If you're concerned that you'll be losing all the @functions you know and love, well, your concerns are somewhat founded. This is not Notes. It is a different product. But to make your lives easier, Reckling tells us, "In particular, we've added some @functions to JavaScript that Domino Designer users will really appreciate."

One of the things we liked when we looked at the pre-release briefly this week was the syntax coloring that's finally in a Lotus Designer product. While old editing technology is tough to migrate, the fact that Workplace uses the Eclipse framework means it also gains some of the Eclipse user interface features, including the very overdue syntax coloring feature.

What it'll take to run
While there's still a learning curve, the Workplace pre-release contains a tutorial that is somewhat helpful in getting started learning the system. It's a big package and there's a lot to play with.

"Don't be thinking you can work with Workplace in Mozilla. Oh, no, young Jedi."

To run the Workplace Collaboration Services server, you're going to need a Windows 2000 Server or Windows 2003 Server box, and if you're running Windows 2000 Server, you'll need to be upgraded to Service Pack 4. On the client side, you can run either Windows 2000 with Service Pack 2 or Windows XP with Service Pack 1. Obviously, we'd recommend installing these on a test environment. Don't go sticking experimental software on your main desktop computer or baaaaad things could happen.

For what they do, these things aren't too voracious. The development server will need 2GB of RAM and the client will need 1GB. If you can play World of Warcraft, you can run the Workplace Managed Client. Once you go into production, you'll want to double the memory.

Oh, and don't be thinking you can work with Workplace in Mozilla. Oh, no, young Jedi. Despite being in dire competition with Microsoft, Workplace Designer applications require Internet Explorer. Mozilla diehards need not apply.

So there you go. Direct your browser to the address below and download the pre-release. It's online now, but there's no guarantee it'll be up tomorrow, so GO RIGHT NOW and download it.

See you next week!

For more information on the Workplace Designer 2.5 pre-release download, visit http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/workplace/designer.html.

Bain McKay is Executive Vice President and Chief Scientist of CIRI Lab Inc. where he and his research team build advanced Knowledge Management technology using the latest methods in Cognitive Science and computing technology. Bain can be reached at bmckay@cirilab.com or at http://www.cirilab.com.