RE: Help Save the iSeries

~~~-----Original Message-----
~~~From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
~~~[mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Jeff Glenn
~~~Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 9:18 PM
~~~To: midrange-l@midrange.com
~~~Subject: Help Save the iSeries
~~~
~~~
~~~I've been given the chance by a client to justify the
~~~existence of their
~~~AS/400 instead of it being replaced with NT / SQL Server

I understand your focus in the message, and I have a similar view.
Let me take a stab. They are thinking "strategic" and hopefully not pulling
a chain.

When it comes down to it, I don't see where there is a whole lot of choice.
If the killer app runs on NT only, that's the choice. The "killer apps" for
businesses were written long ago in my opinion.
Y2K fright helped NT decisions more than they will ever know.

Tell them to pilot it while they continue to do business, and your prepare
their iSeries progress...
The pilot is as far as it will go, especially in these economic times.
Tell them you only decide on the hardware after the application decisions
are made, because that enables sizing. (And from iSeries folk's view, a
solid platform) If they don't want to waste their time, tell them to look at
someone else's pilot.
(which I am sure you have already addressed)
My reasoning for this thinking? the difference between
a) getting NT to solve a "new" business challenge
b) taking a perfectly good scenario, and re-engineering it just for the new
environment.


Just an opinion,

Mark Villa in Charleston SC

P.S. - I don't agree with the "lack of business partner" "talk" in the list
queue...I see plenty of "added value" missions  and the folks I meet would
not like to be without that "emergency number" for local competent help.
Especially now that travel is so hard. I think very few companies have guys
like you all in them....