November 17, 2008 17:22 ET

Robert Frances Group (RFG) Clarifies Its Position on System z Mainframe Pricing and Competitiveness

In a Recent Report Sponsored by Hewlett Packard Co. (HP), the Robert Frances Group (RFG) Discussed the Advantages of Upgrading Old Computer Systems to New Energy-Efficient Ones; RFG Still Believes That the Mainframe Is One of the Best and Most Energy Efficient Platform Options and Is Not Suggesting Platform Abandonment for Cost Reasons

WESTPORT, CT--(Marketwire - November 17, 2008) - The Robert Frances Group (RFG; http://www.rfgonline.com), trusted advisors about the IT marketplace to Global 2000 executives, enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions, wishes to clarify its position on mainframe pricing competitiveness. In a recent report sponsored by Hewlett Packard Co. (HP), RFG discussed the advantages of upgrading old computer systems to new energy-efficient ones. Last week HP issued a press release that referenced this report in which readers can infer that RFG believes a new HP system is always less expensive than a new comparable IBM System z. The report did not make such an analysis and made no comparative statements of that nature.

This is a misleading conclusion that RFG does not support. RFG has long stated that the mainframe is one of the best and most energy efficient platform options. RFG has written many research reports stating that mainframes should be considered and used in certain environments and RFG stands by those statements.

The point of the report reinforces the importance of weighing all factors in total cost of ownership. RFG has authored numerous research reports on the topic and is regarded as one of the premier providers of comparative TCO data. RFG has refined its models over the years to incorporate comparative platform decisions, administrative concerns and constraints, hardware costs, software licensing, maintenance, warranty, funding options, and a variety of other data. A true and auditable TCO would need to be performed before any vendor can make specific claims, and an "apples-to-apples" comparison should evaluate target environments.

About Robert Frances Group (RFG)

Every business day, information technology (IT) executives and their colleagues at leading enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions look to Robert Frances Group (RFG) for timely, business-centric answers to their most pressing IT questions. RFG research and counsel helps IT executives architect, implement, and manage more successful initiatives. More information is available from RFG at http://www.rfgonline.com, (US) +203/429-8950, and/or info@rfgonline.com.