25th anniversary of IBM i (AS400)

Today, June 21, marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the AS400.

I don't want to repeat what others, more eloquent than I, have said on other websites. All I will do is give links to what I consider the best:

• 25 years of IBM i innovation» by Colin Parris
• IBMi25 - It started as a simple idea» (You Tube)
• Watch the IBM i story unfold» (Facebook)

AS400 model B, the first AS400s

Over the past 25 years many have predicted the death of AS400 / IBM i. But it is still here stronger and better than ever.

Tonight I will be raising a glass in its honor to celebrate what an innovative server it was, still is, and what it has meant to me over these years.

To compare, in 1988 your PC would have had...

• Hardware
  • 640 KB RAM.
  • 386 processor.
  • 10 MB hard disk.
  • 1.44 MB 3½ inch diskette.
  • 14 inch, 640 x 240 RGB, with 16 colors monitor.
• Software
  • Operating system: MS-DOS 4.01.
  • Spreadsheets: Lotus 1-2-3.
  • Word processing: Probably WordStar.
  • You probably would not have had Microsoft Windows 2.0.
• If you could connect to the outside world...
  • The internet was not widely available to the home user.
  • Modem: 4800 or 9600 baud external.
  • You probably used Compuserve.