Re: Goodbye/400

Leif,  you are right on target.   IBM customers are focused on solving
business problems ... which IBM translates into what business solutions do
they need.    Customers told and tell IBM:  "we want integrated solutions
....  we want to do business with one company that takes care of us across
the company, worldwide!"

So.... when you see articles like the one that sparked this latest set of
notes and those that don't have iSeries specified it is not because IBM
doesn't care about iSeries (that is just not true!),    it is because the
marketing research from existing customers and those we want to have as
customers tell us we absolutely must ensure the world understands IBM is
about providing business solutions to the total business.

Leif, me too, I'd love to see more specific iSeries advertising ... and
we're doing more now than we have.  I see the calendar of activities, so I
know.  Is it all I'd like it to be .... no, but then I'm not an expert in
what advertisements catch prospective customer's attention.

BTW,  I forward your comments to those responsible for marketing and
communications of iSeries ....


************
Have a great day!

Anne C. Lucas, Project Exec, iSeries Nation and iSeries Marketing -
www.ibm.com/eserver/nation1
205/823-4831  T/L 537-9968,  eFax:  603-687-8053,  800/223-3907 Pager

Admin Assist:   Alice Sebastiano Telephone:  (914) 642-4109, tie line
224-4109 Fax:  (914) 642-6976, tie line 224-6976

***********************************************


Please respond to midrange-l@midrange.com

To:   midrange-l@midrange.com

Subject:  Re: Goodbye/400


From: "Leif Svalgaard" <leif@leif.org>
> Once we all run linux and no green screens anymore,
> there won't be enough difference between the two series
> to warrant having two of them.

One problem with that analysis is that the iSeries is defined primarily by
software, not hardware.  That software includes multiple layers, including
applications.  Besides, when will "technology independence", "single-level
store", "object-based design", and "integration" become obsolete.  If those
design principles become irrelevant at some point, then OS/400 will become
irrelevant too.  But I don't see that happening.

It seems to me that IBM is sending the message that they are in the
business
of selling INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES.  So rather than emphasize the
distinctiveness of iSeries and OS/400, IBM emphasizes middleware that ties
all platforms together.

Since my product is OS/400 specific, I don't like it.  But I haven't
reached
the conclusion that IBM is against OS/400.  I think they recognize a
distinctive OS/400 market, but feel compelled to walk the slender fence
between all their platforms.

Nathan M. Andelin
www.relational-data.com


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