How about a Linux Notes client?
by Volker Weber
Lotus Developer Domain has a good interview with Eddy Bell:
There are a lot of people who would love to see a Linux client. There is a lot of momentum, but it all comes down to dollars and cents. If there's enough demand for one that can't be met by a Web-based client, then we'll do it. It's largely that we want to make money, and we have to look at the balance. It would be a monumental effort in the current code base to support a Linux client because all the GUI portions are basically Win32 GUI, OLE, ActiveX. It would be very hard now to go back to a UNIX-based client.
Comments
Unfortunately I think he's right. At my company Linux workstations outnumber Windows by 2 to 1, and we Linux users log onto a Win 2000 Citrix server to use Notes. A Linux client would be nice, but not a half-baked client, and I doubt that we would pay extra for one.
I believe that there is a market for Notes for Linux. It may not immediately be a great seller, but over time LiNotes should become an interesting market for IBM.
There are a few more essential tools and apps that are missing in the Linux world, such as Macromedia Dreamweaver for Linux or any other professional visual web editor.
Scott, regarding licenche costs - if I remember correctly it is per user, so adding LiNotes shouldn't become more expensive for your company or am I wrong?
I believe that there is a market for Notes for Linux. It may not immediately be a great seller, but over time LiNotes should become an interesting market for IBM.
There are a few more essential tools and apps that are missing in the Linux world, such as Macromedia Dreamweaver for Linux or any other professional visual web editor.
Scott, regarding licenche costs - if I remember correctly it is per user, so adding LiNotes shouldn't become more expensive for your company or am I wrong?
