Re: AS/400 Gasping For Air ??

[mcrump@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

This is not the first time the Gartner Group has predicted the demise of
the AS/400.  The only reason this one may have some credence is that it is
based on application software availability.  Of course, it also assumes
that the world continues as it does today.  I don't know if anyone has ever
audited their predictions.  My personal opinion is that they ought to stick
with studies and not predictions.

The article was ok.  The main problem was that all 'negative' positions
were either backed up by 'statistics' (graphs to those that believe them)
and specific events (Baan and Peoplesoft)  whereas all the 'positive'
positions were articles (count them, two) published in InfoWorld.  Was the
article balanced?  No way.  Negative AS/400 aspects outnumbered positive
when chances are, as John pointed out, they perhaps should not be.  Did she
'attempt' to balance it?  Maybe.  As far as I can tell she intended to
write a negative article and that's what she did.  I don't necessarily call
that fair.  But what else is the 'free press' good for?

The only fair thing the article represented was the Gartner Group report.
There was one thing she did get absolutely right, "a research company that
sometimes seems to be as interested in shaping trends as in spotting them".
Perhaps we can say the same about others.

This article is not the basis for the following conclusion. It is based on
InfoWorld's and Ms. Reed's past actions.  I can guarantee you that they
don't know how to spell AS/400.  They wouldn't know one if it up and bit
them.......somewhere.  Ed Scannell and Maggie Biggs are the two exceptions.
InfoWorld's world (bias) revolves around Microsoft, Oracle, HP, and such
others.

Respectfully,

Mike Crump



Roger,
On a rare note;  I disagree with your assessments.   If she really
wanted to "add balance to the article"  She might have said at least
something about the "Double Digit" sales for something like 4 or 5 quarters
in a row.  She didn't show the other side of the argument, she only
alluded to it by mentioning Maggie's and Ed Scannell's articles.

She didn't mention the recent AS/400 forum that was sponsered by IW,
and the opinions expressed there.(BTW, did you contribute ?)

She Might have even mentioned the major ERP packages the do run on the
AS/400.
She only highlighted the one survey by Gartner that supports (I believe)
her personal views.






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