RE: Saving the System i: Fight Rather Than Switch

I'd have to admit that I would say that style does in some ways have
more importance than substance.  NOT THAT I AGREE WITH IT.  I just think
our industry has developed to that.  Not entirely but I think it's
pretty pervasive.  

This happens to be a pet peeve of mine.  A lot of it is enforced by the
environment of the company I work for - flat to declining market, profit
pressure from energy costs, minimalized IT expenditure rates, inadequate
manpower levels, etc.  We are forced to be no nonsense - it's not that
we are brilliant about substance (although I would like to think we
are).

I read articles from a lot of industry experts (AMR, Gartner, etc.) and
I just don't see things that have true substance.  The best thing in the
world is to read the book 'Why Business People Speak Like Idiots' and
run the Bullfighter software (www.fightthebull.com/bullfighter.asp)
against articles from the big guys in the analyst and consulting
industry.  It comes across as a lot of bull.  I'm of the opinion that
these guys along with the gadget experts are the bane of our industry.
Well, that and the fact that everyone listens to them.

Someone else on this list has suggested to read some of the stuff by
Paul A. Strassmann.  "The Squandered Computer" is a bit dated but there
are a lot of gems in it.

I don't see people buying a $20,000 computer system with the same
mentality of buying a $200 digital camera.  I see people buying a server
with the same mentality of how they buy a $2,000 desktop system.  And
despite for years of talking about the inaccuracy of comparing MHz for
dissimilar systems it still happens on a regular basis.  


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 albartell
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 9:19 AM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: RE: Saving the System i: Fight Rather Than Switch

Good point Joe, but....  I think we need to realize that a new
generation is
coming down the pipes that gets it's information via "flashy marketing".
I
must admit that I fall into that category sometimes.  But after the
flashy
marketing has taken place and the System i5 actually has the potential
buyers attention, THEN feature comparisons can take place and System i5
will
be able to shine on its many successes.

Get their attention to give them what they want, and then give them what
they need.

Aaron Bartell 
P.s. I tried using the name System i5 above by first trying to type
"System
i", but Outlook wants to change it to a capital "I".  Even Microsoft
thinks
the "System I" is a proper noun and deserves space;-)

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Joe Pluta
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 7:54 AM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: RE: Saving the System i: Fight Rather Than Switch

From: Trevor Perry

I think you are missing the point of my site/s...

Nah.  And as I said, I respect the effort, and I've even contributed in
my
own tiny way.  I just have reservations about the efficacy; has our
industry
really fallen to the point where style is more important than substance?
Certainly that's the case in commodity items such as desktops and MP3
players and cellphones, but is it really the case in business servers?
Can
you afford to buy a $20,000 server the same way you buy a $200 camera?
I
wonder if we shouldn't be spending more time differentiating the market
rather than falling into the marketing and merchandising trap.

But that's just me.

Joe