Hunkeler Peter (KRDO 4) wrote:
IMHO IBM desperately tries to lower software prices for those who
can get rid of mainframe and migrate to other platforms and keep
the fees as high as possible for those ("traditional" workload)
who cannot do it because of complexity etc. reasons.
<rant>
Justifiable or not, its the most stupid way to try to solve the real
problem. It creates an unnecessary complex environment, both for
z/OS code as well as for the customer to customize, monitor, tune.
I don't like it also. In fact it is no technical progress, there is no
creativity here! The processor itself is already designed and made. The
only progress is how to sell it. In fact it requires some technical
works (maybe big amount) to exploit "new kind" of processor, but the
reason to do it is marketing, not technical. DB2 will work perfectly on
regular CP. Linux works well on CP, CFCC can be ran on CP, JAVA code
works on CP as well as on zAAP.
So, all the effort is directed to get another ways of selling the
hardware, not to creating really new one.
IMHO two things could save mainframe from loosing the market:
1. Lower the prices of hardware and software to reasonable levels (see
IFL and z/OS.e prices to know what is the level). IMHO incomes will be
less for first one-two years. After two years *new customers* (I know,
nowadays it is as popular as Yeti) will compensate the income. It can be
done with introduction of lower service levels for software. You get
PTFs only. If you want PMR, ETR, service calls, support, 2nd level
support, etc. then pay as previously. Personally I never ever got any
help from IBM, although I tried many times. I pay the same prices as
those who get the help (in depends on the country).
2. Make z/OS *free* for all the Hercules maniacs. These folks will
popularize the platform at no cost. Free advertisement. Very effective.
No cost: Those, who want to play (learn) z/OS for home (non-commercial)
reasons will never buy z/OS. Those who want to use z/OS illegally will
get the copy without big trouble. In the old days all Warsaw Pact
countries had MVS and all the stuff without paying any cent.
> </rant>
--
Radoslaw Skorupka
Lodz, Poland
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
