RE: "Filibuster or just blustering" with questionnaire attac -- MIDRANGE-L

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Thought you folks might be interested in this given the content of this
thread.  One point that Jarosh made at Soundoff was that advertising is only
part of the game (and not a big part at that if the other factors are not in
play).  Media coverage is far more important, and he demonstrated at Soundoff
that the level of coverage has increased fourfold in recent months.  Since I
just received a soft-copy of some of those articles, I thought I'd pass them
along.

This is the mind share stuff that really matters.



AS/400 NOTABLE PRESS CLIPS
April 10-May 7, 1998


Speaking at IBM's annual stockholders meeting, company Chairman Lou Gerstner
hailed the "radical transformation" of the AS/400.

Said Gerstner:   "In about a month, we'll mark the 10th anniversary of the
AS/400, the world's most popular midrange system. This war horse underwent a
radical transformation last year. It's now completely Web-ready and it grew
revenue in double digits in the first quarter."

Gerstner's not the only one heaping praise on AS/400 --  the "war horse"
continues to attract positive press coverage around the world with more
than 80
news stories about the brand in the last four weeks.  Attached are a few
samples:

Managers Feel Comfortable with the AS/400 ... And Now Its Equipped For
Electronic Commerce (COVER STORY) - This year marks the 10-year anniversary of
IBM Corp.'s AS/400. Users have witnessed the system's transformation from a
tightly integrated proprietary system to one supporting client/server
computing, and most recently, its role as a network server.  April 1998,
Manufacturing Systems.
circulation: 116,000
http://www.manufacturingsystems.com/archives/1998/498arc1.htm#story

64-Bit Computing Takes Off - IBM's AS/400 division saw the benefits of
adopting a 64-bit architecture throughout its product line. The AS/400 is in
its third generation of 64-bit compliance, and there are 30,000 off-the-shelf
applications running on it.  April 20, 1998. Information Week.
circulation: 325,000
http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?IWK19980420S0054

Old Breakthrough? - A letter-to-the-editor in response to an Information Week
story. Database Boost" (April 6, p. 88). The writer states that IBM AS/400
customers have benefited from a pure 64-bit architecture for years.  April 20,
1998, Information Week.
circulation: 325,000

IBM users go ga-ga over Java on AS/400 - Java and the AS/400 was the dominant
topic at the IBM Computer User Association's annual conference, held at the
Belfry, Wishaw, last week. Other issues discussed at the conference included
date fix problems, E-commerce and Lotus Domino. March 26, 1998, Computer
Weekly.
circulation: 109,000

IBM Credit Helps Small Firms Move to e-Business - IBM Credit Corp has
announced
new, below market rate financing for the IBM AS/400e series, as part of an
ongoing initiative to help small businesses compete more effectively and
leverage advanced e-business applications. April 10, 1998, Malaysia Intech,
The
Star
circulation: n/a

An Interview with Tom Jarosh: Consolidation Serves VARs Well - Thomas Jarosh,
who became general manager of IBM Corp.'s AS/400 division on Nov. 4, 1997, is
interviewed and discusses the market forces that make server consolidation a
tremendous opportunity for VARs.  April 13, 1998, VAR Business.
circulation: 105,000
http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?VAR19980413S0027

Server Technology Scales To The Enterprise - IBM's AS/400 line is highlighted
as traditionally being sold well in manufacturing, banking, retail, and
general
data environments for decision-support and data-warehouse applications,
offering 170-times scalability across the entire product family.  April 1998,
Reseller Management.
circulation: 85,000

The AS/400 Joins the Java Revolution - With the launch of OS/400 V4R2, AS/400
customers can now leverage the midrange system's scalability and stability in
an open systems environment as they deploy AS/400 resources to create Java
programs and run them on virtually any platform, including the Internet. Brad
Day, VP and senior analyst of Giga Information Group based in Cambridge,
Mass.,
said, "Everything about the AS/400 creates a very optimized platform to be
effective as a Java Virtual Machine."  April 13, 1998, Midrange Systems.
circulation: 53,000

Midrange assembly proves worth - Distributors have made costly adjustments to
reduce the cost of midrange systems when they moved to channel assembly.
Products they assemble include IBM's AS/400.  May 4, 1998, Computer Reseller
News.
circulation: 103,000
http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?CRN19980420S0077

Pioneer-Standard taps midrange niche - Acquisition of Dickens moves
Pioneer-Standard closer to its goal of becoming IBM's highest-volume
distributor. Dickens already was among the largest distributors of IBM's
AS/400, RS/6000.  May 4, 1998, Computer Reseller News.
circulation: 103,000
http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?CRN19980504S0061

