Important Request:
IBM is looking for a quick comment/reaction from you on Notes 8.5 for Mac OSX , which is in beta now (as you know), but will ship soon!! Please let us know what you think of it? Will it meet your business needs?
Subject: View Not Supported Error
On two of the five applications I opened in Beta 2 I got an error that the view was not supported and the application would not open. These applications reside on Domino 7.0.3 servers.
I also uninstalled 8.5 beta 1 and then installed beta 2. After getting some errors that have been discussed here, I thought maybe I needed to start with a clean directory so I deleted my data directory thinking Notes would prompt for re-setup. Nope, it just tried to start and failed because names.nsf was missing. Where are the settings hidden for this so it will re-setup?
Subject: Response to the issues.
On two of the five applications I opened in Beta 2 I got an error that the view was not supported and >the application would not open. These applications reside on Domino 7.0.3 servers.
Could you please provide application design if possible? To provide it, you can right click the application icon on workspace, select new copy, check “Application Design Only”, uncheck “Access Control List” and disable encryption, click ok, then please attach the nsf file here.
I also uninstalled 8.5 beta 1 and then installed beta 2. After getting some errors that have been >discussed here, I thought maybe I needed to start with a clean directory so I deleted my data >directory thinking Notes would prompt for re-setup. Nope, it just tried to start and failed because >names.nsf was missing. Where are the settings hidden for this so it will re-setup?
You need remove both Notes data and Notes preferences file. Notes Preferences file is in ~/Library/Preferences/Notes Preferences.
Subject: Yes - With currently reported bugs fixed
I must say yes.
It appears that we won’t get another beta or pre-release copy, so we need to get the production version to get moving forward. Unfortunately we cannot say that this version is production-ready because of the number of reported bugs and the responses from development that they are “fixed in the current code base”. Some of these, like the Printing, the error showing on launch and others are quite obnoxious and would actually prevent a full deployment. There are a number of reported problems with workarounds, or where the problem occurs inconsistently enough that I’m not sure Dev has fixed it. Yet, we can’t test the “gold” release yet, so we have no choice except to trust that Development has adequately tested the fixes.
In short, I’m happy to get the best release you can give me. I like the new functionality and whether it is another beta or a true production copy, I’ll take it. Yes, feature-wise, this is on par with Windows version.
Thanks for your hard work.
Subject: yes, but fix the printing bug!
We have a few users deployed and it has been stable. If the printing issue was fixed we would have deployed it to everyone. Please, make sure this is fixed when 8.5 is released.
Subject: The printing bug has been fixed.
Subject: Yes, I think the Mac client is pretty much on par with the Windows client now.
Subject: Yes
In my view - I think it is stable enough to work out.
There are certainly a few “bugs” in the current version - but if you install a clean 8.5 version from scratch its works fine enough.
My key assumption is that some of the minor “bugs” that are mostly covered here are addressed.
Yes is my answer to the question.
Luiz
Subject: really?
We are having a different experience. for us, Beta 2 has been worse than Beta 1.But, it has been soooooo long since we had a new mac release, I’m eager to see it a 8x release!
I really don’t think the mac version is on par with the Windoze version at all. What about the Symphony applications? Java support, OLE. “Activities”, speed etc.
I actually had higher hopes for this beta. But, right now I would be very happy to have a stable release. Maybe a beta 3 or a Release Candidate before it’s released? Then again, there has been too much time between betas. I would rather see more frequent releases.
I assume this question was asked because internal builds have fixed many of the issues? If so, yes, please release it. But I really hope parity happens soon after.
Subject: Yes
I would repeat the comments of Luis. Provided the outstanding bugs, in particular printing, are resolved then at last we have a client on a par with Windows users.
Subject: Yes
I assume – taking history into account – that the issues are down to the expected level; then there is no other option, then moving on and keep the parity catch up improve - ad this is a biiiig step into the right direction!Michael
Subject: Release it and let’s get going!
I have been very disappointed with this beta. There have been FAR too few releases, and too much talk by the IBM folks of “oh yes, that’s fixed in an internal build”. I would have expected small monthly updates to keep us moving forward.
I don’t use the Windows version, and haven’t seen it, but I am also very disappointed to hear that we don’t have feature parity. One of Notes’ strong points is cross platform usage, and if one platform is a poor relation and does not have all the features that is a big issue. I also thought that the move to Eclipse/Java was partly to make sure that all platforms could have the same feature set.
Overall, if there are not going to be any more beta builds then let’s just get on with it and release it as-is. At least then my IT folks will talk to me if I’m on an official, supported release. Right now they just point and laugh and say “you’re on a beta, go talk to Lotus!”
Subject: Go for launch
As a user, I use the Notes client all day every day and have no interest in retreating to a previous version. So, warts and all, I think it should move forward. Like everyone else I’m hoping/assuming many of the bugs get fixed.
Subject: Yes!
We plan to deploy it as we move from XP to Mac.
Subject: Stable until it isn’t
I’d rate the current beta 2 as stable until it isn’t and when it isn’t, the wheels sometimes come all the way off.
It has a disturbing startup condition in which it eats itself (SPR filed) and won’t start again normally until a help desk visit is made to resuscitate it (re-install). Personally I’d call that a “show stopper”.
The printing issue is another item I wouldn’t expect worker bees to tolerate very well either.
And it runs for unpredictable periods of time until the Apple JVM crashes with a BUS_ERROR at which point a worker bee will be tying up help desk resources to deal with the NSD filing and general “Is my mail toast, I just know it’s corrupted my mail box!” jitters…
Speed is excellent and the feature set is comparable to the Windows client. It’s readily apparent alot of hard work has gone into this release and it’s worth an upgrade.
Of course there are still possibilities to blow your feet off. Our Notes integrated CBT sets the Notes browser to IE which on an Intel Mac means the browser gets set to nothing and the CBT fails to launch. And all links you click on after that… until you fix it. Notes could deal with this more gracefully but its not something I’d hold up the release for. But my point is Notes could have a bit more polish in dealing with mixed environment impact upon the Mac client.