Re: An AS/400 - Y2K Ad Idea -- BPCS-L

At 05:09 PM 12/20/97 +0000,Chris Rehm wrote:
>What about a two page ad in the Wall Street Journal where the first page is
>a mock up of a 1 day per page calendar with the date of 12-31-1999 and "You
>don't have to be afraid to turn this page..." on it and the next page (both
>right hand pages consecutive) has pictures of AS/400 models and says, "...
>if your business is running on IBM's AS/400."
>
>Then Rochester, Mn could capitalize on some of the Y2K hype.
>
>Well, I thought it sounded good so I abused you all with it.
>
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Chris a wonderful idea.
However you might mislead some people further into believing they are safe
from Y2K on the AS/400.   It is not  true. They are better off then most,
but not they are immune to Year2000.The  prime concern for us, on the'400'
box, is application code, client, supplier-electronic trading  and intra
system communications [ i.e. PC, Client  Server, and EIS] as MIS Issues.

That  translates to a well done IBM for their efforts with both the
hardware  and AS/400 software products. It  speaks to the divisions efforts
towards taking every opportunity to have  their users  become aware and act
on the issues knowledgeably. [There is a selective hearing rule that might
apply here]

It also might suggest that there is a wealth of automated tools available
to assist you in the effort.  Again  you have to select the best  for your
environment, budget  and to meet your Y2K survival in a structured and
affordable manner.

If I  remember my numbers correctly as high as 70% 
of the AS/400s have NOT started their Y2K projects.
 Is that a false sense of security created by:

- the safety blanket AS/400 offered users from technology changes<?>
        ( as an exec in an SME - I'd be hoping for a rabbit from the hat)
        ( after all the AS/400 has done marvelous things to save us before)

- the differing vendor claims of 5, 30, 60, 90 days and your fully done?
        (Confusion & perhaps tries trust  & truth of solution terms )
        (short or long misjudgment might mean success or Corp. failure)

- or the lack of:
        available staff.
        dependance on Application vendors Y2K efforts
        corporate funding & resource support
        board room awareness

There are plus sides here [not  mentioned] that allow easier remediation
than other products. It is still a considerable effort for all shops.

Back to the Main Point
I am not sure I'd want to hitch my wagon [named AS/400] to the Y2K issue as
there are an excessive number of outside variables that  might go  bad and
being hitched to it  might cause you to sink by association.  Deserved or not.

Then there is this whole marketing/education issue[ or lack there of] that
started this note.  They, are,  separate issues.

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