Re: Hey IBM ... Change the Channel! -- MIDRANGE-L

Dell has an assembly plant in Nashville that builds PC's to order. I don't know if it also builds servers, but the turnaround on the PC's is supposed to be less than 24 hours. (One of my nephews worked there, but quit simply because he got so bloody bored by the routine.) Servers might require a few more adapters, etc., and better QA, but it's probably doable to get a server out the door in 24-72 hours. At least if your business model has this as a goal.

* Jerry C. Adams
*IBM System i5/iSeries Programmer/Analyst
B&W Wholesale Distributors, Inc.* *
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Lukas Beeler wrote:

No.

Ever heard of "Express" Systems? They are _not_ BTO, and all additional
Hardware is MES.

They usually were about 3000-5000US$ cheaper thann their BTO counterparts.

But still had awful delivery times.

I can understand that the BTO systems have 2 weeks of delivery time, even
though that's still pretty long (3 work days seems more reasonable). But we
never really sold BTO systems, because they're even more expensive.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Larry Bolhuis
Sent: Wed 11.04.2007 23:48
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Hey IBM ... Change the Channel!
Yes but remember System i are built to order. Cards and drives placed in the correct slots, all hardware tested after installation. RAID sets built, operating system is loaded. Then the system is disconnected, packed, and shipped. This is very acceptable for these systems.

NOW Switch to the new 515's especially and having them sitting someplace (even Rochester) already built to 3 or 4 'standard' configurations makes sense too. In those cases, sure let the customer order them in a MUCH more streamlined manner than all the red-tape paperwork we currently deal with to sell a System i. Maybe even through the web though I'm not sure on that level.

- Larry

Lukas Beeler wrote:

I'm working in Switzerland, so things might be different.

Two weeks is still far from acceptable. System x and HP x86 servers are usually on stock,
here in Switzerland, which makes the delivery time "Next Business Day".

More than that is just a real nuisance.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Larry Bolhuis
Sent: Wed 11.04.2007 22:37
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Hey IBM ... Change the Channel!
Lukas Beeler wrote:

Next day delivery. IBM currently needs about 3-8 weeks for 520 including
MES.

No way! We get our 520s within two weeks often less than that including transportation time! IBM Manugacturing and Shipping is awesome.

You wanna talk paperwork, red tape, certification (and I'm not talking 'tests') pricing, configuration, more red tape, approvals, etc. THAT takes weeks. That is where BJ and company are correct.

- Larry