IBM delays Lotus Notes for iPhone, users "too hip and cool"

Remember that formal announcement of Lotus Notes Mail on the iPhone? Right, Apple's first big corporate iPhone push which the AP said would happen at LotusSphere? Not going to happen, at least not yet. An IBM spokesperson told ZDNet Australia, "It's not something that (is) ready to go out and market or launch." In other words, Jobs heard about IBM's plan to steal his February SDK-launch thunder and shut down the announcement right quick. The most absurd part of all this has to be an enterprise adoption comment made by the so-called analyst, Kevin McIsaac, at IBRS (I be arse?). He said, "I can't really imagine someone who's really hip and cool -- like an iPhone user -- wanting to use Lotus Notes." Since when do the personal desires of users and corporate IT policy have anything in common Kev?

[BS @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:24AM]

The real problem with Lotus Notes is that it wasn't written by Microsoft, it was written by a group of people who wanted it to be anything BUT Outlook. Unfortunately, all of the Microsoft fanboys don't like anything different because they are too dumb to learn a new tool. That being said, my company uses Lotus Notes/Domino and I'm not fond of the fact that Notes tries to do way more than what Outlook and Exchange do (like the knowledge base stuff mentioned above). The fact that everything is a clunky database and even in "dial-up" mode several megs of data flow between the Notes client and the Domino server makes it almost unusable sometimes. I'm not a fanboy of any of this crap but technically their is no reason why I shouldn't be able to use an iPhone as a business device. So now all of the crack-berry fanboys can chime in. Do the people posting out here realize that every one of them can be seen as a fanboy or a hater (or both) of something? What's the point of being a jerk about something this subjective?

[Rick @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:44AM]

Odd ... a good friend is currently attending Lotusphere and tells me that he saw a demo / announcement about availability of a custom web access app for Notes that will be available with the release of Domino 8.01 ... in about a month. Not a native app, but sounds at least like a solution for those of us shackled with the Domino/Notes albatross.

[huh @ Jan 23rd 2008 6:05PM]

Wrong. Notes was not written to be "anything but outlook." Notes (which I am pretty sure predates Exchange by a long shot) is based on some fundamental very leading edge research that provides it with capabilities few groups really use, possibly because it is biased towards the techie side. It lets you embed live databases along with a lot of advanced capability and integration, and is cross platform. It is definitely heavyweight because of the synchronization and client functionality. Admins hate supporting it because its so heavy, Exchange used to be hated for the same reason, I guess Microsoft made it better and there's no saying Notes won't get better either.

[Saldog @ Jan 24th 2008 12:41AM]

From Notes, you can configure the Domino server to automatically forward your email to any email address. You don't need to have a computer running a client program that forwards the mail, the Domino server will do it. That's how I get my corporate emails on my iPhone. Not as good as IMAP or a true Notes client might be, but not that bad. Definitely not as good as accessing our Blackberry Enterprise Server with a BB, which I had for a short time at work. Still, it's definitely better than using POP3. I never miss an email while away from my desk (Is that a good thing?).

We are supposed to use Notes at work and I really hate it. It's not that I can't understand how to use it; it isn't hard to use. It is just the worst user interface for a software program I've seen and terribly, painfully s...l...o...w...

I use Outlook 2003 and the Outlook connector for Domino instead. Shhh, don't tell my corporate IT!

[saint_sober @ Feb 6th 2008 2:52PM]

Right. The office is still using the entire Lotus ["Smart"]suite. Why? Because the head honcho doesn't like MS. Then again, I have never enjoyed using Outlook either. Here's the question though. If not Notes and not Outlook, then what?

[Richard Wessels @ Feb 26th 2008 3:02PM]

You have to be kidding me. Seeing all these responses about Notes / Domino is down right depressing. For one, it soulds like most people here who have expierienced Notes did so with it mis-configured. Outlook is a POS. It may look pretty and is a good POP3 / IMAP client but for real corporate e-mail? Give me a break. I have a single server running 1100 user's with average mail file sizes in excess of 1.5 to 2 GB in size, PER PERSON.. and I have a few user's in excess of 6+GB. Try doing that in Outlook.

Domino also is far easier to cluster for reliability and scalability. The biggest issue I have right now with Notes is when the NIC on a user's computer is not configured to the switch properly. Also for those who say whoo hoo, HTTP over RPC? Oh lord, Lotus has had something called pass-trough since it began. Guess what, using that, I can securely access all the Domino servers and applications in my network without have to use the VPN. And all the traffic is encrypted at the link layer because the platform and the client support it.

