IBM opened a fresh front in the desktop wars when it announced the 24 July 2006 release of Lotus Notes on Linux.
By mating one of the industry’s most mature, hardened, enterprise-level messaging, calendaring and group scheduling systems with the Linux desktop, IBM created a powerful new consideration for those weighing Windows vs. Linux deployment at the client level.
You can now run Lotus Notes on darned near any operating system that strikes your fancy. Don’t even think about trying that with Microsoft Outlook.
And since Notes is based on the open-source Eclipse platform, like Lotus Sametime, code is highly portable.
After Lotus announced the release of the Lotus Notes 7.0.1 stand-alone client for Linux, IBM Lotus Chief Ed Brill conceded that the reaction was mixed… Which was a modest bit of understatement.
Of over 200 Slashdot commenters, the majority seemed to have had past run-ins with Notes. And they were decidedly unimpressed.
This icey explosion reminded Brill of earlier Linux debuts by IBM, like Domino and Domino Web Access. Lots of complaints from non-prospects, but both products have since enjoyed markable success.
Nevertheless, he pondered about attitudes that persist in the Linux community, “There’s still a fair amount of zealotry, superiority, and defensiveness. Do we (the Notes community) sound like that, too?”
I’ll field that question. Absolutely.
This has a lot to do with a community’s sense of self. Those who feel themselves besieged are always defensive.
For example, when Mac fans tick off reasons they think their platform is superior, Windows users are likely to respond, “So what?”
Linux got the same treatment from Microsoft… at least until recently.
As a result, visitors find an anti-Microsoft obsession dominating many Mac and Linux sites.
The IBM Domino/Lotus community, which is clearly feeling the heat from Microsoft Exchange/Outlook, is no exception. No need to ask if they feel besieged.
Just read the words.
As for caterwauling Slashdotters… what’s new?
I’m far more impressed with the survey of Novell-folk. These admins without axes to grind consider the release of Lotus Notes for Linux to be a huge and wonderful event.
As I predicted in February 2006:
The moment the new Notes is launched, Linux will have a complete retail-quality client desktop system to link with the world’s only browser platform, Firefox, and hopefully accelerate OpenOffice development.And both will get a shot at tons of previously out-of-reach business desktops.
I’m still predicting it.
While at this point, Lotus Notes on Linux supports only Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Update 3 out of the box, Novell SUSE Linux Desktop for Enterprise 10 (SLED) should get its shot in the arm by Q4 2006.
Plus, under IBM’s Migrate to the Penguin program, Lotus pushers get a bonus for every seat they steal from the enemy: Microsoft Exchange… and current Lotus Notes licensees get the Linux version for free.
Microsoft’s long-range response will be most fascinating. When combined with the European Union’s anti-trust offensive, could Notes on Linux trigger Microsoft Outlook for Linux? Microsoft Office for Linux? Microsoft Exchange for Linux?
Slashdotters aside, Lotus may very well have just unleashed a whirlwind that will accrue to the benefit of all users.
As of this writing, a trial Lotus Notes for Linux download hasn’t been posted. But I’m sure you’ll see it. Soon.
3 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 15th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Limulus
> Microsoft’s long-range response will be most fascinating. When combined with the European Union’s anti-trust offensive, could Notes on Linux trigger Microsoft Outlook for Linux? Microsoft Office for Linux? Microsoft Exchange for Linux?
Its a very interesting possibility, but certainly not anytime soon for two reasons: Gates and Ballmer
e.g. Consider some of the things Ballmer has said about Linux:
“Linux is a cancer”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/06/02/ballmer_linux_is_a_cancer/
“Linux [… has] characteristics of communism”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/07/31/ms_ballmer_linux_is_communism/
It seems to me that Gates and Ballmer are the most prominent vestiges of “the bad, old Microsoft” which Paul Thurrott described on http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_5308_05.asp
“This is the Microsoft that ran roughshod over competitors in order to gain market share at any cost. The Microsoft that forgot about customers in its blind zeal to harm competitors. The Microsoft, that frankly, all the Linux and Apple fanatics always imagined was out there, plotting and planning their termination. The Microsoft that threatens Windows fans with needless legal threats rather than reaching out and creating constructive relationships with the very people who prop up the company the most. This Bad Microsoft is not all of Microsoft […] But it’s there.”
You mentioned Outlook; there was a time when it was available for Mac and even Unix! Internet Explorer was available for both of those platforms too.
It will be quite a while indeed before MS releases their software for Linux.
July 17th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
BJ Gillette
Hi Limulus.
As we speak, Gates is packing his bags for his foundation. Don’t be surprised if Ballmer rides into the sunset after him.
I didn’t say it would be quick, easy, or soon.
But Microsoft Outlook and Office will go Linux. Count on it.
November 30th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
sjun
It becomes time IBM puts a native Office Suite into the Linux platform. I suggest a native Linuxversion of Lotus SmartSuite will do the job.