RE: "Gamble my career"?

Reeve wrote:

> But adopting a risk management strategy based on the use of Fast400
> (unknown, unproven, maybe unethical, likely a violation of IBM
> licensing) starts you out with one foot in the grave.

I don't know how you'd quantify "one foot in the grave". I guess it's a
value judgement. In a sense we all have one foot in the grave, life being a
fatal disease and all.

> maybe unethical

I'm not sure. I think that depends largely on how IBM represented the
machine to you when you bought it. A machine with hardware limited
interactive capacity, or a machine whose interactive capacity is limited by
a software governor with which thou shalt not tamper?

> likely a violation of IBM licensing

Again I'm not sure. I don't think that's been tested. It's a lawyer's
pension plan.

> If IBM PTF's out Fast400, your BEA has been trashed.

You can always back out the PTF and carry on as before. Assuming you have a
stable environment you may be able to go a long time without installing any
more PTFs.

Otherwise I agree on all your points. Anyone who thinks installing this
software is just a technical decision that senior management don't need to
know about deserves everything that's coming to him.

Dave...

"Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow." - Oscar Wilde

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The opinions expressed in this communication are my own and do not
necessarily reflect those of my employer.