Re: 5250 changes (was Re: Fast400 Value to iSeries community is less than zero )

Tom,

At 11/12/01 06:24 PM -0800, you wrote:
> >   The 5250 interactive data stream has been around for decades.  It is
> > stable and is not being improved upon (at least significantly.)  There is
> > relatively little cost for IBM to support it
>
>Two major elements seem ignored. First, the old physical workstation
>controllers are fading fast. And second, though the data stream is more or
>less unchanged, there have been significant "enhancements" in how the
>system supports it.

  So 10-13 years of major profits from the WSC don't count?  Okay, let's
put that aside and be forward thinking.  5250 is a part of OS/400.  As such
it gets a piece of those profits.  Don't like that argument?  Client Access
is still a money maker.  The interactive tax seems to be double billing for
the same item.


>The point is simply that 5250 is in fact being enhanced and supporting it
>must be almost a pure iSeries cost especially now that TCP/IP is no longer
>a chargeable item.

  I don't think that the fundamental items of an OS s/b charged
separately.  One of the major selling points to my clients is that the
major items (i.e. database, security, etc.) are built into the
system.  These elicit an "Oh, wow!"  If I had to add 5250 terminal support
to the list I would feel really foolish.  If I had to mention that, "uh,
it's supported, but you have to pay extra for it", any perceived advantages
over *nix systems fly out the window.

  It's a tough sell for existing customers, embarrassing for new
customers.  Even if it does cost IBM something to support it (and I suspect
that it's less than you think), I still maintain that it's the wrong
direction for IBM to take.

  Do you think that most of the OS features s/b
unbundled?  DB2/400?  Security?  TCP/IP?  SNA?  Printing services?

  -mark