Why IBM should support VRPG

["Gerstmann, Walter" <wgerstmann@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

These are my personal views.

Back in the 40, 50's and 60's IBM did the missionary work to educate the
world about computers. They were the largest computer firm and charged at
least 30% more than the competition (Burroughs, NCR, Univac, Honeywell, etc)
to provide an umbrella under which it's competitors could operate. IBM's
strengths were Marketing, Support, and Cash Flow. During the 80's IBM
dropped Support.

All the above when IBM was the Big Fish. Now when they are no longer the
major player in DP and face stiff competition they are forgetting what
brought them this far - SUPPORT.  Call it hand-holding, but it is why
customers have remained loyal to IBM from the time of the 350, through the
1400's, 360's, and AS/400's.

Loyalty is good-will, and IBM is squandering that reserve of good-will of
it's old customers, while actively soliciting new e-commerce customers in an
already saturated market!

We VRPG programmers are the tip of pyramid of thousands of experienced RPG
programmers. Yes, those of us developing in VRPG will begin the trickle-down
process of educating of our associates, but IBM does not have the luxury of
waiting, when there are so many other more available pc/web based
programming vehicles? 

VRPG has reached that critical mass to become a viable programming language
- hopefully IBM will do that last step to present the product with more
robust education and support.  Wider acceptance of the product, and the
increased sophistication of it's users, will justify it's further product
development. 

Yes, IBM marketing, the important sale is still the second sale.

These are my personal views.

Walter Gerstmann

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