Lotus Notes 8.0.1 video

October 12 2007

As already blogged today by Alan Lepofsky, Ron Sebastian has created a video showing some of the new features in Notes 8.0.1, now posted to YouTube.

What Alan didn't mention is how quickly this happened -- I think I saw the first request to create such a video yesterday.  Ron just went and did it.  That's dedication.  Thanks Ron, Alan, and Thomas!

Ed Brill Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland Category:  Lotus  Add/View Comments [23]

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  1. 1  -  | 10/12/2007 5:26:54 PM

    Removed at poster's request.

  1. 2  Alan Lepofsky http://www.alanlepofsky.net | 10/12/2007 5:43:37 PM

    Instead of asking about taking advantage of their enterprise agreement, shouldn't they be asking if they should even bother continuing with their enterprise agreement? ;-) I'd suggest that all decision makers take a look at this report: { Link } , or similar information from other resources.

  1. 3  Grant Lindsay  | 10/12/2007 6:01:39 PM

    Ed,

    Sorry you've had a bad travel day (or days).

    Nice video. Question: Are there calendar and contacts "push" or "synch-over-the-air"?

    This was (presented as the) reason for a previous employer to switch to another email platform.

    I like to have the counter-arguments handy.

    -- Grant

  1. 4  -  | 10/12/2007 6:05:29 PM

    Removed at poster's request.

  1. 5  Alan Lepofsky http://www.alanlepofsky.net | 10/12/2007 6:19:55 PM

    @4 Thanks! That was very nice of you to say. I'm glad I could help. (now I just wish I could say more about what is in that report... but I do suggest that all MS shops by a copy!)

  1. 6  Nelson Morris  | 10/12/2007 6:50:23 PM

    @1 I too lament the lack of better "CIO" presentable versions of the You Tube videos. The content is great but the video quality is not worthy to project full screen in a conference room.

    @2 I agree, one should "Liberate" oneself from those Enterprise agreements.

  1. 7  Alan Lepofsky http://www.alanlepofsky.net | 10/12/2007 7:19:20 PM

    @6 - See here: { Link }

    It's a start, perhaps the newer one will be available soon as well.

  1. 8  Karl-Henry Martinsson  | 10/12/2007 9:29:04 PM

    @4: I been saying for years that IBM/Lotus have to start doing glossy presentations/demos... Make Notes "sexy", look good. The CIO or CEO often choose programs based on the following things:

    * How sexy/good it looks

    * What programs they used at previous workplaces

    * What their CIO/CEO buddies use and recommend

    The way we "selected" document imaging system at my workplace was that the owner/CEO went to get his Masters, and one of his friends in the class said "We use XYZ at my work, and it is great.". The next day we were ordered to purchase and install XYZ product...

    That's reality. Make Notes sexy, get it out in the schools/universities (so the next generations of IT professionals, CIOs, etc get exposure to the product), and get the word out. Viral marketing works. But the most important thing: make it look good.

    Someone told a story at a presentation (Lotusphere 2005 or 2006?) about how a new programmer did not adhere to the rule they had about "make it look good first". He wrote the functionality but did not have time to polish the user interfac. The customer critizised every single detail, questioner about functionality, etc, and was generally not happy with what he got.

    They went back, plut a nice interface on it, went back (with no change in functionality), customer said "Perfect, that's it!" and signed off...

    The day Lotus grok that user interface and looks is 90%, functionality is 10%, then they will be able to compete successufully with Microsoft.

  1. 9  Ivan  | 10/13/2007 12:18:35 AM

    Is it done in a "home" studio? Can somebody post some hints to easy tools how to do such videos in one day with a ordinary video camera and PC?

  1. 10  Rob Ingram http://www.dominoblog.com | 10/13/2007 11:38:26 AM

    @3 - Grant - are you looking for something like Lotus Notes Traveler which is part of 8.0.1? { Link }

  1. 11  Bruce Elgort http://www.takingnotespodcast.com | 10/13/2007 12:10:41 PM

    @Grant,

    More on Lotus Traveler here { Link }

  1. 12  Daniel Lieber http://www.iiui.com | 10/13/2007 12:24:43 PM

    @1: At one of the Lotus Collaboration Summit events, we learned IBM has a complimentary (translation: FREE) service where Microsoft licensing experts will help any company evaluate its Microsoft licensing to determine the most cost-effective licensing model. This service does NOT propose to change any software or implement any IBM software -- it is there to help the customer understand the licensing agreements and options. This optimizes the software agreements which will VERY likely result in lowered costs which IBM hopes would then give IBM the opportunity to solve the customer's business problems. As a partner, we have already made referrals for customers to use this service thus saving them money.

