RE: Dis-merits of AS/400

I agree with the comments below.  I'm sort of a newbie to the 400 (4 years)
but I really do like it, mostly for the "lack of maintenance" I was used to
with other systems I am familiar with (Unix, RS6000, VMS).  It's a
workhorse.  This belief was enhanced when I recently spoke with a college
buddy who is both a "software specialist" and network manager (Novell) for a
hospital.  I was trying to get her to consider coming on board and when I
mentioned the 400, she was totally convinced it was "a dead machine and
archaic".  This spawned from someone else she spoke with who also doesn't
know what they are talking about.  After some light-hearted arguing, she was
stunned with some of my own perceptions and is now rethinking her "beliefs".
How many more out there are like here!  IBM will have to step up to the
plate if they want to change mis-perceptions like this.

        -snip-
> I don't think I would be in a position to comment on the actual
> deficiencies
> of the platform or operating characteristics of the AS/400 since I'm not
> directly involved.  However, I do sense a general distaste/regret about
> the
> lack of attention paid to the platform by IBM.
> 
> I suspect that the AS/400 is not IBM's number one profit maker although it
> must surely present a very positive contribution to IBM's bottom line.
> The
> general consensus seems to be that IBM has not marketed and supported
> their
> own machines as strongly as they could have.  Based on radio and print ads
> I
> have heard and seen, I think this may be stepping up a bit, but IBM has
> clearly done a poor job in general of promoting the platform so far.
> 
> Once again, some perceptions from my clients.
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