For those that think they are too good to use Notes and use Outlook via that connector trash that MS released. At least tell your IT so they can install the proper Domino Access for Outlook tool. That way you are at least communicating with the server in the proper way. Or, maybe you should get out of the ME ME ME attitude and realize that it is a business system and you don't make that decision.

Notes on the iPhone is a good idea, and if done well, will make for a very powerfull business ready device.

[raven257 @ Mar 10th 2008 10:29AM]

"The most absurd part of all this has to be an enterprise adoption comment made by the so-called analyst, Kevin McIsaac, at IBRS (I be arse?). He said, "I can't really imagine someone who's really hip and cool -- like an iPhone user -- wanting to use Lotus Notes."

not sure if anyone is still following this thread but I resent the statement above!! I'm a 27 year old who uses (and LOVES!) lotus notes and have been wanting an iphone but can't use it until they update it for the iphone. This IBRS analyst (and his clients) are in a bit of a surprise.

Lotus Notes is back. its productive; its efficient; and its cool. Get with it or get out of its way.

[matt @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:17AM]

any time i hear about notes being on anything all i can think about is futurama with the killbots that run lotus notes. man i miss that show

[MEAT! @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:40AM]

It's back, you know. They'll be airing episodes on Comedy Central and then releasing compilations of the episodes as movie-length installments. The first one is out already; it's called "Bender's Big Score." I couldn't be happier.

Well, I mean, I could, but I'm still quite happy.

[Cornelius @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:46AM]

"Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:36AM]

MEAT: Wrong order. They are making feature-length movies, then splitting them into episodes later. It's great that they did it that way, since you can hardly tell that the movie is meant to be a bunch of short episodes jammed together ;)

[Ravi Nair @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:26AM]

Correction: "I can't really imagine someone who (thinks he/she) is really hip and cool -- like an iPhone user -- wanting to use Lotus Notes."

[Raheem @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:31AM]

Still using that Nokia 3210 eh?

[Ravi Nair @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:36AM]

Nope, got the N95. I'm in Australia, we don't have the iPhone yet (officially at least) .... I've used it, it looks great, but lets face it, majority of Apple users have this strange notion that somehow they are cooler than the rest. The Mac/PC ad campaign sorta puts that out clearly.

[CB17 @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:09AM]

Apple users have the RIGHT to think they're cool and better than everybody else when the rest of the tech community mocks them for not being true *insert gadget type XYZ here* For example, "Macs are just for fun PCs are real work computers" "The iPhone isn't designed for business users its just a toy" "iPods don't have FM Transmitters therefore they're sub-par MP3 players"

Let me know when to stop because I can do this all day. Apple "fanboys" didn't start it, the ?snobiness? is just a defense to the mindless drones that are PC users out there.

[Jon @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:15AM]

Of course Mac fans are hip and cool. They are trend followers.

[CB17 @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:19AM]

@Jon
And the ignorance continues...

Thanks Jon I really didn't need any further help proving my point but thanks anyways...

[Reader @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:28AM]

iPhones weren't designed for business, though...

[CB17 @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:46AM]

@Reader

Right, that's why God, I mean Steve Jobs, stood on stage and compared it directly to Windows Mobile phones and Blackberry. There's NO reason why an iPhone couldn't be a business device except maybe, oh I dunno, the lack of LOTUS NOTES AND EXCHANGE support....sheeshh.... What's the term that they use for that? Logical fallacy? Circular reasoning? Something like that....

[daliminator2000 @ Jan 23rd 2008 6:10AM]

CB17: Kindly shut up.

[theohner @ Jan 23rd 2008 6:44AM]

Not sure about iPhone users being too cool for Lotus notes. I work in the software department of my company, about 50 of us. There seems to be a correlation between those with iPhones and those who are dorkiest. I've not seen one out of the office, but I gather the uptake of these phones in the UK isn't as good as the US.

[wjousts @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:12AM]

Correction to your correction: "I can't really imagine someone who is really a douche bag -- like an iPhone user -- wanting to use Lotus Notes."

[LordFarkward @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:35AM]

roflolmao @ "I be arse"!

good one

[Intrepid @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:12AM]

+1

[tamoghno @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:11AM]

"grape is sour" , isn't it ,IBM ?

