RE: Hmmmm.....$1 Billion -- MIDRANGE-L

I've never been clear on IBM's thinking on the way they've charged for 
interactive capacity. I mean, I've felt I've understood why there's a 
difference in cost based on capacity; but I would've presented it in the 
opposite direction.

Back when it started, I seem to recall that IBM wanted to increase the number 
of AS/400s being used more purely as servers. No serious interactive is needed 
on a "server", so they cut the cost way down.

But they 'cut' the cost by setting the base price as being the server price and 
presented interactive capacity as being an add-on cost (a _big_ add-on cost).

I'd love to know why they didn't leave the basic cost as being the full price 
and offer 'discounts' if you reduced interactive. Exact same price for the same 
capacities -- but when viewed as an add-on, you have to feel you're paying 
more; when viewed as a discount, there's a chance you could feel you were 
paying less by intelligent shopping.

As someone who's personally bought three AS/400s over the years -- two model 
400s, one 170 -- I've had a minor interest in the pricing. I've also spec'd and 
priced systems for various employers, so I have an additional basic feeling of 
higher-cost systems.

I might've felt better presenting proposals that said "we could save a bunch if 
we limited interactive" rather than "the cost jumped from the base because we 
included some interactive".

Tom Liotta

midrange-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>   8. Re: Hmmmm.....$1 Billion (rob@xxxxxxxxx)
>
>Not because it's iSeries, or OS/400, but I just can't see IBM busting hump 
>to improve 5250 so that you can implement multiple threads.  It's because 
>it's green screen.
>
>I think IBM has tried the interactive tax now for a goodly number of 
>years.  And, perhaps that did convert some people to the Mecca of GUI.  As 
>if the purported benefits of GUI in the first place weren't supposed to be 
>enough.  Now, that the time has been there, the Carrot of the purported 
>benefits of GUI have been waved for years and the Stick of the 5250 tax 
>has also been there for a few years, isn't it time to repeal the 5250 tax 
>and open up the multiple threads and allow the rest of the people to just 
>get on with the freedom to choose?
>
>Rob Berendt

-- 
Tom Liotta
The PowerTech Group, Inc.
19426 68th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
Phone  253-872-7788 x313
Fax    253-872-7904
http://www.powertech.com



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