Comments on: Why IBM bought Lotus https://dfarq.homeip.net/why-ibm-bought-lotus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-ibm-bought-lotus David L. Farquhar on technology old and new, computer security, and more Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:32:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jim Grey https://dfarq.homeip.net/why-ibm-bought-lotus/#comment-57728 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:32:57 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=38744#comment-57728 I worked for a large insurance company 2002-06 that was on Lotus Notes and MAN did everybody love that pig. The company built all sorts of internal apps that ran on that ecosystem. Then we merged with a larger insurer and we all had to switch to Exchange/Outlook. Oh the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

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By: Dave Farquhar https://dfarq.homeip.net/why-ibm-bought-lotus/#comment-57130 Fri, 25 Jul 2025 03:49:42 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=38744#comment-57130 In reply to neo.

There are CD images of OS/2 Warp 3, Warp 4, and Smartsuite on archive.org. You will also need to get the boot floppies because I’m pretty sure even the Warp 4 CD wasn’t bootable. I don’t recall it putting up any fight installing on Pentium-class hardware, as long as the motherboard had an Intel chipset on it. I think you have to load some device drivers to get Pentium II-class hardware to run it. It’s been 20 years since I did it last so I don’t recall all the details anymore.

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By: neo https://dfarq.homeip.net/why-ibm-bought-lotus/#comment-57124 Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:07:44 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=38744#comment-57124 In reply to Dave Farquhar.

i would love to get OS/2 and Smartsuite on a 90s pc, any suggestions

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By: Dave Farquhar https://dfarq.homeip.net/why-ibm-bought-lotus/#comment-57123 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 02:17:00 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=38744#comment-57123 In reply to neo.

It’s been 30 years since I used it but it wasn’t any worse than the Win95 version as I recall. I don’t recall ever using Clarisworks so I can’t comment on that.

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By: S.M. Oliva https://dfarq.homeip.net/why-ibm-bought-lotus/#comment-57114 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:53:18 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=38744#comment-57114 An odd footnote to the IBM-Lotus deal was that it came towards the end of an ongoing lawsuit between Lotus and Borland International. Lotus had aggressively used copyright lawsuits to go after companies, like Borland, which made spreadsheets that allegedly copied elements of the “look and feel” of the Lotus 1-2-3 user interface. In March 1995, the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston reversed a trial judge’s earlier ruling in favor of Lotus, basically putting an end to the notion that Lotus could assert copyright over a menu structure.

As you note, IBM acquired Lotus a few months later. The litigation continued under IBM’s watch with a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court. Oral arguments were heard in January 1996. A few days later, the Court announced they were evenly divided 4-4, which meant the First Circuit’s decision stood. (One justice was recused, likely because he owned stock in one of the companies involved.)

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By: neo https://dfarq.homeip.net/why-ibm-bought-lotus/#comment-57112 Mon, 07 Jul 2025 18:51:38 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=38744#comment-57112 how did OS/2 and Smartsuite compare with windows 95 and mac Os 7 and claris works

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