RE: The only hope to save the AS/400 -- MIDRANGE-L

Boy, you hit that one on the head but I think getting IBM to do that is
going to impossible. Just suck the cow dead sounds like IBM strategy today
and look to make the big bucks on Netinfinity and NT. Risky strategy for the
future though. What do they do if Microsoft comes out ahead on anti-trust
and suddenly start makes certain vendors system not run correctly with NT?
They have done it before.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Jon.Paris@halinfo.it [mailto:Jon.Paris@halinfo.it]
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 5:18 PM
To: midrange-l@midrange.com
Subject: The only hope to save the AS/400




I agree with Al that the only thing that will save the 400 is if IBM sells
or
splits off the division.  I _would_ invest in this new company whereas I
wouldn't invest in either of the other options.  If the pressure placed on
IBM
by BPs and large customers over the last few years has not caused those who
run
the company to change their minds (and it hasn't) then I don't think
additional
action stands a snowball's chance in hell.

I for one am VERY disappointed with the attitude of the company towards the
400.
When Lou came on board he made a big deal about understanding the 400 value
proposition and boasted of how he brought the 400 into Amex.  I was hopeful,
but
everything he has done since indicates that those were just words to make us
all
feel good.

Nothing but the share price and the next three months results matter at all
at
IBM.  The company has _no_ concept of the future.  If it doesn't contribute
to
the balance sheet in the next 90 days forget it.  With luck they will indeed
sell the 400 division and pocket the cash.

The industry recognizes that IBM has the most reliable server architecture
in
the world in the AS/400.  It is my belief that the heads of Sun, HP, and
many
others (including the proponents of Netfinity within IBM) pray every night
that
IBM continue to ignore the AS/400. They would not have a future if IBM paid
even
50% of the attention to the platform that it should.


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