Multi-National Company Bets on Network Computing - A case study of Tulsa,
Okla.-based Berendsen Fluid Power. This supplier and repairer of pneumatic and
hydraulic equipment adopted IBM Network Stations connected to AS/400
servers to
reduce costs and increase flexibility. This article describes the imple
mentation experience.  May 1998, E-Business Advisor.
circulation: n/a

Environment winners show sustainable strategies - IBM's AS/400e series of
midrange business computers won a 1998 Edison Award for the environment. The
product line demonstrates the potential of products that are "designed for the
environment" to result in higher quality overall. The AS/400e line is more
energy efficient, contains recycled content and is designed to be disassembled
for recycling, which makes it easier to service.  April 27, 1998, Marketing
News.
circulation: 30,000

Shop floors eye NCs for ease of use - Analysts suggest network computers are a
good fit for users on manufacturing floors, and at call centers and airline
ticketing offices. This is because NCs are easy to support and the users
mentioned above need access to a few functions, including the World Wide Web
and e-mail. Crosby Group, Inc., a $100 million chain and cable accessory
manufacturer based in Tulsa, Okla., has connected 20 new IBM Network Stations
to AS/400 servers to replace dumb terminals in the company's customer-service
call center.  April 20, 1998, Computerworld.
circulation: 147,000

Cyberprise Is Healthy Addition At Memorial Healthcare - A case study of
Memorial Healthcare, based in Worcester, Mass., which recently opted for an
integrated web server. Administrators want to make patient data available
through an easy-to-use Web site. The data is stored on a variety of systems,
including UNIX, AS/400 and VAX minicomputers.  April 20, 1998, Internet Week.
circulation: 161,000
http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?INW19980420S0072

IBM targeting remote users with new integrated packages - IBM has announced it
would start selling the company's servers, including the AS/400 midrange and
RS/6000, bundled with routers and other networking gear in an attempt to be a
one-stop shop for users looking to set up remote offices.  April 20, 1998,
Network World.
circulation: 152,000

IBM's new line geared to 'Net - IBM has introduced a line of servers,
workstations, personal computers and a notebook computer for businesses geared
explicitly for Internet users. IBM also is focusing on "e-business" with its
AS/400 business systems and servers.  April 17, 1998, Post-Bulletin
(Rochester,
MN).
circulation: 40,000

Simple Charms - Midwestern cities, such as Lincoln, Omaha, Des Moines, St.
Louis and Kansas City, offer IT professionals a lower cost of living and a
higher quality of life than other "glitzier" U.S. cities. IT professionals
with
experience in AS/400, object-oriented application, help desk/end-user support
and LAN/WAN environments can garner as many as five to 10 job offers in as
little as two weeks' time.  April 13, 1998, Computer World.
circulation: 147,000

Tracking your trades - Rand Financial, a Chicago-based commodities brokerage
firm, currently allows about a dozen large institutional traders to access
trading information electronically by downloading flat-file extracts from Rand
Financial's AS/400-based clearing system. Using a proposed data warehousing
system linked to its AS/400, Rand would enable all its customers to use the
World Wide Web to get hourly updates on their trading positions.  April 13,
1998, Computer World.
circulation: 147,000

Resurgence of Convergence - Several companies - including Boeing, Kaiser
Permanente, Qualcomm, Strong Capital Management and Station Casinos  -  are
profiled  as innovative users of convergence. Station recently finished an ATM
network that connects its four Las Vegas hotels to a single IBM AS/400 system
that runs the operation's accounting and purchasing applications, instead of
each hotel relying on its own machine.  April 13, 1998, Information Week.
circulation: 325,000

IBM, SunSoft Join Hands On JavaOS for Business - IBM and SunSoft recently
announced they are jointly developing JavaOS for Business, which will replace
JavaOS for Network Computers. Prime Equipment Inc., in Houston has so far
deployed about 700 thin clients - not based on Java - for access to AS/400 and
Lotus Development Corp.'s Notes applications.
April 13, 1998, PC Week.
circulation: 332,000
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/content/pcwk/1515/305891.html

School construction expected in May - A new AS/400 system is being
installed at
the new Amery, WI, high school by Integrated Data Systems.  April 7, 1998,
Amery Free Press (Amery, WI).
circulation: 5,500

Candy Maker Tastes Sweet Success - R.M. Palmer, a novelty chocolate
manufacturer based in Reading, PA, operates in an IBM AS/400 environment, in
which all pertinent customer information and order histories are kept on the
midrange system at the production facility and updated on a daily basis. This
enables the company to manage customer requests for stronger shipping label
requirements on products received at stores and distribution centers.
April 1,
1998, Automatic I.D. News.
circulation: 75,000

Shifting Into The Fast Lane - Aetna Industries, a Tier One automotive supplier
located near Detroit, uses an AS/400-based system to improve its just-in-time
(JIT) manufacturing and delivery capabilities. The system's automated data
collection  (ADC) system, has increased inventory accuracy from 40% in 1992 to
98% in 1997, as well as provided immediate access to updated inventory data.
April 1, 1998, Automatic I.D. News.
circulation: 75,000

