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[S1001]Still Alive And Well

by John Andersen, Joh

Rumors, stories and myths abound about the death of the fabled AS/400 and successor iSeries system made popular when release by IBM nearly thirty years ago. These rumors have been greatly exaggerated as these rock solid platforms, affectionately dubbed as midrange; “the 400” or just 400 by many fans are still alive and well today running in many businesses.

So why should your business consider the AS/400 or iSeries platform in your business? There are many reasons really but let's remove some of the more emotion opinions and get down to the brass tacks of evaluating features from a business standpoint decision.

I address cost factors in more detail in just a moment but I want to get it out of the way that cost is a very minimal factor anymore when it comes to hardware decisions, the money is ultimately in the software and that is where you will want to do the most amount of negotiating with vendors.

You can get as much or as little processing power as you need in any current model system. Weather running a small independent system for a single department with a handful of users to the largest manufacturing operations with hundreds of users and thousands of data transactions you can get an AS/400 or iSeries system with all the storage and processing capacity to fit your needs.

The 400 is a highly reliable all in one platform that can replace several machines. Wintel servers have finally caught up to this realm when it comes to stability in the operating system but if you want to equal the same processing capability you will end up having to cluster many of these types of machines together. So you can kill off your ever increasing server sprawl to run your business applications and can even handle file and printer sharing services for network workstations. With advanced features like enterprise identity management you can even integrate your 400 into active directory with features like single sign on.

Cost is usually a major concern for businesses, brand new these systems tend to run a little on the expensive side. However there is a large used market available, even auction sites like eBay carry selections of used machines and you can find good bargains. A couple of key points to remember before purchasing a used 400 is to check with your IBM business partner to make sure that it can be licensed and that you can cover it with an IBM hardware warranty. And by the way an IBM business partner is just a third party value added reseller that is delegated by IBM to work with businesses like yours to sell hardware, software and services.

By no means would I ever have a critical business computer system without hardware maintenance! The same goes for the AS/400 and iSeries… yes, you can save a little by getting third party maintenance agreements but I would highly recommend doing so. IBMs hardware maintenance is usually on site with replacement parts the very same or next day and the technicians are top notch. Couple this with the ability for your system to phone home when there is a problem like a failed disk drive or bad cache battery it will automatically place the service call and dispatch a tech with the replacement parts.

Anyone under the age of 50 will agree that the internet is an awesome tool, bringing immeasurable amounts of information to the masses. In these days and times, we would be almost lost without the ability to find information in an instant. For instance if you're wondering "how much can I afford to borrow on a mortgage" then an online tool such as a mortgage calculator is amazing, allowing you to start looking for your dream home with a general idea of how much you can afford to borrow. This simply was not possible a few years ago, as mortgage advice needed to be sought, just to find out simple information such as this.

However, whilst providing massive amounts of useful information at the touch of a button, the internet is a double edged sword, even with the presumption that you are obtaining your mortgage facts from a reputable source, the art is in the interpretation of this information, this is where mortgage advisers are invaluable and will not be beaten for a good few years.

In addition to the traditional residential mortgages such as a first time buyer mortgage, buy to let mortgage or just a simple remortgage, most mortgage brokers are also able to offer impartial advice on specialist mortgages, ranging from commercial mortgages through to overseas mortgages. Information on these areas often seems somewhat lacking online and with the little information available, generally being biased towards one particular lender, an impartial mortgage adviser is essential. Mortgage advisers able to provide advice on and arrange commercial mortgages are invaluable in buying a business property whether it be a small corner shop, pub or large hotel chain and if you were looking to buy a villa in Spain or Cyprus, the traditional mortgage adviser almost certainly has the expertise you need and is able to arrange an overseas mortgage.

With years of training and experience under their belt, a good mortgage adviser is able to offer you impartial advice on all types of mortgages. By taking your personal details and circumstances into account, advisers can provide a "whole of market" search and thus using all the lenders they are able to place even the most difficult mortgages. When a computer may say no, a good mortgage broker will often be able to help.

Qualified mortgage advisers are not only a reliable source of impartial mortgage advice, but their ability to arrange a mortgage that is tailored to you, by placing you with the most suitable lender for your needs, makes them irreplaceable. The simple process of using a local mortgage adviser not only answers many more questions than a website can, but more importantly, they will understand your circumstances and treat you like a person.

Article Source : Disadvantages Of Desktop Computers

About Author

Both John Andersen & Shaun Parker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

John Andersen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Interest, Computers and The Internet and Culture and Society. John Andersen is the marketing manager and editor for the AS400 Tutorials website. To get your free AS400 and iSeries courses check out . John Andersen's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.

Shaun Parker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Online Marketing, Auto Insurance and Wedding Bells. Shaun Parker has been at the forefront of the industry bringing the latest in advice to the public. The face of mortage advice is changing dramatically. Shaun Parker's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.