What's the most insulting headline you could ever throw at a Loti?
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I'm thinking that this one "IBM Makes Lotus More Collaborative" from the story in newsfactor has to be pretty damn close.
I have to say I am under whelmed by the whole Workplace thing. Been there, seen it, done it comes to mind. My biggest concerns for Workplace seems to be that there is no way for external apps to speak to the apps in the Workplace, so you end up with this environment that is an island unto itself, unless you rewrite all your applications to run in the Workplace. So if you can't get other windows apps to access the IM capabilities of Workplace, or products such as Office to interface with the content management parts of it, then for me it doesn't have legs.
Call me a tree hugger, but I personally believe IBM has a lot of eggs in the wrong basket. Workplace may work in large corporate enterprises, where they have users that have only just moved across from green screens, for most information workers, that spend all day in their e-mail, or building excel spreadhseets or powerpoint presentations it is never going to fly. I personally believe that walking away from Windows desktops is not going to win IBM much in the long run.
I'm still predicting that within a year, IBM will be announcing some new device (aka NC) that is perfect for running this new world of WorkPlace.
Click on more if you want to read the eSuite/Kona press release in 1997, a lot of the same messages were used back then, now you know why I yawn when people try and tell me this is something exciting.
I'm thinking that this one "IBM Makes Lotus More Collaborative" from the story in newsfactor has to be pretty damn close.
I have to say I am under whelmed by the whole Workplace thing. Been there, seen it, done it comes to mind. My biggest concerns for Workplace seems to be that there is no way for external apps to speak to the apps in the Workplace, so you end up with this environment that is an island unto itself, unless you rewrite all your applications to run in the Workplace. So if you can't get other windows apps to access the IM capabilities of Workplace, or products such as Office to interface with the content management parts of it, then for me it doesn't have legs.
Call me a tree hugger, but I personally believe IBM has a lot of eggs in the wrong basket. Workplace may work in large corporate enterprises, where they have users that have only just moved across from green screens, for most information workers, that spend all day in their e-mail, or building excel spreadhseets or powerpoint presentations it is never going to fly. I personally believe that walking away from Windows desktops is not going to win IBM much in the long run.
I'm still predicting that within a year, IBM will be announcing some new device (aka NC) that is perfect for running this new world of WorkPlace.
Click on more if you want to read the eSuite/Kona press release in 1997, a lot of the same messages were used back then, now you know why I yawn when people try and tell me this is something exciting.
Lotus Previews Java-based Business Productivity Applets for Web Browsers, Network Computers, and Notes Clients
Integrated Set of Compact Applets Lower the Cost of Business Productivity Solutions
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27, 1997 -- Lotus Development Corp. today previewed a set of applets developed in Java to deliver productivity solutions for all computers that run Java Virtual Machines, including PC-based Web browsers, network computers and Notes clients. Scheduled to ship this summer, the cross-platform applets will enable information technology managers to reduce the cost of developing and deploying business productivity solutions, and more effectively use intranets and the Internet to connect employees, customers, suppliers and partners to conduct business.
"Lotus is building an entirely new class of business productivity applets designed for the emerging network-centric computing environment, that will include PC's and network computers," said Mike Zisman, executive vice president of strategy for Lotus. "The Java applets are a key element of Lotus' overall efforts to provide solutions that transform the Internet and intranets into interactive environments where people can effectively conduct business. In addition to running on all PC-based Web clients, these applets also serve as a catalyst for the success of network computers in the market by helping to meet the emerging demand for useful Java applications. This technology is an excellent example of how Lotus, with its expertise in desktop applications, and IBM, with its strengths in enterprise-wide software and hardware, are working together to meet the needs of corporate customers."
At Lotusphere, Lotus demonstrated its Java applets working as a complete set of integrated desktop tools running on an NC. They also showed a powerful, interactive Internet application built with the Java applets used by Web developers as building blocks. The set of Java applets demonstrated by Lotus included a spreadsheet, text editor, chart builder, calendar and personal information manager, e-mail, presentation graphics application and project scheduler.
Java Applets Optimized for Network-Centric Computing
Lotus' Java applets are an entirely new class of business productivity applets built specifically for the emerging network-centric computing environment. They are not a retrofit of existing desktop applications. Lotus' Java applets are built to the following design goals:
Lotus Continues ActiveX Development with Lotus Components Release 1.1 for Notes Lotus' Java applets effort complements its continued development of ActiveX-based computing technologies, including Lotus Components, Lotus' business productivity solutions for Notes. In support of its Notes customers who are deploying ActiveX solutions, Lotus announced today Lotus Components 1.1, an enhanced set of software applets for Lotus Notes (see press release, "Lotus Announces Lotus Components Release 1.1," 1/27/97). Lotus Components, which began shipping in August 1996, are fast, focused applets, based on ActiveX technology, that allow end users and developers to be more productive in the Lotus Notes environment.
