Timothy, Even if there was no kneecapping, there could still be CPUs turned off and on, so the minimal configuration would be a single CPU z9BC, not a 7 way.
>>> Timothy Sipples <[email protected]> 3/7/2010 6:35 AM >>> Peter Farley writes: >But Tim, there *aren't* any "smaller" mainframe customers >any more (at least not in the USA). There are, and very many. I don't know where you're getting your information. In my previous post it should be obvious that "smaller" means anybody with capacity below a hypothetical non-kneecapped 7-way System z9 BC. That includes the very smallest customers up through...well, that forms the huge *majority* of customers! By the way, IBM substantially reduced the price of z/VSE for many/most customers (including smaller ones) via the new MWLC sub-capacity licensing for Version 4, so again I have no idea where you're getting your information. Same with z/VM: IBM has slashed the price, big time. A zNALC z/OS license at 3 MSUs starts way, way, way down in the 3 figures per month U.S. (And then there are the Solution Edition offerings.) IBM has never done anything like that before. Have mainframe technologies ever been more affordable? Heck no. (I've looked up a lot of historical prices.) And it's long past time we stop perpetuating mainframe pricing myths, because it isn't helping anyone. >AFAIK, there is no way for IBM to bring z/OS on a z10 to a >customer with a yearly IT budget in the 5- to (very) low >6-figure range, including software and staffing costs and >necessary 3rd-party software. That sounds like an annual IT budget of about $150,000 U.S. (to be generous). And you're right: when it comes to a dedicated/on-site mainframe installation (or, gosh, business computing in general), that's a very tight budget. (However, IBM and/or other organizations could likely provide such an organization with hosted/"cloud" z/OS services well within that budget.) But I'm not sure when those greener pastures and fonder memories ever actually existed, because $150,000 in 2010 dollars didn't go too far in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s either. For example, you would be very fortunate to hire two U.S. FTEs for your IT organization within that budget, but then you'd have no money left over. For reference, when you convert $150,000 in 2009 to 1975, you get $38,040. That is, a total IT budget of $38,040 in 1975 would be equivalent, in Consumer Price Index terms, to a $150,000 budget in 2009. I don't know.... Did anybody work for an organization in 1975 which had a total annual IT budget of $38,040 or thereabouts...and which owned and operated a dedicated mainframe on-site with licensed software? I think that would have been much *tougher* than it is in 2010. ("I remember when Hershey bars cost a nickel....") By the way, a lot of businesses cannot afford to buy a tractor-trailer truck either. Between the truck itself, maintenance, driver, fuel, insurance, tolls, etc. it costs a lot more than $150K per year to own and operate one. Yet there are huge numbers of them plying American roads. IBM does not recommend a dedicated/on-site mainframe to *every* business. Just to many/more of them. Charles Mills writes: >Now there you go being logical again. Goodness knows I try. :-) But I speak only for myself, so maybe that's why I'm logical. :-) - - - - - Timothy Sipples IBM Consulting Enterprise Architect for New, Advanced, and/or Innovative Solutions (VCT) Based in Singapore & Serving the "Growth Markets" E-Mail: [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html CONFIDENTIALITY/EMAIL NOTICE: The material in this transmission contains confidential and privileged information intended only for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you have received this material in error and that any forwarding, copying, printing, distribution, use or disclosure of the material is strictly prohibited. If you have received this material in error, please (i) do not read it, (ii) reply to the sender that you received the message in error, and (iii) erase or destroy the material. Emails are not secure and can be intercepted, amended, lost or destroyed, or contain viruses. You are deemed to have accepted these risks if you communicate with us by email. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
