Re: George Farrdeclaresfeaturespecificpricingonhorizonfor WDSC

We'll have to agree to disagree Jerry.  I'm not saying OR implying IBM
doesn't do a good job on the other systems, just that OS wise etc they
are more prone to have issues where OS/400 (i5/OS) does not... 


Thanks,
Tommy Holden


-----Original Message-----
From: wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Jerry Adams
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:51 PM
To: Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries
Subject: Re: [WDSCI-L] George
Farrdeclaresfeaturespecificpricingonhorizonfor WDSC

I get just a little confused when I hear people say that "IBM doesn't 
market the System i because it's rock solid and doesn't need so many 
services, and IBM is a services company now, not hardware or software."

Which implies, at least indirectly, that IBM doesn't do such a good job 
on their z- and x-series servers so they can sell services, or they 
screwed their own corporate game plan when they built the iSeries.


There have been many messages on the Midrange-L list from people who 
said that they are still on V4R(whatever); even one recently on V3R?.  
That's sort of like my mother who still drives her 1990 Taurus because, 
well, it just keeps on running and she doesn't need any of those modern 
gadgets.  Automobile manufacturers' "planned obsolescence," like IBM's, 
isn't that it won't work after X years, but, rather, we'll keep adding 
new stuff (and add a tail fin).


Get off this kick already.  It doesn't hold water.  No rational company 
(of which IBM may be one) keeps upgrading and improving a system if the 
revenue stream isn't there.  IBM does not manufacture, sell, or maintain

System/36's anymore (not to mention a lot of other systems). 


        * Jerry C. Adams
*IBM System i5/iSeries Programmer/Analyst
B&W Wholesale Distributors, Inc.* *
voice
        615.995.7024
fax
        615.995.1201
email
        jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



Holden Tommy wrote:

That's just it....the system I doesn't NEED that much in way of
services.  Compared to any other enterprise class machine the iSeries
just doesn't require as much attention.  It's like a tank...it's darn
hard to kill it.  IMO that's one reason IBM DOESN'T market the iSeries
as much as other machines.  If all there customers move to the iSeries
their service revenue will dry up in no time.  Why market something

that

can kill major income?  But I digress...i'd love to see the iSeries
family marketed and the WDSC really BE free to developers.  A lot more
folks would look at the iSeries than ever before.  Heck most college
classes don't even mention the iSeries (or whatever you wanna call it
these days).  If the newer developers haven't even heard of it how can
you recruit them?  Without new blood, it's hard to keep things moving.
I still have plenty of years doing this job & I plan to be doing RPG

the

whole way thru to retirement.  But I hope to see the iSeries community
grow...not die.  Until IBM gets on-board with a REAL merketing plan

it's

gonna be a long, hard road ahead... 


Thanks,
Tommy Holden


-----Original Message-----
From: wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

[mailto:wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

On Behalf Of Michael Ryan
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 1:06 PM
To: Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries
Subject: Re: [WDSCI-L] George
Farrdeclaresfeaturespecificpricingonhorizonfor WDSC

Of course, the assumption here is that IBM wants to increase System i
sales. I believe IBM wants to increase System i profit and revenue,
but are System i sales the most important thing for IBM? Where are the
services for System i sales?

  

If IBM would think outside the box a bit here they could solve not
    

only
  

this new thorny issue of WDSc pricing but solve the larger issue of
    

why
  

System i sales are not meeting expectations.