RE: IBM investment in i

Hi Booth

My experience in the field is that IBM will tell them to decide what's best
for their business and that whatever platform/direction they decide on, IBM
has a solution - be it p, x, or i (promoted and discounted in that order).
If pushed they will tell the customer that they can help them decide what's
best and help them implement via a services partnership or consultancy. It's
unlikely they will tell them to go with any specific platform or hardware
solution except as an outcome of a consulting contract. How many consultants
from a consulting/services company do you know that will recommend an I ?

In my view, they do themselves and their products a disservice. If they
could decide what the best solution for the customer was and dared to
promote it they'd win more sales. That's what truly separates Microsoft and
Oracle from IBM - they both lead with a solution from their portfolio.
Regardless of your opinion of the what they have to offer there is never any
doubt as to what they are selling. There is no wishy-washy, fuzzy-wuzzy,
jelly-fishing around; they try do their damnedest to sell their solution
into the site. IBM's strategy seems to be to not upset anyone so that
whatever solution gets the nod, they might have a chance at getting some of
it.

Regards
Evan Harris

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Booth Martin
Sent: Wednesday, 7 May 2008 4:50 p.m.
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: IBM investment in i

All of these comments are interesting and make a point, however there is
a glaring hole in what is being done and said, in my opinion. First, I
admit to being an IBM bigot, so these opinions would be tough for a sane
person to substantiate. However I believe many here will agree with me,
up to a point.

It is my experience that IBM understands and relies upon their
stakeholders. IBM has a history of leading us in a particular
direction, and we have generally followed along. The reason I have
generally gone in the direction that they are push is two-fold: Since
they know where they are going, if I will accept their pushes it will be
best for both my career and my pocketbook. That has proved true for me
personally since my first System 6, model 3 way back in November of
1971.

However, for the past year or so I am getting the feeling of being
abandoned. IBM seems to be managing the decline of the AS/400
nameplate, however they are replacing it with a vacuum. We had the
System 6, 32, 34, 36, 38, and finally the 400, There was a clear
pathway. Now, I just see a huge gaping hole. When the IBM salesman
calls on his AS/400 accounts in the foreseeable future, what is he going
to be selling them? IBM has only "managed decline" to offer. Does he
tell his loyal IBM customers to buy Linux? Microsoft? Oracle? How can
s/he tell them to buy IBM?

I know, I know. Lots of promises from lots of Very Important People.
But where's the action?