RE: What About Price vs. Performance?

I think that the dumptruck to pickup trucks analogy works here.  Entry level
on an AS/400 can be like that dumptruck -- you don't need such a large
machine and it costs too much.  And even in large companies new technology
often isn't planned from a big picture perspective.  Project by project it
may seem cheaper to add another pickup than to invest in a bigger machine.

I guess what we're looking at price for performance vs. scalability.  You
can start up an NT server based web application for much less money than an
AS/400.  These days NT servers will scale very well, giving you fine CPU
performance for little money.  As you cross the scalability limits the costs
for administration on multiple servers and to maintain stability will make
an enterprise server more cost effective.

I don't think IBM's delay getting the faster CPU chips into the iSeries is a
deliberate financial strategy.  As I've stated before (it's one of my
favorite soapboxes) IBM will continue to fleece 5250-based customers through
Interactive Feature ("Money for Nothing").

-----Original Message-----
From: Nathan M. Andelin [mailto:nathanma@haaga.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 4:01 PM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: What About Price vs. Performance?


Web applications use a lot of CPU.  If someone says their Web application
offers performance comparable to a 5250 application, they're taking big
liberties with the word "comparable".

In my experience, Web applications use 5 to 40+ times as much CPU time to
produce an HTML page that contains the same data you might find on a 5250
screen.  Even for pages that don't contain images.

It would be interesting to examine the reasons for this observation.  But as
it relates to the issue of price vs. performance the answer is that Web
applications need a machine with a fast CPU that doesn't cost an arm and a
leg.

Is the reason for IBM not putting fast CPUs in the iSeries because they
think it will erode their income from customers who use the machine for
traditional 5250 work?

I've heard similar lamentations from Domino developers.  They like the idea
of server consolidation, but they run into the problem of price vs.
performance.

Comments?

Nathan.


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