RE: FAST400 being discussed in MI400@xxxxxxxxxxxx mailing list

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FAST400 being discussed in MI400@midrange.com mailing list
Hello Dan,

I have seen some of the dialog about Fast400 in MI400 and other forums.  I
am not a "super" technical person, but I do understand your concerns and how
in concept how Fast400 works.  I have already addressed some of your
questions in an advertisement in a Midrange newsletter put together by Tim
Morgan, but I would be more than happy to address them again for you.

First, how does Fast400 work?  This is a trade secret, so I cannot tell you
what is happening "under the covers".  What I can tell you is that it
"tunes" the interactive jobs so CFINT cannot see them and therefore you get
more cycles from your processor.   I think of it as changing the priority of
the job.

 Fast400 has not broken any of IBM's contracts.  What Fast400 does is not
new to Operating Systems.  Virtually ever other OS has performance enhancers
available and the AS400 has had other products available for years that
enhance or "tune" the performance of the AS400.

If IBM renders the product useless in a future release or via a PTF,
TigerTools will either fix the problem or refund a fair portion of the
purchase price.  TigerTools is also offering Quarterly Subscription Pricing
if that is a concern.

TigerTools is a reputable company in business to make money for its
shareholders and its people, just like IBM.  Fast400 and FileMon400 are the
first two products of many that will be marketed by TigerTools.  TigerTools
understands that there is A LOT of good software sitting on shelves because
the developer does not want to be bothered with sales and marketing.  So if
you or any of your comrades have a piece of software that needs to marketed,
TigerTools would be happy to evaluate it.  If accepted, TigerTools will
market and sell the product and share the revenues with the developer.

 I hope I have addressed you questions and concerns.  TigerTools does not
staff full time people at this time (and may never), but will always return
phone calls and Emails in a timely manner.  Please share this Email with
your group and do not hesitate to ask more questions.

 Sincerely,

Chance Taylor

ctaylor@tigertools.com

800-266-7240 x1700

616-355-1417 FAX


-----Original Message-----
From: Bale, Dan [mailto:Dan.Bale@handleman.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 10:41 AM
To: sales@tigertools.com
Cc: MI400@midrange.com
Subject: FAST400 being discussed in MI400@midrange.com mailing list


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  To: sales@tigertools.com

  Just thought I'd let you know that your FAST400 product has generated a
lot of discussion in the past 24 hours in the MI400@midrange.com mailing
list.  You may want to review this discussion in the MI400 archives at
http://archive.midrange.com/mi400/200110/threads.html under the topic, "How
does this software work??"  If you wish to participate in the discussion,
you'll need to subscribe at
http://lists.midrange.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/mi400.

  Generally, the discussion is focused on the technique that FAST400 is
using to do what it does.  Someone has suggested that the FAST400 program
flips off the 5250 flag in each and every interactive job, which IBM
apparently made easily available in V4R3.  It was further discussed that IBM
may at some point in the future "re-protect" this flag that would, in
effect, render your product useless.

  I (and others) were curious as to what your support policy would be in
this scenario.  Would you offer refunds to customers if you were unable to
overcome IBM's "fix"?  Do you have any reason to believe that IBM would be
unable to circumvent your software?

  Have you considered any legal issues IBM may have with your product?

  Dan Bale
  IT - AS/400
  Handleman Company
  248-362-4400  Ext. 4952
  D.Bale@Handleman.com

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