Re: NT vs AS/400

["John Taylor" <john.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "DeLong, Eric" <EDeLong@Sallybeauty.com>
To: <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>

<BIG SNIP to avoid more style rants >

> they are), then the AS400 deserves a second look. Also, a point about
> "cheaper": I think too many studies have conclusively proved that over
time,
> NT is NOT a money saver. Perceived value is just that: a perception.
People
> see sticker price as the beginning and end of their expenses, but this is
> just not correct.

How old are these studies?

- NT has been replaced by W2K, an arguably better OS.
- The hardware has matured to the point that the xSeries now has fault
tolerance built in, and (in my shop) has proven just as reliable as the 400
hardware.
- iSeries components have not shown any significant price decrease, and are
still running approximately 10x the equivalent xSeries equipment.
- iSeries software subscription is significantly more expensive than MS
upgrade protection.
- iSeries supportline contracts aren't any cheaper than MS support.
- IBM is moving more products out of supportline (Websphere/Java) into their
own (extra charge) support offerings.
- IBM is beginning to offer critical functions like DNS, SMTP, not as native
applications, but rather as ported open-source products running in PASE.

I think iSeries still has the edge in overall cost of ownership, but I also
believe that the gap is narrowing rapidly.


John Taylor
Canada



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