Go to page: 1 2  Printer Friendly Version

Another feature that Lotus is touting is full MIME rendering using a browser engine in the Notes client. That means that HTML emails will come across in full-fidelity in the Notes 8 client. In the past, the HTML rendering in email was somewhat sketchy. Now with the full MIME rendering IBM is taking a step forward while Outlook 2007 has instead gone backwards in this regard.

Additional Features

There are numerous additional features that will also ship with the Notes 8 release. Some of them include:

Multi-level undo

RSS and Atom feed reader

CSS Based client Themes

Message recall

Vastly improved search

Thumbnail viewer for all your open tabs

The ability to delegate authority to edit your contacts

Automatic contact replication (as opposed to former manual agent)

Sidebar with built-in support for Sametime, Quickr, and Connections

Another one of the many gripes that Notes users have had for years was that the client lacked a modern look with any sort of eye-candy. When Lotus announced the "Hannover" client a year and a half ago, they made a commitment to produce a clean, good-looking interface (see screen shot).

They've largely succeeded in this endeavor. Corners are curved, toolbars are sharp and colorful, edges are pleasantly three dimensional, and the color schemes are more in a Web 2.0 palette.

And instead of simply looking better, they've improved usability wherever possible. Toolbars are now underneath the classic Notes tabbed interface, bringing them closer to the action. Preferences for everything client-wide (including composite applications and other add-ins) are in a single preferences dialog. Right-click menus are also programmable and less cluttered. Even Action buttons have been updated with a split look, with a main action and small drop-down for sub-actions. All of these little things add up, and for those users who hate the current look and feel of the client, they will be pleasantly surprised.

Conclusion

With the Notes 8 client release, Lotus hopes to re-invigorate its user base and finally lay to rest comparisons to the look and feel of Microsoft Outlook. In addition, they've really gone on the offensive with the inclusion of the Productivity Editors with a standard Notes license, and the ability to do composite applications. Will this finally be enough to stop the Outlook comparisons? We should find out mid-2007 when Notes and Domino 8 hit the streets.

About the Author

John Roling is the Senior Groupware Administrator for a North American trade-show exhibit company and a certified Lotus Notes Administrator, Developer and all-around geek. You can keep up with him at his blog or drop him an e-mail at jroling@gmail.com.

The Notes 8 Calendar screen.

Go to page: 1 2  Printer Friendly Version