Ed Brill

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1. 1  Kevin Pettitt http://www.lotusguru.com | 4/3/2009 9:40:20 AM

   Insofar as eProductivity represents what is arguably the most compelling vehicle to attract Notes converts at the personal level, and Foundations does similar one level up in the SMB space, I have to think there are some bundling and "trade-up" opportunities to exploit here. I'd like to see something like a "Foundations - Personal Edition" that is dead simple to set up for a single user, allowing them to get their email plugged in (maybe via a hosted arrangement w/ iNotes capability, custom domains, etc.), and configure applications like eProductivity that would come pre-loaded and ready to test drive. And while you're talking hosted, don't forget backups, etc.

   From there, you have a way of pushing additional marketing and tips down to that user, maybe offer a turnkey way to add a Foundations box to their "cloud" for use in a physical office, etc. And the rest, as they say, will make history.

1. 2  Jim Casale http://www.jimcasale.net | 4/3/2009 9:43:39 AM

   I am using eProductivity myself. After using the Notes 8 template for a while going to eProductivity took a little getting used to. After a couple of days I started to see the logic that was put into the template - very cool stuff. The best part is clicking on the "Mark Complete" button :-)

   I would suggest that anyone interested in using eProductivity read David Allen's book first.

1. 3  John Smart http://www.greyduck.com | 4/3/2009 9:50:16 AM

   I'm not sure it can be done and accepted, but wow that would be incredible.

   If I understand the licensing then as long as you use stock templates and don't connect to a server, the Notes client is free to use as an NNTP/web/mail client, right?

   What if you expanded that? What if you could "bless" certain 3rd party apps like eProductivity so that people could still use Lotus Notes for free? What if there was a whole marketplace around that?

   Another thing I'd like to see in Notes is a 'no additional charge' designer client... it doesn't need a lot of the functionality... just enough to position Lotus Notes to be an MS Access killer. Granted MS Access is relational, but for most of the home-grown uses of Access, Lotus Notes would be fine. Better than fine, because in order to make it a real app that others can use, they just need a server to replicate it to and bang they're done. Next client you're at, ask the IT people if MS Access is a problem. I think MS Access is the bane of IT and the leading indicator of poor IT responsiveness... it doesn't scale, and suddenly you've got all these data islands running amok that become critical and then they get thrust upon IT as if it's their fault. If people created simple Notes apps instead, IT would still have a headache (quality control) but it would be a better headache.

1. 4  Jonathan Sidhu http://www.ibm.com | 4/3/2009 9:50:49 AM

   Fantastic. Thank you for posting Ed.

   While I was not able to attend GTD Summit myself and have only recently become familiar with ePro and Eric Mack, I want to say that this is very encouraging. I have been working to implement a GTD methodology in my workflow internally at IBM and am very interested in seeing the kind of progress you describe.

   If there was a dead-simple way of deploying this app (or getting it onto a trusted-app) list inside of IBM I believe that would be a huge boon; not only for my personal productivity but for a growing grassroots coalition of GTD-saavy users inside IBM who are clamoring for this kind of functionality.

   I recently sent you and Mike Masterson another note via the internal channels regarding the idea on Thinkplace where some of those interested users have begun to gather. Also, this idea was recently adopted by a Thinkplace catalyst - a promising sign. Perhaps that group might serve as a test bed for a small internal IBM pilot.

1. 5  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 4/3/2009 10:11:17 AM

   @3 "If I understand the licensing then as long as you use stock templates and don't connect to a server, the Notes client is free to use as an NNTP/web/mail client, right?" Well, no, that's not the case. The license for Notes is an individual license - so a Notes user can use Notes for whatever, on more than one machine. But they have to have a Notes license.

   What I'm suggesting in my last sentence is that maybe it should move in the direction of where you thought it was already.

