COMMENT: STUART MCINTYRE

JUN 28, 2010 - 02:15:42 PM

» Hear hear!

Love this line... 'Yet IBM have hidden their light under a bushel. Then buried the bushel under concrete. Then built a big sign on the concrete that says "No Trespassing".'

You are oh so right - the controls+time limits+IBM download sites have made it too difficult to tinker with and to get in the hands of the 'powerusers' that used to love Notes/Domino in pre-R6 days.

We had a similar discussion on the last episode of This Week in Lotus http://thisweekinlotus.com/audio/twil.nsf/dx/this-week-in-lotus-005-if-we-build-it-will-they-come talking about who the 'AppStore' needs to be aimed at (developers vs admins vs users), with the realisation that the controls placed on Domino environments are so tight these days that users just cannot 'play' with the technology to a level where they can see the benefits of building applications that will enhance their organisation's productivity.

Nice post. «

COMMENT: HENNING HEINZ

JUN 28, 2010 - 14:26:48

» The DB2 Community Edition shipped in 2006 but what has changed since then? I don't say this does not make sense or that Community Editions don't work. Just that I don't know anything about the success of those free editions and how that changed market share, installations or its use as a development platform. «

COMMENT: WIEBE VAN BRUGGEN

JUN 28, 2010 - 14:36:08

» I know it would be nice to get the Notes/Domino stuff for free (yes, I was part of the network effect too), but nowadays you can get yourself a legal copy of the Notes/Domino environment for about € 140,- purchase and than yearly renewal (Notes Express licence).

Perhaps you can have your employer to buy that licence for you? It's good for him too! «

COMMENT: NATHAN T. FREEMAN

JUN 28, 2010 - 04:32:26 PM

» Everybody and their brother is in the managed beta or design partner programs these days. All those folks get unrestricted code drops on a fairly frequent basis. Why not just join? «

COMMENT: ERIC MACK

JUN 28, 2010 - 04:51:16 PM

» Well said. «

COMMENT: STUART MCINTYRE

JUN 28, 2010 - 06:24:18 PM

» @Nathan: I think the issue is how we get the code into the hands of the power-users (or 'pacesetters' as LotusKnows would have it) rather than the few IT folks that have the access and time to work directly with IBM on beta/DP programs. «

COMMENT: TIM PAQUE

JUN 29, 2010 - 12:01:39 AM

» Comments

I would have to agree.

Passport advantage is a sure fire way to NOT be taken seriously as a web development software vendor. This is just about the most user unfriendly website I have ever had this misfortune to have to use.

It looks like lawyers wrote it.

Here was my IdeaJam suggestion, and some people posted some very good suggestions under it. Perhaps more votes will push the idea further:

http://www.ideajam.net/IdeaJam/P/ij.nsf/0/5493C756C5BE93A0862576DE00067F15?OpenDocument «

COMMENT: GIULIO CAMPOBASSI

JUN 29, 2010 - 05:49:50 AM

» In terms of access to technology, Microsoft has gone in the COMPLETE opposite direction ..

Check this out. http://www.bizspark.com/

You get access to the ENTIRE MS product suite including WinServer 2008 and VS2010 Professional. And it's only 2 clicks away after you login with your windows live account... and it's FREE!!!!

Yes if you're a small ISV, it is FREE to get started. Any one who is a contractor can get into it. After 3 years though, you have to pay $100. But right now it's FREE. Add to that you get a "developer evangelist" assigned to you. Someone local who can help you with getting started with the technology.

We shouldn't be surprised at the lack of accessibility. It's alot of talk, but without coherent action. Just look at the LotusKnows campaign. No mention of application development. Say after me "Licenses, Licenses, Licenses!" «

COMMENT: NICK HALLIWELL

JUN 29, 2010 - 06:03:12

» I totally agree.

I am in the Managed Beta program and its relevantly easy to down load the Latest Beta of Notes etc.

But Again I am an advanced BP so I get to here this stuff. As has been said earlier what about the users who want to know a bit more who want to tinker. Look who was the driving force behind Notes originally. It was Not IT Departments in the main, it was driven from Users, they go this mail software from the IT department and discovered that with a small bit of learning they could create all sorts of useful apps, even Secretaries were doing it (no disrespect). Look at the Domino Designer now its impossible for a none professional to do anything in it. Yes it had to go this way I understand.

But What about introducing a Striped down designer no XPages, Eclipse or Composite Apps, just the @ formula and Lotus Script and HTML.

