----- Original Message -----
From: "Marcia Harelik" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.ibm-main
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: IBM to the PCM market
IBM is not killing off the mainframe. Quite the contrary. What makes you
think that? IBM is investing deeply in technology improvements and
advancements. There is a continuing role for a server that handles mixed
workload and share everything. Just as there are roles for Intel- and
UNIX-based servers.
Marcia,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. In fact, IBM has taken a number of
actions over the past few years to ultimately ensure the demise of the
mainframe.
- OCO has caused many pieces of MVS to languish badly instead of being
developed with necessary new function (TSO and Rexx on z/OS are the best
examples).
- The PartnerWorld for Developers (PWD) program started charging for the
formerly free z/OS Application Developer's CD (ADCD). They started at
$900/yr and I believe it's now up to $1800/yr. This is a steep price for
the small developer like myself.
- Refusal to renew patents to allow Fundamental Software to continue with
FLEX-ES. When current PWD licenses expire for FLEX-ES systems, those ISV's
will be left in the cold, or have to pony up a minimum $250,000 to get into
the z9 game (and probably another $250,000 for the DASD, tape, and
environmentals to go with it). This situation has been going on since last
October, and IBM has not come up with a solution for Developers anywhere
near the cost of a FLEX-ES system.
- Refusal to allow FLEX-ES to run 64-bit commercially (only PWD members with
FLEX-ES can run z/OS in 64-bit mode, commercial customers are stuck with
31-bit).
- Refusal to consider a Personal Use License for z/OS.
- The patent lawsuit against PSI, which taken in total, also spells the
death knell for an PCM manufacturer or emulator.
- Reinstating the formerly spectacularly failed Academic Initiative and how
that was supposed to fill the mainframe skills gap. You just lost Northern
Illinois University (NIU), one of your strongest Academic Initiative sites,
all because of a new dean.
I could go on, but suffice to say that IBM seems intent on becoming the only
mainframe hardware vendor. As far as the mainframe skills shortage goes, I
can only conclude that IBM's refusal to make z/OS affordable for people to
run on their own hardware (like a PC) means that the only ones left with
enough wherewithal to employ and train mainframers will be IBM Global
Services. Sounds like a plan to me.
Regards,
Tom Conley
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