RE: Iseries Education and marketing

Very interesting Vance !

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Vance Stanley
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 12:17 PM
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Iseries Education and marketing

 Guys,

  I just had a conversation with my supervisor for about an hour regarding
the future of the
Iseries with our company. One of the sticking points that upper management
is using (to justify
phasing the platform out) is the "greying" of the Iseries workforce. There
has been discussions
about this on this board but, I thought I would just throw this in as just
more fodder. 
Amazingly, they all agree on  what a great platform it is. They can't
complain about its cost.
But, I guess any reason is as good as another.   I really think if IBM wants
to insure the
survival of this platform they will consider dropping some freebie systems
off at some colleges
(give aways are great for marketing. Just ask Microsoft). They need to do
more marketing to show
that they are educating a new line of developers (not just in Asia) but,
here where there will be
exposure.  Otherwise, the perceptions of the MBA's of the future will always
be tainted against
the platform. 

 Anyway, just my two cents. 

 Vance