RE: OS versions and hardware

Rob wrote:

>What are you hoping for with V5R4, other new hardware?

That's a possibility.  IBM says they aren't going to change the product
line at all for the rest of the year, but when is r4 coming out?  What
if it isn't until next year (February?) and they release some more new
models at the same time?

My goal is to stay current on the OS.  Obviously, I've lagged behind
with v5r3, but that's because of concerns with performance.  I know I'm
going to have to get a new box to go to r4 - I just want to get the best
"bang for the buck".

>As Bill Cosby's act on God talking to Noah, when Noah was having
doubts: 
>"How long can you tread water?"

Cute quote and I understand what you're saying but, I only support 10
users and run JD Edwards and EDI software - no web server, no CGI apps.
The machine configuration we have now works fine; we don't _need_ a new
box.

But, I don't want to get behind on our software maintenance either,
because of the penalty $$ to sign back up if we have to.  So if I have
to pay for the SWMA, I might as well use it to stay current, which
eventually forces me into new hardware...  

It will ultimately be a business decision based on rising costs of
hardware maintenance for the older hardware versus how much we can get
into a new box for.  My guess is that the boss we'll choose the cheaper
option:  stay on old hardware and cancel software sub altogether.

Bob