Notes, take 3

Sorting mail is annoyingly unintuitive. I can't use a context menu to create a new folder, instead I must find the Folder button and drop down to Create Folder. It would be much simpler to follow the Windows interaction model.

Searching is also pathetic, especially when compared to GMail.

Notes is archaic.

More things I hate about Notes

Sametime.

Why can I not organize my contacts in the Contact List?

Fail.

Die, Lotus Notes, die.

Lotus Notes is a vile thing. Here is why:

- The interface requires training or RTFM. Nothing is easy to find, except the basic Mail, Calendar, etc. screens.

- There are myriad functions that just add complexity. "New features" is just a buzzword big companies use to sell upgrades to hapless customers. Simplicity is key.

- There are several applications - freely available and compatible with Notes - that perfectly solve the problem Notes was created to solve, but without all the hassle.

For example, a combination of Pidgin and Thunderbird will do everything that Notes users need to do. Pidgin talks to Lotus Sametime, the IM feature of Lotus Notes. Users of Notes can use Pidgin to simplify talking with all of their colleagues, friends, and family. Thunderbird handles email and calendars just fine, and is capable of hooking into a Notes-style IMAP server as well as iCal-format Notes calendars. No troubles at all.

Unfortunately, there are some large organizations which refuse to switch from their expensive, bloated Notes software to better alternatives. Their reasoning varies, but is almost always associated with saving money. Ironically, in the long run they would save tremendous amounts of cash simply by switching to open source alternatives.

Sigh.