RE: When an AS/400 is called an iSeries

Two parts:

a) for customers and friends, collegues

Start talking about LPARs. Start talking about Disk Management on i5/OS.

The System i platform has many features that are either enterprisey or not even
available.

Of course i5 is just a rebranding from iSeries/AS400 - but if you explain that
this rebranding was done to highlight newly available technology in the machine
it sounds much better.

The only thing most IT professionals have ever seen about the System i is a
5250 screen - which IS completely outdated, and IS still "same old sh*t".
However, if you show an IT professional a HMC, and what a HMC can do, they'll
usually start to drool.

If you want to sell something, you'll have to talk about all the things that
are good and new on the System i5. It's best to ignore legacy technologies like
5250 or RPG in such discussions, and talk about them like the died a long time
ago.

This is just the hardware side - DB/2 also had a lot of improvements. Talk
about the ability to do seamless transfer from one hardware to another, single
point of management, the possibility of OS upgrades without any hassles
(inplace upgrades of Windows servers are an always interesting experience).

b) friends only

Talk about the bad things. Things the hardware platform doesn't do right (e.G.
two i5/OS partitions on the same disks isn't possible), things i5/OS doesn't do
right. Pick something annoying but non-fatal. This usually helps to improve
your credibility, because you're willing to critice the system you're using.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Darrell A Martin
Sent: Fri 08.06.2007 23:24
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: When an AS/400 is called an iSeries

Hi:

It had to happen. I mentioned to an x86 geek friend that we were "moving
from our AS/400 to a new iSeries". (For your info, Model 720, V5R2 -->
i520, V5R4.) The response was, "Yuck. Platform conversions are such a pain
in the ..." I carefully, and in terms that might actually meet with
approval from some of the members of this list, explained that it was not
a conversion at all. The AS/400 is part of the Series i platform.

Blank stare. Two or three slow blinks. Then a look of comprehension.

"Ah ha. So the iSeries is just the old AS/400 with a different marketing
logo? I thought it was new technology."

So much for my feeble attempt at politically correct terminology. I'm
going back to my practice of calling every box what it was called when it
was built, which makes more sense anyway. And yes, I am HAPPY to be moving
to a brand-spanking-new iSeries. (Fortunately, many of my skills will
transfer.)

Darrell

Darrell A. Martin - 630-754-2141
Manager, Computer Operations
dmartin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx



This e-mail, including attachments, may contain information that is
confidential and/or proprietary, and may only be used by the person to
whom this email is addressed. If the recipient of this e-mail is not the
intended recipient or an authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified
that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is
prohibited. If this e-mail has been delivered to you in error, please
notify the sender by replying to this message and deleting this e-mail
immediately.