1. 6  John Vaughan http://jonvon.net | 4/3/2009 10:12:24 AM

   "a single user Lotus Notes kind of environment"

   YES!!

   gods if you pull that out of the hat, i will be impressed. the business opportunities! think how many people could create apps that they could sell, targeted to the single use scenario. i have one app i could sell right now, with a bit of tweaking. and apps like Eric's, or the many others that could be downloaded (think iPhone app store?) could make Notes relevant to every day people in some very important and interesting ways. i've been interested in this direction for a LONG time.

1. 7  Kevin Pettitt http://www.lotusguru.com | 4/3/2009 10:42:29 AM

   @6 - John's notion of an app store for the notes client is great, but I also see a potential tie-in with the iPhone and Blackberry app stores. Think of those mobile clients as just another "rich client" platform for a single-user application that could *optionally* synchronize with the "cloud" (i.e. a Domino server) and then be accessible via a web or Notes client as well.

   So some customers might discover the app via the iPhone/Blackberry stores and initially use it standalone. The coolness really starts when they find they want to share that application with others and you are able to easily hook them up by attaching them to Domino, then hooking them on the Notes client (on their Linux netbooks perhaps), then other apps, etc., etc.

1. 8  John Smart http://www.greyduck.com | 4/3/2009 11:26:33 AM

   @3, @6, @7 - Don't forget what widgets, sidebars, and LiveText can contribute as well. TwitNotes, for example, or the ability to highlight & right click a word to search for it on Wikipedia, or the ability to recognize and a shipment tracking number and feed it to a widget that shows it's progress in the side bar! Knowing how to do these things make Notes more useful.

   Increasing the end-user base by targeting individuals -> increasing the noosphere ( { Link } ) -> popularizing and providing incentive for more apps/plugins -> demand for Notes the way people demand Outlook in their workplaces... only this time it's justified.

1. 9  David Allen http://www.davidco.com | 4/3/2009 12:25:22 PM

   Ed, as Eric wrote in his blog post and as I have said for years, most folks simply don't understand the power of what Notes can do for them. I'm constantly amazed when I'm in companies that use Notes that the average person has no idea of the power of what they have, which is probably why they complain or whine and pine for something bigger and better. I think there's a large segment of the market that doesn't even know Notes still exists (or is thriving).

   Seems like anything IBM can do to reach individuals would be a smart move for the Lotus Notes product and for IBM. I know you and Eric have been discussing this. Happy to join that discussion with you. I think that Notes, combined with the GTD process built into eProductivity truly is a premier productivity tool.

   Eric has been telling me about the Foundations product (he tried to show me at Lotusphere but my eyes glazed over). Sounds like a compelling solution. Plug in, go, get things done. Seems the combo of that w/ eProductivity front end to Notes could/should replace Outlook as the de facto setup for small enterprises.

   It was great to have Chris Blatnick at the Summit; hopefully you can join us if we do another.

   David

1. 10  Chris Blatnick http://interfacematters.com | 4/3/2009 1:18:50 PM

   While I've been using the GTD methodology for a few years now, it wasn't until I moved full-time to eProductivity that I felt I was operating on all cylinders. If you are a Lotus Notes user and GTD practitioner, it so perfectly implements the workflow that you'll gain a good deal of time back every day. Because it's Notes-based, you can take advantage of all of the features that makes Notes such a powerful tool...replication, granular security, integration with productivity tools, and going mobile with your GTD system on your handheld device (just to name a few).

   I'm thrilled that more people are starting to pay attention to the GTD/Lotus Notes/eProductivity combo. With the world situation as it is today, personal productivity is not really a nice to have...it is a must have. Those people that are performing at their peak and that are cognizant of what they need to work on and what they don't have to worry about (because they have a trusted system), will be the ones that can innovate and deliver the fresh ideas that companies need.

