Mainframe Programming to Make a Comeback?

ajw1976 writes to tell us that IBM has released a series of announcements today "introducing many new software tools, academic programs, and support for outside developers." The new releases are designed to help entice programmers and businesses back to the mainframe. From the article: "The announcements, according to analysts briefed on them in advance, signal a shift from defense to offense in the company's mainframe strategy. Last month, I.B.M. introduced a machine priced at $100,000, about half the previous starting price for its mainframes, which can run up to several million dollars. The announcement of the low-end mainframe was made in China, which I.B.M. regards as a promising market for the machines."

Comments

IBM and human rights

[EmbeddedJanitor]

IBM sells to China.... Only 70 years ago they were selling to Nazis to track people for "processing". http://www.ibmandtheholocaust.com/

Mainframe programming?

[Anonymous Coward]

Call me crazy but:

I'm just really glad that IBM already owns half the real estate in places "offshore" where all the programming gets done. If you know what I mean. That way we don't have to worry about training up Americans to do any mainframe programming. It should be a simple matter to get some "local" (local: relative to IBM's buildings offshore) talent. All we would have to do is get an American Judas to act as the interface between the offshore mainframe programmers and the western company.

I think this might just work. We'd just have to keep Americans out of the labor loop to keep costs down. The money we save on Amercians, we can sell a mainframe for $100,000 cheaper than normal to China, who can then increase productivity in creating walmart goods to put the rest of the Amercians in oo?

We'd have to make sure Hollywood put out movies which relfected this new lowered standard of living by having war of the worlds type heros living in near ghetto conditions and working on the docks. Docks which are now owned by foreign interests.

This $100,000 mainframe represents the fruits of the work that's gone into lowering the standards of living for space aliens.

With a cluster of these mainframes, we can calculate the value of the eye on the triangle in the dollar bill.

Like I said. Call me crazy.

Windows

[Brandybuck]

If it doesn't run Windows, most companies won't want it. They spent all their money migrating away from Unix big iron, because Gartner showed them a study saying it was cheaper, and now they're too broke to do another switch. All they can afford are high school dropouts with an MCSE, and they're they last people who want near a mainframe.