RE: Second Ethernet Card $$?

[D.BALE@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Larger shops that can afford to employ so-called technical services people
will obviously be able to install NIC cards without any outside help.

Many small AS/400 shops don't have that technical person, though.  They will
gladly eat the $2000 charge for IBM to come out, install the stuff, test it,
and MAKE IT WORK the first time.

IBM made it possible for these small shops to get a workhorse like the AS/400
and not have to employ an operations staff.  I have seen these shops - they've
had the AS/400 working non-stop for 5 years with no operations staff, never
had problems with the HW or SW, it just keeps going & going & going...

Dan Bale
IT - AS/400
Handleman Company
248-362-4400  Ext. 4952

-------------------------- Original Message --------------------------
Leslie, your point is very well taken.  IBM levies a surcharge over
"commodity" hardware ostensibly because they guarantee that the NIC will
work as advertised, first time.  The question is: how often does
hardware/driver incompatibility hinder the PC install?  Is IBM's surcharge
worth it in light of that?

Back in the day, IBM's guarantee meant something, but in an age when
thousands of non technical home users install cards and memory without
problems, perhaps IBM are behind the times...

Buck

> -----Original Message-----
> From: L. S. Russell
> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 2:41 PM
> To:   MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject:      Re: Second Ethernet Card $$?
>
> If you need Intel or anyone else to install a NIC in your PC, don't
> worry about the cost; get out of the business.
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