FW: Saving the System i: Fight Rather Than Switch

["Crump, Mike" <Mike.Crump@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Couple of thoughts:

While it was poorly communicated there was a reason behind the name
change.  It makes sense in many ways and it also causes some problems.
Regardless, the name changes is here - we can either sit around and
complain or move on.  I'd vote for moving on - I'd rather be part of the
solution.

I've had the benefit in being invited to participate in some small ways
to help the situation.  I can tell you it much more gratifying in
working to help solve the problem.  We have a great team out there -
Mark, Eileen, Malcolm, Mike T., etc.  We can either help them or ^&%$*
at them.

Technically, we have a great machine.  Our pricing methodology is a risk
point but I think you will see more changes in that area (like CBU).

Let's use iSociety and other vehicles and get on the offensive.

Michael Crump
 
Manager, Computing Services
Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc.
1509 S. Macedonia Ave.
Muncie, IN  47302
 
765.741.7696
765.741.7012 f 
 

Leaders
Leaders are like eagles.  We don't have either of them here.
-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Trevor Perry
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 9:27 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Saving the System i: Fight Rather Than Switch

And one more...

You said:
>  The many name changes are just adding insult to injury.  But since
> they're not marketing it properly, positive brand recognition is not
> there anyway.

There have been NO name changes since January 2006. There were
ultimately 
only 3 names - AS/400, iSeries (part of eServer family) and System i5.
And 
that was over EIGHTEEN years - IT changes its diapers much faster than
that. 
Now we have the System i family to cover all three platforms and bring
the 
community together.

So, collectively, we must:
1) stop whining about ~ALL~ the name changes -
2) start calling this platform by its CURRENT family name - System i

It seems such a simple simple thing. Why is it that other IT developers
can 
change and adapt fast, and we cannot. And it is just a brand name to 
change!! Maybe because we are dinosaurs at IT, we will become extinct
soon?

As for brand recognition.. while we collectively call it AS/400, there
will 
be ~no~ brand recognition. IBM has given us a name for the platform, and

until WE recognize the branding, there is no future.

AS/400 is our heritage.
System i is our future.