[Belarr @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:25AM]

@CB17

Steve Jobs: We're better than you are! We have better stuff.
Bill Gates: You don't get it, Steve. That doesn't matter!

On both sides, gota love being ignorant!

[CB17 @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:51AM]

I think everyone is a little dumber after reading that, thanks... Especially you Bob (below)...

[Teetdogs @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:51AM]

@ CB17

You know whats funny about you saying that everyone is dumber for reading that? Its an actual quote from steve and bill from back in the day when the first versions of windows started shipping. now kindly go back to your fanboi hole.

[bob @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:30AM]

IBM and iPhone. I get two mental images.
1. Eclipse on iPhone: Imagine writing bloody Java on the bloody iPhone. Epic. Fail.
2. IBM ThinkPhone: Imagine an IBM version of the iPhone. Thats less trendy, more nerdy, hardass IBM keyboard (like always). *drool. Epic. Win.

[OneLove @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:30AM]

IBM i-series access for the iphone. lol!

[OneLove @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:30AM]

IBM i-series access for the iphone. lol!

[OneLove @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:31AM]

damn you comment bug!

[bob @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:55PM]

Comment bug attacks!

Minus 4 HP.

Heh, lol. I actually would dig a ThinkPad PDA. Imagine how kickass they would be! Only condition is they write their own software, I'm not using Windows. Plus, we all know how kickass IBM software is. Kickass. Kickass. Kickass. OK, I mockd myself for overusing the word, so you don't have to.

[Mr. S. @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:18AM]

Sweet, i'm not hip and cool.

[John @ Jan 23rd 2008 8:35AM]

maybe you're just hip, or possibly just cool

[yoshi @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:12AM]

I'm not sure how IBM announcing this would "steal his February SDK-launch thunder". If anything, it would have increased the thunder.

[MacroEQ @ Jan 23rd 2008 7:49AM]

Anyone who's used Lotus Notes will know that it's too cool for the iBrick.

[jrgriggs @ Jan 23rd 2008 7:49AM]

After spending 2 years supporting a 30,000 user Lotus Notes infrastructure, I can only say this: Don't put Lotus Notes anywhere. Ever. Its main function is to make people cry.

[Murali @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:07AM]

Oh Man you are correct....my company had a trial run of Lotus Notes Mail for about two months because some of the developer guys had recommended it, Notes sucked a big time. I had been Microsoft Exchange / OL user for the few years. Notes is no where near OutLook. Outlook wins hands down...so easy to use.

[wjousts @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:15AM]

My only regret is that I have only one vote to give!

[johnzilla @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:04AM]

Holy smokes...people are still using Lotus Notes? I thought that product was put out of its misery years ago.

[Jason @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:42AM]

We still, unfortunately, still use Lotus Notes at work. I would love to be able to get this email on my iPhone. I may be too cool for Notes, but apparently the company I work for isn't.

[Teetdogs @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:54AM]

Lotus is not a bad piece of software, I dont know know where all the hate is comming from, Lotus is actually far more robust that outlook and has far more technical ability. Try designing and building a seachable knowlege base database in outlook and see how far you get.

[Rich @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:15AM]

Developers are few in number, users are great in number.

From a user's point-of-view, Lotus Notes sucks big time. It's slow, it locks up if your network connection is slow, it doesn't recover properly if it crashes, the UI is a total mess and it's simply unrelibale.

The only companies who still use it are ones run by their IT department. And that's NEVER a good thing.

[Lowen SoDium @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:25AM]

Lotus notes is hated because it is slow and for no explainable reason. I have 7.0.2 running this very desktop right now, and it has 4 processes loaded (that I know of... probably a couple of others that I just don't recognize as) and doesn't seem to be using much memory, less than 100MB total, but it is slower than dog doo to do anything.

Open a calander? That task 10 seconds.
New Email? thats 4
Address look up? Oh, go get something to eat and check back.

Bundle that with the fact that it doesn't use standard Windows short cut keys (F9 is refresh, F5 is log out), and you have a frustrating program to use.

Don't even get me started on administering the damn server.

I am not exchange/outlook fan boy, but MS offerings are much easier to setup, administer and use than IBM's.


All that derailment aside, anyone who thinks that "iPhone ownership = hip and cool" is a tool and is not hip and/or cool. An iPhone is a phone. It is a neat phone, but it is not currently a business device (see blackberry's and WM PDA phones) It is not (or atleast shouldn't be) a fashion statement.