Re: Should I upgrade my hardware?

> I have a model 400-2132.  My disk utilization is near 75% so on the way
> to buying more disk I'm thinking this is a good time to look at buying a
> whole new machine. (Yes, I have taken measures to reduce what is
> occupying my disk).  My local vendor reccomends going to a 600-2135.
> This is very nice, and the performance improvement is 68%.  The cost of
> the upgrade, with the increased disk, comes to $40,000.  We are a small
> company and this is a lot of money to my budget.  Regardless of the
> hardware decision, I will be upgrading from V3R7 to V4R3 or whatever
> they are at by the time I get the money :)  The other motivating factor
> is that right now I am dialing out to the Internet with a SLIP
> connection.  As I understand it, with a V4 operating system I can
> connect using PPP but only with the new hardware.  Another consideration
> for the decision is that I can't upgrade every year.  Maybe next year
> there will be an even cooler machine that I will want?

that's always a balancing act, isn't it?

what is your vendor's main reason for suggesting you upgrade?  and how much of
the $40,000 is that?  are you slow for response now?  do you need it?  or would
you be better to hang on to your money for a year or two for something better 
and
cheaper?  and there's gonna be, y'know.

our first as/400 was a b20, the first customer ship in oklahoma city, in august
of 1988.  a few years later we upgraded it to a d20, because we needed the disk,
and the b20 wouldn't support it.

the last few years, i've been considering getting a newer as/400.  the d20 was
showing it's age.  we waited thru several announcements, and finally got a 170
this past spring. it was a good fit for us.  i'm glad we waited, that 170 really
flys!  and if you're doing any client/server and/or lots of batch jobs, you may
want to consider the 170!

nj

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