Duane,
You have a good point about the application (which was why we were winning
initially).  They are running MAPICS.  I don't want to knock it for being
old (so is ASK) but either the package isn't very good or it is not well
supported internally there.  ASK has had some problems recently and it is a
little short on bells and whistles but as a manufacturing package it sure
gets the job done.

So in my opinion, our application is better, but suddenly everyone got very
afraid that the HP couldn't do all the work of their big expensive box.

Kim
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______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Information on HP vs IBM
Author:  <[log in to unmask] (Duane Percox) > at internet
Date:    9/24/98 10:01 AM


>Joe,
>We run ASK on a 937LX with a 22Gb hard drive and 480 Mb of memory.  We do
>about 1500 invoice lines a month, the other company does about twice as
>many (and we both do all the manufacturing associated with the invoicing).
>Our system with just us on it is fine but I know we would have to upgrade
>to triple the volume of transactions.

Kim,

The 937 is also at the bottom of useable 3k systems. And you can get
12 way processors, if you wish.

Guess what - from a basic technical standpoint these systems are going
to be pretty similar. However, you can definitely get 3x your 937 for
a lot less than 100k per month.

Also - check into the ibm licensing strategies. I think you have to pay
monthly fees for the o/s, etc that you don't for mpe. Unless I'm confused
I bet a true 5 yr comparison will show the 3k to be substantially cheaper.

But - this is like religion. When you got it, you got it. And it isn't
easily be un-gotten. It all boils down to the applications and which one
will win out. That should drive the decision. If the best app is currently
running on the as400 then you have to have a compelling reason to switch.

If however, the best app is on the 3k, then you have a very good case. We
just replaced an as400 with our s/w and 3k because of the s/w. They still
love their as400, but they made a business decision that was best for
the organization. Let them know how hot the market is for 3k programmers.
Maybe they will get interested in learning some new skills!

Duane Percox ([log in to unmask]  v/650.372.0200x608 f/650.372.3386)
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