Give it way to University students, show them the upgrade path. Give it away in shopping malls etc. I think in a few years you would have a far bigger community then now.

We we install Notes in a new site, all the users say what's this never heard of it. We need to change that,

Only then can Notes gain real traction. «

COMMENT: MAT NEWMAN

JUN 29, 2010 - 06:34:40

» Philip, I *MUST* be missing something here, sure http://www.lotus.com/download no longer takes you to the downloads site, but there's STILL a thumping great big DOWNLOAD link on the Lotus sites which takes you to the download section.

And the heading might say TRIAL, but there's never been a bomb in these installs that stops the software from working, unlike M$ downloads.

So availability isn't necessarily the issue: it's the fact that people can only "legally" trial the software for 90 days, in addition to the barrier of configuring a domino server and a Notes/Designer client.

Wouldn't it be GREAT if Lotus created a "YellowHouse" where you could self-register, download the software, create an app, and test it on a live web/notes server. That would be a great place for people to go to learn and play with Lotus software. «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:18:28

» @1 Stuart,

I'm glad it's not just me that feels that way! It was a harsh way to put it, but it's how it seems.

I downloaded that episode on Saturday, but haven't had a chance to listen to it. I'm doing so now, and it's a good discussion - thanks for the pointer!

I'm about halfway through, and having had my ego massaged by two mentions of my blog post on the App Store idea, I'm thoroughly approving so far!

«

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:22:14

» @2 Henning,

Good question. I can't point to anything that shows that DB2 is more successful than it was in 2005.

But if I wanted to get into DB2, it's very easy. I can download, install, and tinker.

Legally.

Heck, I can even deploy that Community Edition as a PRODUCTION SERVER.

I don't think that Domino/Notes should necessarily go that far, but it's a whole world of difference. If I was new to the industry today and looking at IBM's products, which would I be more successful in training myself in - DB2 or Notes?

That's what's at issue here. Network effects are subtle, and even harder to prove results of than marketing.

But that doesn't mean we should ignore our own experience with those network effects. «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:26:54

» @3 Wiebe,

140 Euros is indeed cheap.

But it's still 140 Euros.

I feel that's too high for a personal investment - above many people's internal "value threshold" in their minds.

I wonder how many people have bought the 140 Euro license? «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:27:40

» @5 Eric,

Thanks. «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:28:42

» @5 Nathan,

I wasn't aware that I was eligible for the betas, to be honest.

It's also a commitment that I'm not sure I can make, but I'll have a think about it. «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:30:41

» @6 Tim,

Excellent Idea, and I shall vote for it today! «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:33:17

» @8 Giulio,

And LAMP is effectively free too.

IBM has seriously disadvantaged themselves in this area. They need to understand the value of "free" as a network effect, before nobody knows about Lotus but Lotus... «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:34:59

» @9 Nick,

I'm glad it's not just me. We're in agreement - if people can't check it out legally and easily, without restrictions, then you're at a disadvantage in today's market. «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:37:42

» @10 Mat,

I got the limits based on this: http://vowe.net/archives/011543.html

It was accurate at the time, and was pretty much when I gave up. I admit I've not tried a download since, so mea culpa if it's much easier today.

It certainly seems that people don't think it's easy, looking at the response I've got here.

Some kind of greenhouse would be nice, but I'd much prefer to run it at home and have full control. Much more usable that way... «

COMMENT: ROB

JUN 29, 2010 - 08:50:03 AM

» I remember being part if that network. I still try to be and be. @Giulio - BizSpark is good. There's no way it only costs you $100 after 3 years though. I was looking into it and msSQL alone is multi-thousands per CPU once the incubator period is over. «

COMMENT: GIULIO CAMPOBASSI

JUN 29, 2010 - 09:11:48 AM

» @Phil. Big difference between LAMP and MS in terms of a "product". MS had previously held on tight to their technology, much like IBM is now. Although IBM's is changing, I think glaciers are faster at melting, than IBM at changing their attitude towards s/w development in this space.

But MS's change in position about access to software for developers has been very rapid in comparison. «

COMMENT: LARS BERNTROP-BOS

JUN 29, 2010 - 04:01:19 PM

» @Mat Newman: Yes the trials exist. But they are behind the times, not the current versions. So I wholehartedly support this idea. I too remember the easy download times, and have witnessed said network effect in action many times. Please bring them back! «

COMMENT: PHILIP STORRY

JUN 29, 2010 - 22:51:47

» @ Guilio,

I agree that an attitude shift is needed. If MS can do it, IBM need to do it too. «