Re: XA Release 7 or what?

Ron,

As a former MAPICS employee (job was eliminated 1/2002 when it was moved 
offshore) I would listen to your affiliate, install Rel 6.5.  It is the most 
functional group of applications MAPICS offers.  Release 7 is for "bleeding 
edge" customers.  Rel 7 CSM does not have all the function quite yet that Rel 
6.5 has.  That may not be a concern if you are not planning on using the 
Customer Service Management application.  I believe they are working hard to 
fill the missing function and it may be ready when the next release comes out.

However, to run the R7 code, you will need a "super" iSeries machine and go 
through a review process to make sure your company is at the right level to be 
successful with R7.  Release 6.5 is ready now.  Yes, there are many "fixes" as 
Konrad pointed out, but what he didn't point out is many of those PTF's are new 
optional enhancements that you can pick and choose to fix you business 
requirements.  The code is pretty stable at R6.5 and there is a lot of support 
for training, etc. that will help your company be successful.

Good luck with your implementation and subsequent conversion to the MAPICS 
files.  I know you will find that MAPICS does provide the solution your company 
needs to be successful in this ever chaning economy.

Paola Groeber
MAPCIS Consultant
(PS: I really did try not to respond, but I couldn't resist you Konrad :^)

> 
> From: Konrad Underkofler <kdunderk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 2003/03/21 Fri AM 10:37:31 EST
> To: "'MAPICS ERP System Discussion'" <mapics-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: XA Release 7 or what?
> 
> I would go with Release 7 because it has only 1167 fixes compared to the
> 4460 fixes for Release 6.
> 
> j/k of course...the functionality is about the same in all releases from 4
> on up.
> 
> Seriously, make sure you do get source so that you can fix the things MAPICS
> will not fix or screws up.
> 
> In regards to future releases, is anyone looking at alternative products? We
> have found one we like that seems to be the solution to all that ails the
> creaky old MAPICS code but are still open to alternatives. 
> 
> Regards
> 
> Konrad
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: McCready, Joan [mailto:Joan.McCready@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 9:19 AM
> To: 'MAPICS ERP System Discussion'
> Subject: RE: XA Release 7
> 
> 
> Ron,
> 
> >From everything I've been hearing, in this group and from user groups 
> >and
> conferences, I'd recommend you implement Rel 6, especially as a new install.
> 
> 
> We implemented Rel 4 almost five years ago. What our affiliate (reseller)
> didn't tell us at the time was that Rel 4 had just come out, and we were one
> of the first installs. It made for a more-difficult implementation that we
> would have had if we had implemented (the more mature) Rel 3 and then
> upgraded to 4 later. If you implement Rel 7, you won't really know if some
> of your problems are because you are new to MAPICS or because Rel 7 is still
> "buggy."
> 
> Just my 2 cents worth, from experience. BTW, we are currently at Rel 6
> (upgraded about 14 months ago) and have no plans to upgrade to Rel 7 anytime
> soon. When we do upgrade, it will likely be after Rel 8 is out, and
> definitely after we're assured that everything we need is really ready and
> working in Rel 7.
> 
>        -- Joan
> 
> Joan McCready, IS Manager      phone:  636-479-4499
> MetalTek International         fax:  636-479-3399
> The Carondelet Division        www.metaltekint.com
> 8600 Commercial Blvd
> Pevely, MO  63070                      
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Lahr [mailto:rlahr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 6:47 PM
> To: MAPICS ERP System Discussion
> Subject: XA Release 7
> 
> Dear Group:
> 
> We recently bought MAPICS and our MAPICS reseller is telling us to install
> XA release 6 instead of 7 because 7 has lots of problems that MAPICS hasn't
> addressed. They have prevented any of their customers from upgrading to 7
> but I know there are companies out there using it.
> 
> We have several issues with release 6 and are looking for input from users
> and other resellers and consultants concerning your experiences with release
> 7. Should we start on 6 or force our reseller to help us start on release 7?
> 
> Thank you, 
>                               
> Ron Lahr A+, MCSE
> Information Systems & Technology Manager
> www.altek-inc.com 
> INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS 
> 
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