Re: NT vs AS/400 -- MIDRANGE-L

Avi, you make a great point, you really do. I've wondered about this for years. The whole point is that it doesn't make any difference what the facts are, what you've said is a pretty general perception in a lot of minds.

IBM has done a disgraceful job of helping users around the world find any real value for these huge price differences. I will add that what I do see is that people that try both solutions seem to be more successful and happier with a AS/400 solution than with a scattering of Win-tel boxes on their computerscape. But again, that is just a feeling; IBM has done nothing to help me see a positive spin on your statement.

_______________________
Booth Martin
Booth@MartinVT.com
http://www.MartinVT.com
_______________________

"Avi Hecht" <avi_hecht@hotmail.com>
Sent by: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com

05/31/2001 03:14 PM
Please respond to MIDRANGE-L

To: <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>
cc:
Subject: Re: NT vs AS/400

IBM is shooting themselves in the foot ...

Today you can buy a PC with 1000 MHZ speed and 20GB disk for a fracture what
costs an AS/400 and set it up to do the job ...
and most pci cards are accepted and there are drivers on the internet ...

We are working on a great machine, BUT ...

Avi

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Richter" <srichter@AutoCoder.com>
To: <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>
Sent: ??? ????? 31 ??? 2001 21:37
Subject: Re: NT vs AS/400

> I hope lou and the rest of the gang in somers or armonk thinks the same
way
> as the majority that have responded on this thread.
>
> Keep in mind that our new expanded iseries is incredibly complex. ( any
> estimate on the nbr of manuals/pages there are now ) The system requires
an
> army of people in rochester to support and enhance it. That costs a lot of
> money.
>
> Rochester insists on limiting the opportunity for 3rd party hardware and
> software vendors. Maybe it has to be that way. But the result is no 3rd
> party languages, no cheap hard drives, cheap io cards, or cheap main
memory.
> Very similar to the apple strategy. ( any odds on how long apple will be
in
> business ).
>
> Sales have to increase to justify the expense. Otherwise the one who
comes
> after lou may decide to stop enhancing and start milking the existing
> business.
>
> This platform is technically outstanding. But you have to be concerned
that
> ibm with its high expenses, due to its go it alone strategy, has to price
> the system out of the mainstream market. ( if you say the $12,000 270 is
> well priced, I would agree, but you have to explain how you can make a
> profit on such a system. )
>
> suggestion: release all the hardware specs and os source code for older
> model as400s, the ones that you cant give away on ebay. maybe in a few
years
> time a whole new market for low cost, innovative as400 offshoots could
come
> to be. One that ibm can compete in and make money in just as others could.
>
> Steve Richter
>
>
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