IBM UK IS pitching the new server models of the PS/2 that were announced on Tuesday (CI No 1,389) as the successors to the low-end System/36 models in its product line, noting that the machines provide an ideal environment for picking up all those RPG II applications written for the System 36 and its predecessors – and highlights the fact that the machines offer an entry price to the personal compter-based server world that is half the minimum price for the Compaq Computer Corp Systempros – the latter are of course much more powerful than IBM’s low-end models. IBM has exclusive rights to the OS/2 version of California Software International Inc’s Baby 36, but by promoting the concept, IBM runs the grave risk that by blessing the concept of migrating RPG II applications to personal computer servers, it provides the entire System 36 user base with an alternative to going to the AS/400 – and competitors will start rushing to sign with California Software for the MS-DOS version – as Datapoint Corp has done (CI No 1,369) – and turn the System 36 base into a happy hunting ground.
