Re: AS/400

Rob,

That was a common trick with card machines.  I believe the 2560 card 
readers (S/360 Mod 20 I worked on back in early 70's - and possible even 
the 5424 card readers on the S/3) had a hidden switch under the covers 
that doubled their speed (and greatly increased the cost and monthly 
maintenance charge).  Once you "found" this switch you could flip it and 
run the thing at the higher speed.  If you needed maintenance, or if the 
CE was due for Preventive Maintenance (remember that !  ;-)  ) you would 
flip the switch back.  When he left, you'd change it back again.

Someone told me an early Burroughs computer  (1800 ???) had a switch you 
could flip to make it run faster too.

...Neil





Rob Dixon <rob.dixon@erros.co.uk>
Sent by: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
2001/07/30 17:45
Please respond to MIDRANGE-L

 
        To:     MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
        cc: 
        Subject:        Re: AS/400

< big snips >


In the early 1960's, IBM sold 421 and 444 tabulators (punched card based). 
 I was
always told that the cheaper and slower  444 was essentially a 421 with a
governor.  YOu can buy a multi-user software package today and pay a per 
user based
price.  But the functionality that is delivered is exactly the same, 
whether it is
used by 5 or 5,000 users.  Both of these could be called forms of tax. But 
user
based pricing allows a small company to purchase a package for a much 
smaller price
than a large company and may be less than cost.





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