Interview with Software Group Executive

["jt" <jt@xxxxxx>]

I just happened to catch fascinating (to me) 2-part interview with Steve
Mills.  (I recalled the name of Steve Mills, but didn't recall he was
President of the IBM's Software company (Senior Vice President and Group
Executive, in IBM-speak...;-).)

http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/os/linux/story/0,10801,86291,00.
html?nas=AM-86291

http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,86304,00.
html?nas=PM-86304

Mr. Mills echoed some-a the comments Bob C. published a month or two back,
in article listed over at Non-Tech list:

"Is IBM doing anything at all to offer alternatives to the Windows desktop?
Thin clients, yes -- we have a big portal initiative. We recommend to
customers every day that they try to move the maximum number of users in
their organization to a portal-based environment -- business workers, branch
people, clerical people, plant-floor people. How many of your people need
Office? The lowest number I've ever heard for thick client support is $5,000
per user per year -- $5,000 to $12,000 [per year in support cost], that's
kind of the spectrum. The big cost savings is not in getting off Microsoft
Office and going to StarOffice; the big cost savings is, Can I get to a thin
client? The cost of the client is tied up in the labor, not in the cost of
the client box or the software that runs on it."

Browsers.. who knows...?  Some would laugh at the idea of anything similar
to a NetStation making a comeback but, again, who knows...?