RE: Win95 - CA/400 session limit

** Reply to note from boothm@ibm.net Wed, 18 Feb 98 21:10:24 -0500

> This made me nearly weep.  An IBM guy for whom I have highest regard 
> saying these words with which I agree.  Yet IBM is still serving up NT as 
> fast and furiously as she can.  IBM delivering on NT be'd ok with me if 
> IBM would deliver on Java or OS/2, either one. 
>  
> ---------------------------------------------------- 
> Booth Martin

Booth, do you use OS/2? Are you using Java? 

I use OS/2 and am using Java (limited). So, I am happy that the JVM for
OS/2 recently won speed trials as the fastest implementation in the
industry. I enjoy the fact that IBM updates OS/2 with fix packs and
enhancements on a regular basis. Not just OS/2 Warp, but all the way back
to version 2.11. 

I have a lot of development tools for OS/2, and all the other applications
I need. However, I am unable to run a lot of games that are now out on Win
95 but not on OS/2. I cannot run Office, but I can run Smartsuite. 

My point is that IBM is fully delivering on OS/2 and Java. IBM just
updated the OS/2 Netscape version to include support for Java 1.1.4. 

However, it seems that the market is demanding Win32 support and IBM is
responding to their demands. Should IBM simply refuse to sell to people
who want NT products? Why should they pass on this large and growing
market segment? What kind of return or advantage will IBM see if they
simply let other companies gain in revenue and market share because IBM
just refuses to sell? 

What is the advantage to me, as an OS/2 and OS/400 user? If IBM doesn't
deliver NT solutions, will the NT market die and everyone buy AS/400s?
That doesn't seem like the likely end result. What does it help me if IBM
passes up several billion dollars in revenue? If they are making a profit
selling hardware and software to NT users, won't that mean that I will see
benefit from economies of scale? Won't it mean that IBM has a better
chance to survive in the long run and a better ability to keep my AS/400
running?

I don't see what is to be gained by IBM not selling to the NT market. I
don't see how it is a detriment to the AS/400 market. I don't believe that
if IBM didn't ship NT solutions, nobody else would.

Maybe I am missing your point.


Chris Rehm
Mr.AS400@ibm.net

How often can you afford to be unexpectedly out of business?
Get an AS/400.
root
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