   David and Eric and both brilliant guys whose ideas are making profound changes in the world. Isn't it great to have thought leaders like that lend their voices to the fans of Lotus Notes?! I'm saying this as a fan rather than an IBMer...Let's get the word out and convert others like Tam. One user at a time is all it takes to change the world! :-)

   (P.S. go buy eProductivity...it's awesome. And no...I don't get a kick back from Eric ;-)

1. 11  Neil Agate http://www.4gatesllc.com | 4/3/2009 2:49:00 PM

   Ed,

   I have started to read the original GTD book several times over the last couple of years and while I have got a lot out of the book I have never made it all the way through and never felt like I really got it. So a month ago I signed up for the GTD "Mastering Workflow" workshop. I attended the workshop this past Tuesday in Washington DC and it was incredible !! Even without Eric's eProductivity templates (which I do plan to look at soon) this will change the way I work (and live)- I do not think it will be easy but it is an incredible "system" and I am looking forward to realizing the efficiencies that I think it can bring to both my professional and personal life. It was also great to hear Lotus Notes being talked about in a very postivie way !

   Cheers,

   Neil

1. 12  Michael Kobrowski  | 4/3/2009 3:31:02 PM

   I don't know about GTD, haven't looked at it, but I'll put it on my too long to do list ;-)

   After reading Eds post I thought someone should mention that stand alone free Notes client should work with a DAS (Domino App Store - can I copyright that? lol).

   Make it easy to use, upload download. Pay with paypal etc. Make it possible for people who upload apps to offer support.

   And of course, the same App Store for SMB and beyond :)

   Go Ed Go!!!

   Michael

1. 13  @uconntam (Tam) http://goodadvices.com | 4/3/2009 3:33:12 PM

   Ed -

   Thanks for picking up my tweets. For the record, I am a single license user AND I use a Mac at home. (A defnite minority, I'm sure.)

   You are more than welcome to contact me and pick my brain. *grin*

   - Tam

1. 14  Paul Gardner http://paulgardner.info | 4/3/2009 3:54:37 PM

   I'm part of an organisation that uses Lotus Notes, but certainly not particularly well.

   But after an introduction to Erick Mack and eProductivity, (although I wasn't at the GTD Summit because I'm in New Zealand!), I'm able to say I don't hate Notes now. I even put a blog post up { Link }

   I'm blogging my adventures on using Notes, eProductivity and GTD. Between them all, they're changing my life!

1. 15  Eric Mack http://www.EricMackOnLine.com | 4/3/2009 5:18:29 PM

   I've been thinking about a number of ideas to help IBM increase mindshare with Notes - ideas from free Notes for home use (e.g. not connected to server) to bundling Notes with eProductivity for new users, to giving away designer client to spur innovation with Notes. Happy to brainstorm with you and anyone else. Looks like you are off to a great start with some of the feedback posted in the comments.

   Eric

1. 16  Patrick Mackaaij http://www.eenmanierom.nl/ | 4/3/2009 5:44:50 PM

   I'm also curious about the GTD implementation in Notes but couldn't see how I could get started to download an easy setup for a user that doesn't use Notes yet at:

   { Link }

   I also don't understand the licence model but if it is not extremely expensive then I do believe that Notes can get a grip on Outlook with this productivity template and ease of use as David Allen noted in a Taking Notes Podcast.

1. 17  Jfranchetti  | 4/3/2009 7:03:16 PM

   A branch of the Notes Dev team should take up a massive PIM effort. Calendar, Contacts, To-Dos, Journal plus some GTD conceptual flavor. There have been improvements in all of these areas, though all together it could be a huge differentiator. GTD people LOVE GTD. Bring those concepts to Notes and you will get similar mindshare/loyalty/reviews.

   eProductivity is great, though inside a corporate environment we can't use/apply the template. On the Notes end there is also some duplicity in To-Dos and Activities, which doesn't help the situation. Even after 8.5 we get requests for much more functionality in contacts and to-dos.

   Hire Mack, leverage Blatnick's excellent UI skills and new GTD energy, and make the PIM in Notes the thing people can't live without. :)

1. 18  Jim Casale http://www.jimcasale.net | 4/3/2009 9:02:35 PM

   @17 "eProductivity is great, though inside a corporate environment we can't use/apply the template."

   I cannot replace my template at work but I am still able to use it on my outside account - although not everyone is able to do this. Eric suggested using an eProductivity setup locally which is not hard to do.

