Genii Weblog

Pop Quiz: Which is Notes, Outlook and Gmail?

Fri 21 Aug 2009, 10:23 AM



by Ben Langhinrichs
It is not only Microsoft agitators who spread the idea that Lotus Notes is legacy software, or is somehow not quite as good as the other competitors.  It is also Notes enthusiasts, who tend to argue vehemently that "Notes is more than just email", as if to concede that Notes does not really measure up in the email area, but makes up for it in other areas.

So, here is a little pop quiz.  There are four images below of a newsletter I just received, unaltered.  The first image is the newsletter in a browser, if you click on the link at the top.  I'll leave the next three for you to decide.  Which is Lotus Notes 8.5 (native - not using iFidelity), which is Gmail (Newer, not Older) and which is Outlook 2007?  Make your guesses in the comments.  And ask yourself why IBM doesn't make this better known.


Dr. Sears newsletter as it appears in a browser (Firefox 3, if it matters to you)

Newsletter in a browser



Email client #1 (missing background top row, titles below don't line up, gaps between headings)

Newsletter in email client #1



Email client #2  (looks good!)

Newsletter in email client #2



Email client #3 (Worst. Two columns turn into one, missing background top row, titles below don't line up at all, fonts change)

Newsletter in email client #3

Copyright © 2009 Genii Software Ltd.

What has been said:


858.1. Palmi (08/21/2009 03:51 PM)

no 2 is Notes


858.2. Ben Langhinrichs (08/21/2009 03:55 PM)

@Palmi - Any quesses about the other two?


858.3. norm (08/21/2009 05:17 PM)

Hmmm- given my positive experience with HTML email in Notes 8.5, I'd go for #2 being just that.


858.4. Ben Langhinrichs (08/21/2009 05:25 PM)

A hint for those guessing about the other two - the products are shown in reverse order of "paid market share".


858.5. Scott (08/21/2009 08:43 PM)

I'd guess that #1 is Gmail, since it is the most narrow allowing for ads on the right. I agree with Palmi that #2 is Notes based on the fact that Notes now has a pretty good built-in browser. That leaves #3 to be Outlook. How'd I do?


858.6. Ben Langhinrichs (08/21/2009 08:49 PM)

@Scott - You are correct! Pretty amazing to see that the #1 business email client (and Outlook is #1 at the moment, like it or not) does such a horrible job, and that Notes, which has the much worse reputation, does such a good job. Kudos to the IBM developers who made it all work.


858.7. Jack Dausman (08/22/2009 02:30 AM)

Isn't it just *weird* that no one ever points this out !? Shouldn't this be in any review? Thanks Ben.


858.8. Frdric Fanchamps (08/26/2009 02:51 PM)

We have notes 8.5 and html emails are unreadable.

I don't know how you do this demo.


858.9. Frdric Fanchamps (08/27/2009 08:50 AM)

Hi Ben,

Thanks or the taking the time to answer. I appreciate that.

I have check the option: it is not selected.

Next problem to check is that the mail is plenty of red squares with a red cross