references, voice enrollment, brand impersonation protection for calling, Frontline Agent, and two-way Direct Guest Join with Google Meet. Interactive meeting agents and on-screen content analysis arriving mid-2026. KNOWN ISSUES: - Copilot AI requires additional $30/user/mo license - Resource consumption improved with Teams 2.0 but still heavy on legacy hardware - Messaging quality trails Slack in threading refinement - Enterprise deployment requires IT admin setup (1-3 weeks typical) - Maximum value requires full M365 environment - Interface complexity can overwhelm new users VERDICT: The Swiss Army Knife of collaboration — nothing else installs this many tools in a single package at this price. Best for M365-native organisations. Pair with Slack if messaging depth is critical.

=== ZOOM WORKPLACE 2026 — POST-INSTALL NOTES === The gold standard for video communication. Adaptive bitrate delivers crystal-clear video on any connection. AI Companion 2.0 included free on all paid plans — meeting summaries, action items, message drafting, smart scheduling — a major cost advantage vs Teams' $30/mo Copilot add-on. KNOWN ISSUES: - Free tier limited to 40 minutes (Teams and Google Meet offer 60) - Pro at $13.33/mo is 3× Teams' $4/mo base price - Zoom Chat is functional but not a primary messaging tool - Most teams pair Zoom with Slack for daily messaging - Download required (unlike browser-native Google Meet) - Security reputation from 2020 resolved but occasionally raised VERDICT: The best video engine on the market, now with free AI. For client meetings, webinars, and any cross-ecosystem gathering, nothing else compares. The 40-min free cap and thin messaging layer are the only friction points. Pair with Slack for complete coverage.

=== SLACK HUB 2026 — POST-INSTALL NOTES === The definitive messaging platform and integration hub. 2,600+ plugins create the most connected workspace available — no competitor approaches this density. Channel-based threading, instant search, emoji culture, and Slack Connect create the most refined daily communication experience in the market. 87% satisfaction rate is unmatched. KNOWN ISSUES: - Video capped at ~50 (Huddles) — requires Zoom for large meetings - No webinar or large-event capability - Free tier severely limited (90-day history, 10 integrations) - AI features tiered: Pro gets summaries; full AI needs Business+ ($12.50) - Per-user pricing scales steeply at 500+ users - Channel sprawl without governance degrades signal quality VERDICT: The nervous system that connects every other tool. Nothing else wires together GitHub, Jira, Figma, Notion, Salesforce, and 2,600+ more in one workspace. Always pair with Zoom for video. Best for dev teams, creative agencies, and tool-heavy organisations.

=== GOOGLE MEET 2026 — POST-INSTALL NOTES === There is no installation. There are no post-install notes about an installer because there is no installer. You clicked a link. You're in a meeting. That is the entire user experience. WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT: - 60-minute free sessions (longest tied with Teams, 50% longer than Zoom's 40) - Google Docs co-editing DURING meetings — no other platform does this natively - Gemini AI on all Workspace plans (same free-AI strategy as Zoom) - Two-way Direct Guest Join with Teams Rooms (new 2026) — true interop - #1 video platform by search volume in 28+ countries KNOWN LIMITATIONS: - Fewer advanced controls than Teams or Zoom - 100-user free cap (Teams offers 300) - Narrower integration landscape than Slack (2,600+) or Zoom (2,000+) - Google Chat companion is less refined than Slack channels - Full value requires Google Workspace environment - Fewer breakout room and host controls VERDICT: The anti-installer. When collaboration should just happen — no barriers, no downloads, no IT tickets — this is the answer. Best for Google Workspace teams, education, and anyone who believes zero friction is the ultimate feature.