FW: Saving the System i: Fight Rather Than Switch

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.