Re: V2R3 to V3R2 upgrade sticker shock

Carl Galgano wrote:
> 
> I just got off the phone with my friendly hardware/software vendor.  I was
> inquiring on a price to upgrade my E04 from V2R3 to V3R2.  After I got up
> off the floor I verified that I did hear hime correctly that the price would
> be over $9000 for 5 users!!!!
> 
> We are a very small company and have a RISC model 400 running V3R6 (release
> 7 is sitting in the box ready to be installed) so we have little incentive
> to spend that much money for the upgrade.  The only real function I want
> with the new realease for the "white" box is TCP/IP untilities.
> 
> Could this really be true??  Is IBM crazy or am I just being pennywise &
> pound foolish???  Is there any other alternative???  I have tried to order
> the TCP/IP utilities for V2R3 and was told they are not available anymore.
> How much do you guys with BIG systems pay for the upgrade.
> 

There you go again questioning IBM's motives in pricing.  You should be
glad that they are not charging by zip code!.  Seriously, one of the
reasons users are not upgrading hardware is because of the grouping. 
For example, P20 group covers F35, F45, 300, 135, 140, 500, 53S.  P30
covers F50, F60, F70, 310, 510.  P40 covers F80, F90, F95, 320, 530.  If
you are in the P20 group base charge for OS/400 is $4000 + $400 per
user.  P30 base charge for OS/400 is $10,000 plus $400 per user.  P40
group is $25,000 plus $400 per user.   So, if you get a good deal on
upgrading your F35 to F80 for say $10000, you also will write a check to
IBM for $21,000 (25,000 - 4,000).  As you see, this effectively prevents
people from moving across processors unless they are willing to shell
out the extra bucks.  Justifying this to your management may take a
while!.  I guess IBM's philosophy is since hardware is getting
inexpensive, they can at least benefit in the software upgrades!

Go figure! :-))
 
>
-- 
Thank You.

Regards

Dave Mahadevan.. mailto:mahadevan@fuse.net

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