Lotus Can Boast About Its Notes Release 4
A significant upgrade to Lotus Notes, designated as Release 4, features hundreds of enhancements, many of special interest to education. Notes is the world's leading enterprise-wide messaging and groupware product. Recognizing the Internet's expanding role, integrated Web browsing and publishing capabilities are found in all of Release 4's client versions. The InterNotes Web Navigator enables Web access and "team surfing" and one can import Web documents into Notes applications. HTTP, HTML and Java technology are all supported. Plus, InterNotes Web Publisher 2.0, previously sold separately and now included for no charge, lets one publish Notes-based information to users with generic Web browsers. Notes 4.0 offers a choice of three clients: Notes Mail, with the award-winning user interface from cc:Mail; Notes Desktop, which can run any custom Notes application; and Notes, for developing custom messaging and groupware applications and performing system administration functions. In general, the enhancements in Release 4 can be categorized into six key areas: integrated client/ server messaging; ease of use; mobility; application development and programmability; Internet integration; and enterprise management and scaleability. Some highlights are intuitive new tools, such as "intelligent agents," to make it easier for users to both store and navigate information. Mobile users, who benefit from Notes' unique replication capabilities, get additional usability enhancements and tools for managing information remotely. Notes Release 4 also includes LotusScript 3.0, a cross-platform, BASIC-compatible, object-oriented programming language, in addition to advanced Notes programming tools. Finally, Release 4 offers enhanced administration and management; increased server performance; and greater scaleability for more efficient management of mission-critical, enterprise-wide Notes applications. Lotus Development Corp., Cambridge, MA, (800) 346-1305, www.lotus.com. MWU
This article originally appeared in the 05/01/1996 issue of THE Journal.