    The Forrester report Alan (@2) links to is right on topic. This needs to get MUCH wider publicity!

    For more information, please contact your friendly IBM Business Partner or IBM Sales Representative and ask them to connect you with the IBM Software Worldwide Competitive Sales group. If they are unsure of the proper people to contact, drop me an e-mail and I'll do the introductions. (Knowing Ed, I'm sure he would very likely do the introductions if you would prefer to ask him.)

  1. 13  Igor Jablokov http://www.yapme.com | 10/13/2007 1:41:56 PM

    This still requires a separate BES license to support BlackBerries?

    Is 8.0.1 when we get Mac client support or is a beta available now? ETA?

    I presume we'll need that to access our calendars or is CalDAV support available?

    Thx!

  1. 14  -  | 10/13/2007 3:03:17 PM

    Removed at poster's request.

  1. 15  Peter de Haas http://www.peterdehaas.net | 10/14/2007 6:38:50 AM

    Great Windows Mobile demo, thanks ;-)

  1. 16  Daniel Lieber http://www.iiui.com | 10/14/2007 7:21:43 AM

    @12: In the systems integration business, customer changes are good. In other businesses, ROI really should be evaluated and changes justified based upon a financial metric. Of course, there is that pesky human element which includes "emotions" that is often the source for flawed indirect cause-effect assumptions upon which irrational decisions are made. For example, "Let's save $10,000 by using tool XXX since it was included in a license agreement for 'free.' It will save us $20,000 in annual licensing costs! Doesn't this sound great? We'll quietly ignore the little facts that it will cost $50,000 annually in direct additional costs and $200,000 to make the change."

    Good luck, Tom!

  1. 17  Henry Ferlauto http://www.geniusinside.com | 10/14/2007 8:13:42 PM

    Another great video. I think Ron has now guaranteed himself perpetual employment for the foreseeable future.

    Like the new realization that the interface matters, I hope all these wonderful videos are just the beginning and the dedication to both are now integral parts of the strategy to make Lotus Notes (and the rest of the software portfolio for that matter) grow; because education of customers, potential customers and nay sayers matters too.

    Two questions / requests:

    (1) How about a video request queue for Ron Sebastian?

    (2) How about bringing back some or all aspects of the old Lotus "Master's Broadcasts?" e.g. Have (technical) video tips published for administrative and development issues? (Where's Jon Raslawski when we need him?) :)

  1. 18  David Bell  | 10/14/2007 10:06:01 PM

    @15 - yes, the good news is that is now stable enough to pull off a 2 minute demo.

  1. 19  Bruce Elgort http://www.takingnotespodcast.com | 10/15/2007 8:00:59 AM

    @18,

    Well said David.

  1. 20  Peter de Haas http://www.peterdehaas.net | 10/15/2007 8:37:29 AM

    @ 18, David, good to see that Notes 8.01 is already that stable ;-)

  1. 21  Jeff Picco  | 10/15/2007 11:56:40 AM

    Ed and Ron - I love this stuff. It helps everyone in our company gain better knowledge of the product. Now just get Alan to do some for the tips & tricks :-)

    On the topic of getting the product in to the hands of college/high school kids - I've mentioned this before and I still believe this will 'plant the seed' for future growth. I know the compensation package in the educational sector isn't great and probably has a lot to do with the motivation, or lack thereof, in the sales team.

    Remember that the college kids will be the leaders of business and what they are being trained on is your competitions products. Guess what they will choose if they aren't given proper time and budget to do a comparison.

    You have some great schools in the NY/MA region. Get it out there and have them post some videos on youtube.

  1. 22  Grant Lindsay  | 10/15/2007 11:02:33 PM

    @8 - Karl-Henry, that was more or less the experience I had with a previous employer. When they switched their mail, there was no cost justification (especially since they had to keep the Notes installation to run a custom application.)

    They just added the other mail server (hardware and licenses) and had to hire consultants to do the migration and co-existence set up.

    All because the CEO preferred the familiarity of another email client. It was a bad decision from every angle, but no one would tell him. (I had left by then and didn't care much.)

  1. 23  David Bell  | 10/17/2007 10:25:47 PM

    @20 - yes I *knew* that 99.999% of readers would know I was referring to WM, and I could not have gotten odds in a Vegas casino for guessing what the response from the other 0.001% would be.