This is my continuing rant on Lotus Notes & Domino. This application has to be the single most difficult email reader I have ever seen. Since I have to use it for work, all I can do is rant and continue my long list of what not to do when designing applications. It's a pretty healthy list and is great to fall back on when I want to be reminded of just how bad applications can be.
In a rare turn of the tables, I have decide to use the Lotus Domino Web Access client to access my Lotus Notes mail. The thick client takes so long to load and the interface is definitely hideous. The web client seems to be a little faster, but the overwhleming reason I use it is because with the smaller and more pleasing fonts, I can fit more mail items in the Inbox.
Interestingly, there is a script client that will pop-up a "you've got mail" type of indicator, which will then refresh your inbox so you can see the item. A nice touch, if it wasn't so retarded. You see , the Lotus Notes new mail indicator must be based upon a date/time parameter only, without regard to whether you actually read the item already.
So 9 times out of 10, I find that I am alerted to a new mail item 5 minutes AFTER I actually read it.
Mark this down kiddies, "What not to do when designing software: Lotus Notes."
To fix this, and to maintain my sanity I have disabled the alert feature from Lotus Notus. I'll go back to the old F5-to-refresh the screen technique.
To kill alerts for new mail in Lotus Notes:
1. Go to Preferences -> Mail -> General
2. In the Receiving section, uncheck "Prompt when new mail arrives"