Integrated Set of Compact Applets Lower the Cost of Business Productivity Solutions
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27, 1997 -- Lotus Development Corp. today previewed a set of applets developed in Java to deliver productivity solutions for all computers that run Java Virtual Machines, including PC-based Web browsers, network computers and Notes clients. Scheduled to ship this summer, the cross-platform applets will enable information technology managers to reduce the cost of developing and deploying business productivity solutions, and more effectively use intranets and the Internet to connect employees, customers, suppliers and partners to conduct business.
"Lotus is building an entirely new class of business productivity applets designed for the emerging network-centric computing environment, that will include PC's and network computers," said Mike Zisman, executive vice president of strategy for Lotus. "The Java applets are a key element of Lotus' overall efforts to provide solutions that transform the Internet and intranets into interactive environments where people can effectively conduct business. In addition to running on all PC-based Web clients, these applets also serve as a catalyst for the success of network computers in the market by helping to meet the emerging demand for useful Java applications. This technology is an excellent example of how Lotus, with its expertise in desktop applications, and IBM, with its strengths in enterprise-wide software and hardware, are working together to meet the needs of corporate customers."
At Lotusphere, Lotus demonstrated its Java applets working as a complete set of integrated desktop tools running on an NC. They also showed a powerful, interactive Internet application built with the Java applets used by Web developers as building blocks. The set of Java applets demonstrated by Lotus included a spreadsheet, text editor, chart builder, calendar and personal information manager, e-mail, presentation graphics application and project scheduler.
Java Applets Optimized for Network-Centric Computing
Lotus' Java applets are an entirely new class of business productivity applets built specifically for the emerging network-centric computing environment. They are not a retrofit of existing desktop applications. Lotus' Java applets are built to the following design goals:
- Cross platform: Built in 100% pure Java, the applets make wide-scale application deployment easier, and reduce development costs.
- Compact: Designed for fast delivery via networks; the applets are smaller and easier to centrally manage than traditional desktop applications;
- Task-focused: Optimized for specific, focused business tasks, the applets provide the functionality used most often;
- Modular: Customizable and expandable to fit specific IT and user needs, functionality can be added to the applets as needed;
- Extensible: Unique technology enables the applets to share data with each other, as well as access external data sources including the Internet and legacy data;
- Programmable: Built with a fully exposed set of properties and methods and programmable via standard Web scripting languages, developers can easily and flexibly use applets to build interactive Web applications;
- Easy to use: Intuitive, with a Web-like user interface, the applets are easy to work with and intended for a broad range of users.
Lotus Continues ActiveX Development with Lotus Components Release 1.1 for Notes Lotus' Java applets effort complements its continued development of ActiveX-based computing technologies, including Lotus Components, Lotus' business productivity solutions for Notes. In support of its Notes customers who are deploying ActiveX solutions, Lotus announced today Lotus Components 1.1, an enhanced set of software applets for Lotus Notes (see press release, "Lotus Announces Lotus Components Release 1.1," 1/27/97). Lotus Components, which began shipping in August 1996, are fast, focused applets, based on ActiveX technology, that allow end users and developers to be more productive in the Lotus Notes environment.
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Comments
Developer Audience
One of the reasons Domino has such a loyal following is that it appeals to Application Developers, Workplace as I see it really only appeals to Enterprise Developers (Java Gurus), and so Lotus is telling us Super Users/Technical people in business. Whilst this is close to the original audience for Notes, Domino in my opinion because really interesting when its programming model became suitable for app devs.
Microsoft understand this, VB is for App Devs, and .Net (Visual Studio) is more suited to app devs.. But Java/J2EE/Websphere is still very much Enterprise devs.
What this means is that many in the Domino world see no where to logically go, the business level stuff in WP is too basic to justify their expertise, and the Enterprise stuff, is a big education process...
What I as an App Dev want is a tool to create sophisticaed apps that solve business problems in an "agile" way.
Ohhh and whilst I am at it IBM has a saying that is really getting up my nose. "We are now no longer a one product company"
As I see it they have not been since about 1999 what with Sametime/Quickplace/Domino.Doc etc.. 1 platform yes, but how is that different to Workplace. its the same functionality as the current products (less Domino RAD).. on one platform "Websphere", from what I gather it will be a long time before you can use other Java App servers!! They really do not have anythinb new....
ADMIT IT its just a platform change !!!
Posted by Neil Gower At 04:53:27 AM On 11/07/2003 | - Website - |
Posted by Tony C At 12:30:50 PM On 11/07/2003 | - Website - |