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I was reading a number of articles in the press this morning about the IBMi (i5,iSeries,AS/400 and the rest) and the possible install base. The articles suggests that there are around 35,000 “active” IBM customers but around 110,000 customers who are still running the system but not on any maintenance or support? The articles also suggests that this number can be doubled in terms of systems because the average customer has 2 systems.
The articles then goes on to ask why are these customers who are loyal to the platform still running old releases of the software/hardware and suggests that this could be in part be due to the fact that the system is so robust and secure they have no need to do anything with it. I think some of that has merit, but in the same breath I think the pricing practices of IBM have contributed to that position. The second hand market is still very strong and many customers are still changing up their systems to later ones without any maintenance or support from IBM, so maybe this may point to the pricing of support by IBM? I stopped hardware maintenance simply because it did not make financial sense for the size of system we run! It was better to throw out the system and get another one if a major component failed (not that they do that often).
Here is a suggestion for IBM, I have a number of older systems which I do not run. What about allowing those customers who are running on systems where the CPU(s) was pegged at a certain percentage have the ability to upgrade these old system to run the FULL CPU capabilities. I have a 515 and 520 which are limited to 20% of the CPU. The processing power of these system was a lot less than my new system yet they cost me a lot more to purchase, if IBM allowed that processor to be opened up as long as I had them on maintenance maybe I and some other customers would take up such an offer? Maybe you could even make it an annual fee so you have to keep up with the changes in the OS, maybe that would remove the “if it aint broke don’t fix it” mentality. It would also add value to paying for maintenance which customers could relate to, and it would be IBM maintenance not third party..
So you ask why would IBM do that, after all they wont get much revenue even if a large proportion took them up? Well maybe it would help those customers who are sitting in the dark ages move towards the new technology. They could stipulate a minimum requirement in terms of OS to get the new keys which would force many to look at the system they run today. Maybe it would even get those customers who see the system as being old in a new light (what other system offers the ability to get 5X the processing power just by upgrading the OS?). It will enable them to look at the newer capabilities which were not available because the CPU restriction made them too slow and cumbersome. How many customers who are putting up with multi second response times use this as a confirmation that this system is old and needs replacing? Short term IBM does not make a lot of money because the customers will only pay a small fee to get the upgrade, but those customers may then see the system in a new light and develop the system further? If you are not having to invest in something it has no value, that is the problem with the IBMi.
If you are running crippled systems that have a lot more power than IBM has released talk to your IBM representative, maybe if enough ask IBM may sit up and listen? But expect to pay something even if it is a requirement to have that system on maintenance.
Chris…
PS: I am talking about opening up those P05 systems which were crippled at a % of the CPU, today’s P05 systems have much higher CPW rates for less cost, just allowing the CPU to reach its full potential without matching the newer systems capabilities is what I am asking for. There should be plenty of other reasons to move to the latest hardware technology.