IBM Expands Mixed-Mode Server Lineup - IBM announced that three additional
AS/400 vendors would offer their enterprise solutions on mixed-mode AS/400e
custom servers. IBM has aggressive plans to expand its mixed-mode and other
custom server offerings over the next two years. Enhancements in three areas
were mentioned, including number of participating vendors, level of
prepackaging and number of price/performance points.  April 1998, AS/400
Technology Showcase.
circulation: 55,000

Real World: Production Tool Supply Puts On a New Face for Its Customers -
Production Tool Supply, a Warren, Michigan-based industrial equipment and
supplies distributor, adopted the IBM AS/400 to run its entire business using
software from Mincron Logistics to handle order entry, purchase orders and
financials.  April 1998, AS/400 Technology Showcase.
circulation: 55,000

Into Thin Air - Canyon Independent School District (CISD) in Amarillo, Texas,
contracted MicroAge Inc. in 1997 to implement the district's five-year
technology plan, which would provide district-wide Internet access and
establish an infrastructure that would link all campuses together, creating a
flat metropolitan area network (MAN). Today, microwave systems are serving a
PC-based client/server MAN, as well as providing connectivity for the
district's IBM AS/400 mini-computer to all locations within the district.
April 1998, Communications News.
circulation: 81,000

IBM to market JBuilder/400 - Borland International, Inc. and IBM have
announced
a joint worldwide marketing relationship around Borland's new Java development
tool for the AS/400 platform, JBuilder/400 Client/Server Suite.  April 1998,
Computing News & Review.
circulation: 30,000

Synon Adds Java Generator To Obsydian - With the release of its Obsydian 3.0
application development tool, Synon, Inc. has added Java-generation
capabilities to its model-based, client/server application development
platform
for IBM AS/400, Windows NT and UNIX systems.  April 1998, Java Report.
circulation: 17,500

J. D. Edwards Broadens Its Backbone Appeal - The AS/400 remains J.D. Edwards'
strongest platform. J.D. Edwards' coexistence strategy makes it possible to
keep the AS/400 as a back-end database engine and application server while
migrating to a client/server environment of virtually any dimension. Lexmark
International, Inc. of Lexington, KY, is highlighted for its use of J.D.
Edwards' WorldSoftware running on AS/400s.  April 1998, Managing Automation.
circulation: 100,000

When Is Value Added? - The Material Handling Equipment Distributors
Association
(MHEDA) has given its Value Added Award to Atlanta-based Peach State Material
Handling Equipment, Inc., which uses now-paperless tracking and labeling
systems driven by an IBM AS/400 system.  April 1998, Material Handling
Engineering.
circulation: 102,000

Midrange Vendors Need Resellers' Help - IBM is counting on reaching small to
midsize business customers for its new AS/400e series servers through the
channel. IBM sold about 50 percent of all midrange servers for IBM in 1997, an
eight-percent increase over 1996. IBM partners should account for 58
percent of
company midrange-server sales this year.  April 1998, Reseller Management.
circulation: 85,000

OS Wars Expand the Middle Market: VAR Profile - Pilot Program Lands Big
Profits
- LANSA, Inc., a Chicago, IL, IBM AS/400 VAR, recently customized J.D. Edwards
applications for a large oil firm with its LANSA line of AS/400 development
tools. After extensively comparing LANSA's pilot to the rival HP/Oracle pilot,
the oil company gave LANSA the nod. At rollout, the system allowed
employees to
access information regarding benefits, pensions and career planning, as
well as
job postings on the corporate intranet via their browser. The system meshes
the
customized HR package with an existing AS/400 NT-based network.  April 1998,
Reseller Management.
circulation: 85,000

A Police Department Increases Efficiency and Safety Using Telepartner's
Wireless Solution - The Police Department in Guilford, Conn., recently
completed a wireless data communications pilot program using Telepartner
International's mobile computing software over cellular digital packet data
(CDPD), running on the department's AS/400 system.  April 1998,
Telecommunications.
circulation: 81,000

Rock & Roll With IT - Virgin Our Price, a brand affiliated with Virgin
Records,
uses AS/400 running Elvis, a bespoke version of JDA's enterprise software
suite. The company has applied IT to its growth plans, introducing stock
systems on AS/400 and upgrading store electronic point-of-sale (Epos) systems.
This enables the company to manage and check stock online, as well as improve
buying.  March 19, 1998, Computer Weekly.
circulation: 109,000



Jon Paris - AS/400 AD Market Support - paris@ca.ibm.com
Phone: (416) 448-4019   -   Fax: (416) 448-4414

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