QUESTION:
Our customer is interested in a RS/6000 running a manufacturing
application on a ethernet LAN. The headquarter location of our customer
is "dictating" that they also buy a Novell Netware server for other
applications. The corporate standard is Microsoft Excel and Words.
We are trying to convince them that they can consolidate their servers
so that they do not have manage two server platforms. In fact, IBM
statement of direction states that we will support, natively, DOS
applications (and Apple applications) under WABI in future releases
of AIX. And Excel is one package that will be supported under WABI.
(for word processing packages, so far is WordPerfect, and not Words,
yet). Our customer has few questions regarding DOS applications
under AIX:
1) Would price for DOS Excel in AIX be a lot more than price for Excel
in DOS?
2) How does DOS Excel in AIX upgrade work? When the regular DOS Excel
version has new releases or versions, would DOS Excel in AIX be
upgraded too?
3) If there are packages that they like now, say Words, and it's not
supported natively on AIX, how long should they wait for the
applications to run in AIX as a DOS application?
I understand WABI is not yet announced, and not available. Any input
that you may have on this new feature would help us better position
our strategy.
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A: I will address your questions and statements from your item:
Q1) IBM statement of direction states that we will support,
natively, DOS applications (and Apple applications) under
WABI in future releases of AIX.
A1) In fact how IBM intends to support these different platforms
is in the following manor:
MS Windows Applications - WABI
DOS Applications - PC SIM
Apple Macintosh - Supported by AIX through the Power Desktop.
The WABI product slated to GA on 4/22/94 will support 13
specific MS Windows applications. DOS support in WABI will
require that PC-SIM also be installed on the system. Apple
Macintosh support will not be available until a future
release of the AIX Operating System. Future versions of
WABI are stated to be able to handle many more MS Windows
applications as well as provide PC-SIM support.
Q2) Would price for DOS Excel in AIX be a lot more than the price
for Excel in DOS?
A2) I don't fully understand your question here. I am not
aware of any special pricing for using DOS Excel in AIX
versus using the DOS application in DOS. Furthermore any
pricing questions need to be directed to AIX Marketing
Headquarters at RHQMV01(AIXDESK) or your local coordinator.
Q3) How does DOS Excel in AIX upgrade work? When the regular DOS
Excel version has new releases or versions, would DOS Excel
in AIX be upgraded too?
A3) Again your reference to DOS Excel in AIX is unclear. When a
DOS product such as Excel is upgraded or is released in a
newer version, support for such an update is not automatically
supported. After the new update for the DOS product is
released and tested for operation within an AIX environment
then a statement concerning that product's support will be
released along with any PTF's required to use the DOS
application. Until that statement of support is made, then
I would not suggest trying to apply the new release of the
DOS software in an AIX environment. Please keep in mind that
support for DOS applications will be through a product such as
PC-SIM and not natively through AIX.
Q4) If there are packages that they like now, say Words, and it's
not supported natively on AIX, how long should they wait for
for the applications to run in AIX as a DOS application?
A4) Currently, PC-SIM supports MS Word (5.0) and MS Works (2.0).
However if your customer is using a DOS application that is
not covered in the list given in the Sales Manual for
PC Simulator/6000, this does not mean that the application
will absolutely NOT work, rather it simply hasn't been tested
and cannot be supported by IBM's technical support. Many
DOS applications not listed in the Sales Manual do work with
PC-SIM but all technical questions must be resolved by you
and not IBM. The best way to determine if an application other
than the ones listed will work would be to check around with
your colleagues and does not informally imply support from
IBM.
SUMMARY:
The WABI application set to GA on 4/22/94 has only been
tested to run with 13 specific MS Windows applications. DOS
application support under WABI MUST come from the PC
Simulator/6000 application. If all you want to do is run
DOS applications, you would not need to obtain WABI, only
an application such as PC-SIM.
The following is a list of the 13 MS Windows applications
to be supported by WABI when it GAs:
WordPerfect 5.2
Lotus 123 Rel 1
Lotus Ami Pro 3.0
Harvard Graphics 1.0
Page Maker 4.0
ProComm Plus 1.01
Corel Draw 3.0
Quattro Pro 1.0
Paradox 1.0
MS Word 2.0c
MS Power Point 3.0
MS Excel 4.0
MS Project 3.0a
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This item was created from library item Q656261 CQNQB
Additional search words:
APR94 CQNQB IX OP OZIBM OZNEW QUESTION RISCOSO RISCSYSTEM SOFTWARE
SYS WABI
WWQA: ITEM: RTA000040893 ITEM: RTA000040893
Dated: 11/1996 Category: RISCOSO
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