On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:23:53 -0500, Patrick O'Keefe wrote: >On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:28:15 -0500, Ed Gould wrote: >>... >>... The big name regulars have made it a >>point to have meetings at the IBM-Main table. I showed up for one >>such event and was ignored even though I tried to engage in >>conversation with several regulars on here. I have boycotted such >>meetings as for some reason they seem to recognize each other quite >>well. >>... > >Boy, you'd really be frustrated at SHARE now. They've completely >hidden the IBM-Main table the last few times I've gone. It's probably >in an undisclosed location known only by the "big name regulars". >(Or maybe know by everybody but me. Boy. Snubbed even more than >Ed. They at least let him find the table.)
Huh?? I don't recall ever having a problem FINDING the ibm-main table - and I don't recall feeling snubbed when scarfing their pretzels either. (I do have a really vague recollection from maybe 15+ years ago when ibm-main was 'limited' to the BITNET crowd but even then the individual people were more than friendly and courteous; that would have been ibm-main very near to its birth and it, like everything, has evolved substantially since then.) >>... >>that IBM took the SHARE group as they could influence (bully might be >>a better word) SHARE easier. GUIDE was really giving IBM what for for >>about 10 years and when it came to picking it was an easy choice for >>IBM as their knew they could bend SHARE with their little pinky. >>GUIDE had to many powerful people so it was an easier decision. >>... > >Unfortunately, SHARE forgot to mention this to the low-ranking >officers and other volunteers so we've foolishly been working with >IBM all these years. And getting things done. > >While IBM, in general, probably listens to the big-budget customers >more than the small customers, the individual IBMers tend to listen >to those people they meet that have something useful to say. SHARE >provides a venue for those meetings. Meetings between IBM >developers and SHARE attendees can result in changes to IBM >products, regardless of the size of the companies involved. (I've >seen it happen multiple times.) Maybe I need to clarify my position from earlier this afternoon: I'm not saying that IBM doesn't listen to smaller customers, or even to individual sysprogs. I have certainly had a good run getting results with my suggestions - at least those that had a glimmer of a good idea somewhere inside. I have also had the good fortune to find really quality IBM people work magic with suggestions (SHARE or no SHARE). I just wish that there was a lower-range z9 (maybe a z0.9) system that was priced 'very affordably' (nearly free is a nice thought) for the little guys. Small customers need to be nurtured and small ISVs ought to be encouraged, too. (If my users can claim that their programs have "always" been bug-free then I can claim that free hardware/software should "always" be within reach of deserving people - like me. We're both delusional by my world has nicer flowers.) -- Tom Schmidt Madison, WI ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
