RE: i5....continues...

I beg to differ, Trevor.  Do we want to see some strong marketing of the
iSeries?  Absolutely.  But from my perspective going from the iSeries to i5
will be no more effective than going from the AS/400 to iSeries.  The
remarkable thing is that the incredible features of this platform DON'T get
communicated, just slick names and buzz words: Marketing Fluff.

There was some discussion a while back that Super bowl advertising and the
like is a waste of $$ since the decision makers aren't in that audience.  I
don't know.  The guys running IT shops that REALLY need relief (and an
iSeries) because they are running unstable Windows machines probably
wouldn't see a Super bowl ad. They are busy patching, rebooting and fighting
off hackers instead of watching the Super bowl.  iSeries users may see the
ads but that is preaching to choir:  I'll give up the iSeries when they pry
it from my cold, dead hands.

The challenge is to get the word out to the uninitiated and I can't believe
a name change is the magic marketing bullet that will transform the product.
Instead, millions that could have been spent on more appropriate marketing
will instead go to throwing out old brochures and changing names and links.
Shoot, MY customers were just starting to call it the iSeries...

If we dis the marketing effort it is because we love this machine and want
to see it "own the planet". If the change to i5 is going to change the
landscape for the iSeries, my answer is: "Prove it".  But my past experience
is that a name change isn't what is needed.  Been there, done that.

Pete Helgren
Timpanogos Technologies, Inc
801.892.9106 x 202


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces+pete=valadd.com@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces+pete=valadd.com@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
trevor perry
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 8:37 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: i5....continues...


I don't understand something. So far, the noise about i5/OS has been mostly
complaining. What is going on?

As a community, there is constant discussion about the perceived LACK of
marketing for our beloved platform. Now, when there IS something to get our
teeth into, there are more complaints. Loyalty is one thing, whining is
another.

It seems the reason we are a "dying" breed is our own resistance to change.
I say, embrace this change! Run with this campaign. Use it to tell ALL your
non-i friends and brag about the incredible "new" platform that IBM is
releasing. It has all the advantages of the AS/400 and the iSeries, with the
amazing Power5.

We have the best platform... now, use this ~change~ to spread the word.

- Trevor

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