The programming interface is dreadful. Notes version 4, due out by the end of the year or early next year, should fix many of these problems. The larger the database, the slower the performance. Do not skimp on RAM or disk space for your Notes server. All negatives aside.
Notes is excellent for many purposes such as documentor file collections.
You don't always need to create new databases from the ground up. You can copy the design of an existing database and modify itto meet your needs. Wanda J. Orlikowski. Also, check out the Usenet comp.groupware.lotus-notes. Here's what fellow members of the Business Librarians discussion group said on this topic.