Release 5
Release 5 was released just before the Y2k times. IT departments were freezing rollouts of new technology to prevent introducing more problems to their software, and allowing them time to concentrate on checking and fixing existing software.
Was this a blessing in disguise? Did the slow upgrade rate of R5 give Lotus a beneficial extra Pilot testing time? May be it did, but I found that as the versions progressed more and more problems were introduced.
Release 5 is now here and despite a few problems it seems to have settled down now, and is a solid platform for developing secure, function rich, web and Notes applications.
Rnext
So Rnext is scheduled for release end of 2001 early 2002 , slap bang in the middle of a slow down.
Sounds bad news at first. Companies are cutting back on spending, they cannot afford to roll out new versions of software. Is this going to be another extended Pilot Testing period for Lotus before business picks up and Rnext becomes a popular tool?
May be companies can't afford not to upgrade to the latest version of the collaboration software.
If companies are having to become more efficient then what better than improving work flow, the B2B (business to business) side of internet applications is starting to pay dividends, ie savings and speed.
At the time of writing the "America Under Attack" situation is in full flow, nobody wants to fly, everybody is scared of being in the city in case it happens again. May be doing business online would be safer? Coulh hijackers take over my PC?
Good Web application builders are going to survive this slow down, and Rnext is the Lotus Notes Consultant's secret weapon. If Lotus had stood still over R5 for a few more years, then Lotus Notes would be in trouble, but they haven't and it isn't. So lets stick with Lotus Notes for a few more years.