Hi all.

Some thoughts from LotusSphere. I got to talk to Pooter yesterday and he did more to give me a feeling for Portal than anyone in the entire marketing avalanche that was IBM plan for LotusSphere. Others I've talked to feel the same. Richard and Rocky (see links to their blogs in the column to the right) seem to hold similar opinions.

Frankly, if they really can re-write the whole bottom layer (remember separation layers?) C api (both documented and undocumented) to the Notes client as a Java plug in for Eclipse, than of course we'll use it. It will rock. The question of its use of course comes from the fact that of course that's an impossible and unrealistic task.

The next year or two will see the fruits of that work. The places where changes and compromises in compatibility are made will be the deciding factor in its use. I hope they're successful.

I said I'd learn Java when the tools matured, the apps became compelling, and the need was there. For me, it came together last month and I learned Java. Big deal. I'll do the same thing for Portal/Workplace when the tools mature, the apps are compelling, and the need is there. IBM need not worry. When they're ready and have built something worth moving to, the market will follow. Until then, no amount of "leading the market" or "driving the market" will make the difference.

For me, I'm relaxing with my family at the Boardwalk for a couple days and will fly home on Sunday. I can't wait to get busy and get NCT Search 3.0 into public beta -- maybe next week.

Oh, one more thing - special thanks to all those who came to my session. Instead of talking to myself, I got to talk to several hundred of you and we filled a total of four rooms. I think we had and fun and learned a thing or two in the process. I know I did (though I learned it a few weeks earlier while prepping).

-ANDREW