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Baltimore Police Department Is Still Using Lotus Notes (baltimoresun.com)
swm writes: The Baltimore police department is still using an antiquated (1996) case-management system based on Lotus notes. A recent technology assessment found "millions of records and roughly 150 databases built into the system, each designed to address different unit and personnel needs," reports Baltimore Sun. The report found that the "siloed nature of the Lotus Notes databases made it difficult for officers to match, verify or search for information. [...] Various systems may also contain 'conflicting information' about the same case, or may not reflect the most complete information."
"At the same time, detectives continue compiling and using paper case folders," the report stated. "Depending on the unit and the detective, the appropriate Lotus Notes database and/or hard copy case folder system may or may not be up-to-date, and the systems may or may not match." The consultant who is paid to maintain the system says that it is "working wonderfully for the police." Despite these concerns that the assessment addressed, Baltimore's spending panel agreed to pay $176,800 to the consultant to help maintain the outdated system. The police department's chief spokesperson said in a statement Thursday that the agency will be moving away from Lotus Notes in the future. "However, until such time, we must manage and maintain the product that we currently use which is Lotus Notes," he said.
"At the same time, detectives continue compiling and using paper case folders," the report stated. "Depending on the unit and the detective, the appropriate Lotus Notes database and/or hard copy case folder system may or may not be up-to-date, and the systems may or may not match." The consultant who is paid to maintain the system says that it is "working wonderfully for the police." Despite these concerns that the assessment addressed, Baltimore's spending panel agreed to pay $176,800 to the consultant to help maintain the outdated system. The police department's chief spokesperson said in a statement Thursday that the agency will be moving away from Lotus Notes in the future. "However, until such time, we must manage and maintain the product that we currently use which is Lotus Notes," he said.
After working 20 years in IT, I can honestly say there is nothing to compare to Lotus Notes and its simplistic and powerful way it works. This is why its still there. The only reason it is not currently top dog, is because exchange came along in the late 90s and outlook was better than the Lotus Mail client. Anyone trying to tell me sharepoint is good has rocks in their head, its bloated and requires way to much training and development to make it anywhere near an out of the box Lotus Notes install.
$176k to keep it working? It will cost them $176 Million to replace it, resulting a similar level of hassles, errors, and inconsistencies as before. Just different ones.
Most or all of the problems in the article have no relationship to the fact that the software helping to support the bureaucracy is Notes. The detectives use of paper case files won't magically go away just because the software is replaced. Also, just perhaps, they Know What They're Doing, and paper has valuable or required chain-of-evidence advantages?
Isn't almost everything else of its ilk "decades old" (never mind still in active development like Notes)
This conclusion makes me think that there are some out there that want to purge anything, people or kit older than 10 years.,,
You couldn't pay me enough to manage Lotus Notes. It appears there are ways to migrate Notes apps to MS SharePoint, but you can bet it would be a painful, expensive nightmare.
Are you referring to the migration itself, or the fact that afterward you’re stuck using Sharepoint?
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