RE: 270 quote

Steve,

Some thoughts from a techie who used to sell AS/400's for a business
partner.

You should be able to get the price of a P05 270 2248 under 20k by
asking for a discount.  This would include the WDS development suite but
no other software, 4 8GB drives.  Even IBM Direct will discount their
boxes.  If you intend to provide your own support, you don't necessarily
need to go with a full-service business partner.  Quite often they plan
on providing some technical support as part of a sale and can't afford
to discount significantly.

Software subscription at the P05 level is a good deal.  Three years of
upgrades for all purchased software for $1,706 is not bad.  If you
choose not to purchase software subscription, don't plan on upgrading
without paying a penalty greater than your subscription price.

New hardware comes with a one-year warrantee, so the monthly maintenance
would not kick in until a year has passed.  You can purchase a
multi-year maintenance contract with the machine, but that doesn't sound
like what you're looking for.

I don't know the specific use to which you intend to put the box, so
give some thoughts to what you're going to run, then ask around for the
memory requirements.  256M doesn't seem like a lot these days, but may
be adequate for a couple of developers to prototype some applications.

Regards,
Andy Nolen-Parkhouse

> This $8200 websphere all or nothing approach really makes me angry.
>
> We have a good chance to get work with our local clients to put their
rpg
> applications on the web. One is solid to go with us, the others are
more
> in
> the "build it and they will come camp".  We thought the 270 and v5r1
would
> cost us 15k. Split two ways, that is doable.   Not only is $8200 for
rpg
> ile
> way too much but it also makes you question if ibm is pricing the
product
> to
> grow the market or just get what it can today and shut things down
later.
>
> Any idea what the websphere/va java/c++ bundle costs on the rs6000?
>
> Steve Richter