RE: [RPGIV] Survey question - reality check

Why do you feel that "quick drop of support for old releases (no need for
software support
either)"?  Doesn't the quick drop actually encourage you to get software
support?  Why do you feel you have no need for software support?

Why do you feel that "inability of existing machine to handle new releases
(no need for software subscription either)"?  Won't a 620 run V5R1?
Granted the newer versions of OS might 'encourage' you to have a little
more horsepower here and there, but it should run.

And your concerns that the newer box will take a bigger bite out of your
wallet to get the desired interactive feature are valid.  However you may
wish to look at leasing the new box instead of purchasing.  This will help
spread the pain.  And once management gets used to the consistent leasing
payments then upgrading in a few years costing them an additional $50/month
is much easier to swallow.

Yes that tiered pricing by the ERP vendor can be a significant factor also.
SSA's BPCS uses user based pricing.  That hasn't been a big concern.  Those
EDI vendors aren't quite as forgiving.  I haven't studied that enough to
say anything about leasing software.

Rob Berendt
--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin



                    Konrad
                    Underkofler             To:     "'rpg400-l@midrange.com'" 
<rpg400-l@midrange.com>
                    <kdunderk@hoshiza       cc:
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                    Sent by:                Subject:     RE: [RPGIV] Survey 
question - reality check
                    rpg400-l-admin@mi
                    drange.com


                    02/19/2002 03:59
                    PM
                    Please respond to
                    rpg400-l






Rob,

> And one software developer asked at his conference if the users would
have
> a problem if they stopped supporting releases earlier than XYZ.  The
users
> cheered and applauded.  Now they had justification to management to
upgrade
> their 400's.  Surprised the developer to no end.

Back to the practical world, although I would love to have a new machine
IBM's desire to make the 400 a Java wonderland (green screen penalty!),
quick drop of support for old releases (no need for software support
either),
inability of existing machine to handle new releases (no need for
software subscription either) and a greedy ERP vendor that considers any
upgrade a chance to grind out lots of additional revenue justification is
a very long, very expensive road...

So I hereby declare my love for support of old releases of everything and
await the time that "everyone" agrees there are enough features and
function
in a new system to justify the cost. To be honest my current 620 is an
awful lot alike the System 38 Model 3 I got back in 1980! If we need state
of
the art we will convert those functions to NT / Win2K / Java / Unix etc and
gather the benefit of the rich toolsets and choice that those platforms
offer.

Konrad