Technology ages so quickly. Microsoft didn't help much by employing the year of release into the product name. A nice trick to play in the consumer's mind that they need to upgrade. Notes is still known in for email, however this is changing through more recent concerted efforts. But what amazes me is how people refer to Notes (still!) as legacy technology, even though Lotus doesn't use the year of release in the product name, (ie "Lotus 2005"... lol).

When someone quotes that Notes is "legacy", or "old" or the like, you should refer them here, and inform them that Outlook is 14 years old this year since it was introduced at the same time as Office 97, and still is not as feature rich as Lotus Notes.

It seems that the perceptions in North America are changing, but it will still require a sensible effort to educate people elsewhere around the globe and convince them to invest in the technology for their organisations. One of the problems with this approach is that you get blasted and overwhelmed with content for 4 days once a year, miss out on content, and then have near bugger-all for another 40-odd weeks until the next event. Hardly a way to build momentum in the minds of those you want to reach.

I would be impressed if IBM can demonstrate the intestinal fortitude to hold reasonably priced conferences in Asia, Australia and Europe which is more than a half day chin-wag at the Hilton, which has done sweet FA for changing these perceptions around the world and gaining market share.

But rather than my usual chastising of IBM in asking them to run this, (which I just did above. I can't help it, I know I'm a grumpy ol'b_sterd), instead I will fight my grumpy instincts and, propose that this sort of effort requires continual participation locally. So, the solution I think should be local events run in partnership between IBM, local BP's and user group communities. IBM should take more of a back seat and provide support where logistically or contextually appropriate.

As there is alot of good community content that can be collated and dispensed in an organised way locally, the makings of a "Community Fusion" event operated to cover costs, I think would provide a balanced approach to sending a consistent message for more than just 4 days a year, and minimise the financial burden associated with hosting these sort of events globally.