1. 19  John Lindsay http://www.zenocean.com | 4/4/2009 6:34:38 AM

   I've tried this system and I have to say - I think it is fantastic as well. It's a expensive though.

1. 20  Kevin Pettitt http://www.lotusguru.com | 4/4/2009 9:35:59 AM

   Bringing "NotesThink" into the organization by appealing to individuals who happen to work there is great, but as @17 Jim says, let's not forget the folks who already have Notes in the organization and might want to take it home. If you're going to run a separate Notes installation on a personal machine, you obviously can but the confusion around setup and licensing needs to be resolved. After that, transferring data such as your contacts or appointments between the two systems is the next challenge. In the latter case I think calendar federation will be a good solution (though I could be wrong never having tried it). Contacts have, up to now, been a much bigger issue.

   I notice in 8.5 that I have the ability to import and export contacts to several useful formats, including vCard. I don't have a 7.0 or 8.0 client handy to check, but I think that is new. I *know* it is immensely useful.

   If there is one surefire way to make a high-flying, big-rolodex carrying executive (or independent consultant!) hate Notes it is to make it a PITA to get contacts in and out. Fortunately, the converse is just as true, so the new export/import features should yield considerable goodwill among both groups.

   And contacts and calendars are just the most basic examples of data that might need to jump from the personal to the organizational level. Think about all those little custom applications all those individuals downloaded from the Notes App Store. Now think about how amazingly simple it would be for those applications to be placed on a server to share with new colleagues. Try that with Access, FileMaker Pro, or any desktop app designed for individual use only. The ease and power of this capability is matched only by the degree to which no one knows about it. I'm confident that will change.

1. 21  Kevin Pettitt http://www.lotusguru.com | 4/4/2009 9:36:39 AM

   Sorry, I meant @18 Jim

1. 22  Erik Brooks  | 4/6/2009 7:03:22 AM

   Once again, it's all about the apps.

1. 23  David Hablewitz - Notes guy in Seattle  | 4/6/2009 11:18:04 AM

   Ed, I'm tickled, almost giddy! For years I've been asking you (OK, maybe even harassing) about making a consumer version of Notes along with the designer client and letting it loose on those college students and home-grown power users. I think it could spread faster than a virus in Outlook. Almost.

   Anyway, As a Notes professional I have many personal-use databases I created and have been using for years. They have nothing to do with work. The oldest one was first created in R3. I am thrilled to finally hear you mention you are "actively looking at" Notes for personal use. Wuhoo!

1. 24  Eric Mack http://www.EricMackOnline.com | 4/7/2009 9:40:40 PM

   I've posted two audio recordings from conversations with people that thought Notes sucked or was dead. You can hear their perspective change...

   { Link }

1. 25  Mike Vardy http://www.effingthedog.com | 4/8/2009 4:19:11 AM

   Ed,

   I had a chance to chat with Mr. Allen, who follows not only GTD, but EffTD.

   Part one of the interview can be found here:

   { Link }

   I know you'll enjoy it. You pretty much have to.

   Eventually yours,

   Mike Vardy

1. 26  GarryL  | 4/9/2009 7:04:41 PM

   Bit late in the game for posting, but in the Workplace Rich Client you had a simple gantt chart application - this never made it to Notes and has been mentioned by a few people in the past.

   There is a definate gap in the emarket between MS Project and using Excel to produce these charts for people running their projects.

   Just a thought!

1. 27  Jeff Widman http://www.jeffwidman.com/blog/ | 4/16/2009 12:59:27 PM

   Ed--I tried Notes for a little bit after Lotusphere, but reverted to Gmail interface pretty quickly.

   Benefits of being in the cloud/smooth interface mean it's so seamless for the user...

   Well-designed stuff like eProductivity (I've seen Eric demo it several times) would be one of the few reasons I would seriously consider using a desktop based e-mail client again.

1. 28  Brian Schmidt  | 8/20/2009 7:17:14 PM

   { Link }