Mark, I understand that 1 - there are technical issues with using this new z/VM install on older hardware. I also realize that there is a method to get an eval copy of z/VM (along with IFL's etc) for older hardware. However, you yourself admitted about this method " It's just been something of a pain to arrange, since there wasn't an official offering for that, so there was a lot of bureaucracy involved." As part of making the z10 offering, why couldn't IBM come up with an official offering (granted in a different format) for people with older hardware? Also, in another posting you mentioned to "contact your IBM rep." Many people on this list have mentioned that the concept of a dedicated "IBM rep" has gone the way of the dinosaur, many customers only work through a Business Partner, some of whom may lack the familiarity with IBM internal processes to navigate the bureaucracy.
Wayne Driscoll Product Developer NOTE: All opinions are strictly my own. -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Post Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 7:10 PM To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU Subject: Re: z/VM Evaluation Edition Now Available >>> On Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 5:26 PM, in message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Wayne Driscoll <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Mark, > If the way for people without a z10 has been "somewhat of a pain to > arrange," and the new method removes that pain, with the added pain that > need a z10, a machine that isn't (as of yet) available in a small scale > version, IBM is indeed coming up short. Nonsense. All of IBM's customers have the same options they had before for doing a no-cost evaluation of z/VM and Linux. Now, more customers than before have a less bureaucratic way of getting started on that evaluation, because of technical advancements in the hardware. That's called progress. Calling it anything else would be like complaining you can't run z/OS 1.9 on G5 CPC. (And yeah, I know there are people that are willing to complain about that also.) > What percentage of IBM customers > own z10's? What percentage are under pressure from management to justify > the alleged high expense of IBM mainframes, and could benefit from an > evaluation of z/VM and Linux for System z? I will bet that the second > number is close to a factor of 10 higher than the first number. And as I've said (repeatedly now), there's nothing stopping _any_ of the customers in that second category from doing a no-cost evaluation today. IBM will even lend you IFLs and real storage to go along with it. What's not to like? Not much, from what I can see. I think some people just like to complain too much. Mark Post ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
