Steve Thompson writes: >And the power requirements for this z10? Can it be plugged into >a wall beside my desk lamp on a 30A circuit?
No. So you can deduct a point for that if you like. That said, you wouldn't be able to dry your laundry in most U.S. homes if you insisted on 120 volts only. :-) To repeat an already over-used analogy, there really are trucks in this world, and they're quite popular, even if they do consume only diesel fuel. There are also bicycles. If you're starting a bicycle messenger service, buy a bicycle. There's nothing wrong with that. Thank goodness there are different vehicles for different mission profiles. Now, I happen to think that the System z10 BC as a (more) entry-level mainframe is in every way superior to the Multiprise 3000, with perhaps two exceptions: physical space (which includes weight) and the electric circuit requirement. In every other respect I can think of, it scores a lot higher. (Including economics, which is typically a nice way to compensate for those other two criteria.) If you're asking, "Could the System z10 BC be even better?" -- in the categories of space and electric circuit requirements, for example -- well sure, theoretically. But then it might be compromised in other dimensions. Again, I'm very fond of the MP3000, but its design required a number of compromises. By the way, an awful lot of small businesses are opting for "Software as a Service" offerings and choosing not to own or host their own servers, of any type. If you want a zero-footprint z/OS machine -- that sure beats the MP3000! -- it's available. To extend the above analogy, you can buy Fedex, UPS, or USPS service and avoid renting, leasing, or owning your own trucks or bicycles. If the world is already heading in that SaaS direction -- and it sure looks that way -- then a z10 footprint makes even more sense. Also (and you alluded to it, Steve), has anyone visited a data center lately? Think about those 1980s narratives: "Years ago, the computer was so big, it filled an entire room...." Well, nowadays it's worse: "The racks of servers are so numerous, they fill football fields, consume prodigious amounts of electricity, and run so hot it's getting impossible to cool them...." Progress! :-) The smallest, coolest running server in most data centers is the System z10. It's the *answer* to server sprawl. And perhaps you'd be surprised how many small businesses suffer from server sprawl. - - - - - Timothy Sipples IBM Consulting Enterprise Architect for New, Advanced, and/or Innovative Solutions (VCT) Based in Singapore & Serving the "Growth Markets" E-Mail: timothy.sipp...@us.ibm.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
