On Mon, 2011-05-16 at 18:33 -0500, Paul Gilmartin wrote: > On Mon, 16 May 2011 18:12:18 -0500, Dan Skomsky, PSTI wrote: > > >I know it isn't perfect, but Hercules with MVS 3.8J doesn't look too bad > >when you consider the cost, free. The combo runs just fine on a laptop even > >using MS VPC 2K7 to hold the Hercules guest O/S. > > > A few unanswerable questions: > > How much does IBM spend to support and enhance z/OS? > > How much does IBM spend to support and enhance Linux for z? > > Is IBM motivated to retain its mainframe customers on z/OS? > > -- gil
I can't answer any of those reliably. But I don't see much emphasis on the z hardware and associated software at all, compared to Intel based. Which is stupid, IMO. But "you go where the money is". z hardware and software is only cost justifiable for larger companies any more. And I'd bet that z planners are betting on z/Linux under z/VM for the virtualization potential. In the past, I was on an iSeries forum. They had the same complaints as we post here - apparent lack of interest and support for the i. A "cash cow" mentality. Most companies are "Windows weenies" and simply do not seem to know any better. Like the "spreadsheet gurus" who think that they are world class programmers because they can use a formula in a cell. So they __know__ that the IT department programmers are idiots who are just goofing off when they should be working. Oh, well, personally, I like the ARM architecture. But it is very fragmented right now. I have an architecture book on ARM v6. And much of it has the note of "IMPLEMENTATION DEFINED" on things which are not specifically mandated. I think this is because ARM is used from small embedded systems to things like smartphone and now iPAD and tablets. There are also a lot of things are marked UNPREDICTABLE. Who knows what that will do? Not guaranteed to do anything in particular. Might cause an exception, or a hardware failure, or ??? . Very weird. Makes the z architecture look like it was designed by a super-genius. Or somebody with OCD. <grin>. -- John McKown Maranatha! <>< ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
