AS/400

["William A Pack" <tonypack@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

        The AS/400 will eventually die or be absorbed by some UNIX clone system 
not
yet in place.  Linux is a stop gap for IBM, a chance to get service dollars
from a free UNIX variant.  IBM is really interested in NT, since they make a
killing servicing it.  I wonder why I have spent my time working in the 400
segment when the PC cowboys make a killing just setting up NT and supporting
it, not adding a damn thing to the customer's business.  I guess the whole
idea of custom software is in jeopardy, since we have evolved enough
technology to make off the shelf components within the budgets of even the
smallest companies.  I think that this has been the AS/400's niche, and the
marketplace will no longer bear a single costly system.
        People will buy Wintel and M$ crap in volume before buying a costly
client/server box from IBM.  As for the 400, who cares about it when you can
buy a fleet of Wintel boxes that are "fault tolerant" because there are
multiple nodes so that they can fail with a hot backup.  I still think that
IBM wants customers to buy Intel servers running either Linux or NT until
they cannot physically plug any more in, then migrate to the zSeries.  They
make a killing either way.
        As for "legacy" software, I get infuriated when I hear this term.  Auto
makers do not harp on older cars being "legacy" automobiles.  M$ has no
"legacy" software since the crap they produce has a life cycle of less than
18 months.  What is the problem with businesses running software that works
without change?  If the business grows, let them buy a bigger machine and
run whatever the hell they want to on it.  When there is a business need for
client/server, or whatever the next paradigm will be, let the customer
decide, not IBM.  The interactive governing by IBM on the iSeries is crap,
and I think that businesses will migrate to another platform instead of
upgrading and paying a fortune to IBM for what they already have.  If you
have to re-write your software, it will done on another platform.  I have
always worked for small companies, less than $100M in revenue.  I know
several that are looking to can the 400 if they have to re-write the apps.
They will run them on NT.


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