Comments on: Microsoft Partners Running to IBM Lotus?

By: brad barnes

brad barnes — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:45:35 +0000

I always point to the “naked emperor” on this issue Microsoft clearly defined what they thought of the Lotus product when Bill hired Ray Ozzie (Lotus inventor/founder) to take his throne. They thought it was so incredibly strong that they had better get the guy that invented it in the event that he invented something better.

Never underestimate peoples ability to be deceived.

Lotus has ALWAYS been a better development and collaborative platform and Microsoft has always been a more powerful and successful company.

For all the Microsoft fans who chant the “Lotus sucks” mantra, sorry but Bill thinks otherwise.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:15:37 +0000

Update: Microsoft on June 11, 2009, responded to IBM's claims. Here's what Microsoft had to say.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:01:56 +0000

Jack: Yes, The VAR Guy needs to take a closer look at Lotus Foundations. Give our resident blogger a few days on that.

By: Jack Dausman

Jack Dausman — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:55:40 +0000

Maybe Lotus Foundations deserves more than blood-sport coverage. What about checking it out ? The OS is bullet-proof firmware. It’s not sold by IBM, but ONLY by Business Partners. Some big companies (e.g., Xerox) have built impressive vertical-apps for it. It represents a different business model for what it delivers, and how it is delivered.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:32:03 +0000

Art: Great point. The VAR Guy doesn’t have the data you request. But he’ll look around for it.

By: Art

Art — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:47:38 +0000

This is interesting gossip about two tech gaints fighting, but the real question is which one of these companies’ SMB solutions are CUSTOMERS choosing to meet their needs. The amount of partners signed up on either side is only part of the story, where are the number of servers actually sold data?

By: Donald Swauger

Donald Swauger — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:10:51 +0000

Hum, don’t see what all the Hoopla is. Took a look IBM/Lotus and we didn’t even add 1-Page to our Site about it.
Not Impressed. Only IBM we sell is Lenovo.

Signed,
Long time Microsoft/Mac Fan.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:38:04 +0000

Hey Brett,

No need to “thank” The VAR Guy. IBM attacking MSFT is news… even if Big Blue took some creative liberty with the press release.

By: Brett

Brett — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:21:08 +0000

Wow Var guy thanks for engaging on this!

I’ve found many times, that when IBM/Lotus is being attacked by MS does anyone patiently wait around for them to respond? Generally no, the pundits pretty much join in lock-step with MS and condemn IBM/Lotus as a “has-been” without really looking any deeper into the technical superiority of their products. Often, even if they do acknowledge it, it’s done in a very back-handed way.

IBM has almost always taken “the high road” in their marketing, but one can only turn one’s cheek so many times before striking back. The Lotus business partners have been clamouring for IBM to be more agressive in their marketing of Lotus products, here is the result.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:34:50 +0000

So Brett: Do you think The VAR Guy is being too soft on MSFT? Our resident blogger isn’t sure he follows your point… Tell us more.

By: Brett

Brett — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:31:27 +0000

Gee, I certainly don’t remember anyone being so “nice” to IBM/Lotus when Microsoft repeatedly attacked them with gross innacuracies and FUD…

Hmmm, I smell “double standards” in the water.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:32:36 +0000

Michael: You won that bet. But The VAR Guy is hopeful MSFT will eventually offer a response to his inquiry.

Tick, tick, tick…

Kidding aside The VAR Guy needs to cut Microsoft some slack. IBM’s press release was a bit of a surprise attack against Redmond. Surely, Microsoft deserves ample time to consider IBM’s claims and prepare a response.