Integrated instant messaging and awareness in the 6.5 client, both in email and any application you create, is very powerful stuff! That’s a great benefit to Lotus Notes client users… but I offer the following observations.
My users love the improvements in ND65 mail, like unread counts on folders, follow-up, etc., but shake their heads at the integrated chat window.
The instant messaging window is just too plain. Look at any other IM program that’s been out for years. For example, there’s not an “always on top” option like in Sametime Connect. You can’t chat, or read a chat, if the window looses focus. I don’t like fielding that question from my users. “Well, they’re working on it.”
Most IM programs appear in the icon tray, but not Lotus Notes. You’d need to install Sametime Connect for that.
I also think the IM status should change to “away” if you don’t use your mouse for X minutes. Today it only changes to “away” when the Lotus Notes logout screen appears.
Giving every user Sametime Connect would be much better. They wouldn’t need to keep Lotus Notes running all day, or move the mouse in Lotus Notes once an hour to prevent the automatic logout. If only Lotus Notes could somehow detect that Sametime Connect is running, and show on-line awareness icons (like in mail) based on that. When a chat is received it should appear in Sametime Connect if it’s running. Of course, ND65 user’s don’t get a license to use Sametime Connect. That requires a full purchase of the Lotus Web Conferencing and IM license for the user.
I don’t like to rant. I’m sure the underlying architecture for instant messaging is great, but the end-user experience feels incomplete… like a 1.0 application.