Peter Presnell recently posted some interesting points of discussion about the Notes Client and the relevance of 8.5.1.

While I totally agree that there is a future with the Notes client because functionally there is nothing else like it, but it's probably too little too late. What can substantiate this point of view, well, in a market where the technology platform is growing, you'll get a steady stream of new blood into the resource pool. Graduates and so forth. I haven't seen any for at least 3 or 4 years now. Also, there is very little in the way of independent trainers available. (This perception is based on local experience between Sydney and Melbourne, and I would be interested if other major metro's have a similar perception). So, that tells me the platform is tanking in terms of new projects, more like we're now in a legacy support cycle. Also, most sites that have struggled with Notes client management, are those who are some years behind in their version and/or have poorly trained staff who are much better trained in MS technologies than IBM. Those CIOs get their monthly reports, and all they see are alot of Notes client related calls.But why has this been the case ?

(That was a rhetorical question, but here is my opinion) Some points that Peter makes confirms my perception that the Business Partners / Developers aka the Yellow blob, (I really like that term..lol), are more or less the ONLY ones out there pushing this stuff in tangible ways. IBM post a whole bunch of fluff and gloss marketing, tout some big numbers, and thump their chests at Lotusphere, but beyond that I don't see much in the way of delivering in the field. There is a lack of rubber hitting the road in this department. Sure IBM can't be everywhere at once, but supporting the Yellow blob would make it a helluva lot easier for us to be where IBM can't get to, and I think in many places, we're a lot more motivated. Most of the relevant content that is produced on the web is from Yellowverse, not so much IBM.

So, ironically the solution here is more transparent collaboration. (Ironic, because Lotus has been the premium collaboration technology for at least 20 years, and IBM haven't been the best collaborators). Recent OpenNTF collaboration is a step in the right direction, but I would offer 2 more points of attack to rectify this, (there are probably more). Firstly, send some "love" to the Yellowverse through educational events that are competitively priced, (preferably around $1800, not $3000). Support the BPs who have paid some reasonable cash and capital to become one by providing some exclusive training. So what I would ask is, that IBM start providing some leadership in helping the community deliver genuinely convincing reasons to keep moving with the technology together, rather than in isolation.