Analysis

In the Wheelhouse: Solutions with Hardware Rebates Available

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:00:15 +0100

This week, we'll cover updated Power Systems rebates, news about COMMON Europe, COMMON Americas, and the push for more PowerLinux in China. Written by Steve Pitcher As per announcement letters 313-040 and 313-041, IBM has added POWER7+ hardware to the list of qualifying and eligible products in their software solutions' first-in-location or competitive migration rebate programs. You can receive a rebate equal to the total invoice price of the eligible new ISV software licenses acquired, up to...

In the Wheelhouse: V5R4 Goes on Life Support, and IBM Markets IBM i Social-Style

Mon, 06 May 2013 06:00:15 +0100

This week, we'll cover V5R4 receiving a service extension, the 8th annual Top Concerns survey from COMMON Europe, IBM marketing the heck out of IBM i, and the IBM i Professionals group on LinkedIn. Written by Steve Pitcher You probably knew that this was going to happen once the formal end of support for i5/OS V5R4 was announced for September 2013. IBM makes it official with announcement letter 613-004 stating that, because of significant demand, customers can continue to receive software supp...

The Social Media Generation Gap, Part One

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:00:15 +0100

This article is an excerpt from the book Fundamentals of Technology Project Management (Second Edition) published in September 2012 by MC Press. Written by Colleen Garton Is there a social media/virtual communication generation gap? I would say that the answer is yes. This does not mean that I think one generation is more adept with the tools than another. The adoption rate of the various social media tools differs between generations. What is considered good etiquette for one generation...

In the Wheelhouse: IBMi25 Campaign Announced at COMMON!

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:00:15 +0100

I was in Austin, Texas, last week for the COMMON User Group annual conference and exposition. There are plenty of highlights I want to discuss here. Written by Steve Pitcher IBM announced the AS/400 back on June 21, 1988. On April 8, 2013, IBM officially launched the IBMi25 25th anniversary campaign (although IBM i Chief Architect Steve Will let out some teasers a few days in advance). Check out the IBMi25 Facebook page set up for the celebration, and also view the first three of many videos i...

COMMON Conference Celebrates Silverlake's Silver Anniversary

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:00:02 +0100

As always, there were plenty of announcements. Let's look at what the vendors, including IBM of course, told us. Written by John Ghrist The COMMON Conference and Expo concluded its inaugural visit to Austin, Texas, last week and featured the usual mix of IBM i professionals seeking education opportunities and independent software vendors unveiling enticing software upgrades and strategic-alliance announcements....

In the Wheelhouse: No April Fools' Joke Here

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:00:15 +0100

Today, we'll cover the price benefits of recycling old tin and some new PTFs you gotta get. I was going to say something about IBM naming the line of servers called the CanuckleHead after me, but it was a groaner. And I'm sure my editor will leave that in. Written by Steve Pitcher IBM really wants you upgraded to Power7 and Power7+ iron and subsequently away from IBM i 5.4. How much so? Effective March 18, 2013, IBM's trade-in value for older machines running IBM i 5.4 have been updated accordi...

In the Wheelhouse: Big News for SWMA! No Price Increase!

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:00:15 +0100

This week, I'm talking about the SWMA price increase and subsequent reduction; new collaboration options, including expanded support for IBM I; COMMON 2013; and Power Systems manufacturing going south of the border. Written by Steve Pitcher As I covered in my last article, IBM i software maintenance (i.e., SWMA) prices were scheduled to go up as of next month. But before customers could say "there goes the budget," or more likely afterward, the cost increase was declared null and void by IBM. T...

In the Wheelhouse: IBM Presents New Offerings to Simplify Mobility for Customers

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:00:15 +0100

In this issue, we're covering IBM i security monitoring, mobility with IBM MobileFirst, and SWMA price increases. Written by Steve Pitcher With all the recent great news surrounding IBM i Technology Refresh 6, the new Power7+ iron, and IBM's precision-like Power Systems targeting of the SMB x86-64 market, it's a bit of a downer to have to lead in with a "you have to pay more" story. According to IBM announcement letter 313-006, IBM i software maintenance prices are going up April 16, ...

We Get New Power7+ Iron and IBM i 7.1 Technology Refresh 6? YES!

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:00:15 +0100

On February 5, 2013, IBM announced a slew of new Power7+ systems and, like divine clockwork, IBM i 7.1 Technology Refresh 6. Written by Steve Pitcher Since most of us can take advantage of IBM i 7.1 TR6, let's jump right into that, shall we? But first, I want to clear up something. I caught wind of a conversation the other day in which one person lamented something like IBM "should release IBM i 7.2 already. IBM i 7.1 has been out for three years!" Why? Does the number matter? Not re...

In the Wheelhouse: Blackberry Is Back Looking for a Title Shot

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 06:00:15 +0100

IBM announces IBM Connections 4.5, and BlackBerry gets into the ring to reclaim enterprise mobile market share. Written by Steve Pitcher Last week I left for Orlando, far away from the -33C temperatures of Eastern Canada, to attend the premier social collaboration conference of 2013: IBM Connect. While "social" and "cloud" were the dominant themes of Lotusphere 2012, "exceptional experience" is the prevalent theme of 2013. IBM is driving fully integrated solutions designed to provide an e...

In the Wheelhouse: Doubling Down Distributors and High Fashion

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:00:10 +0100

IBM adds Ingram Micro and Tech Data as distributors, predicts fashion trends, and increases trade-in values for old hardware. Plus more. We're all over the map this week! Written by Steve Pitcher Tech Data and Ingram Micro, according to a Partnerworld memo, have signed distribution deals with IBM. Bill Donohue, the author of the memo and Vice President of IBM's North America Business Partner and Midmarket Sales, says the goal is "to expand [IBM's] enterprise business reach to both tradition...

In the Wheelhouse: Active Directory Servers No Longer Need Microsoft Windows!

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 06:00:15 +0100

With Samba 4.0, the potential is there to decommission Microsoft Active Directory servers, their associated virtual machines, and more. Written by Steve Pitcher Just because you have an Active Directory domain on your network doesn't mean you need to have a number of Windows servers as domain controllers. Not anymore. As per the release on the Samba project Web site, Samba 4.0 is the first free, open-source software with the capabilities to replace or work alongside Microsoft Active Directory a...

John Earl: Safe and Secure Now

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 06:00:05 +0100

John Earl, security guru, passed away on January 3, 2013. Written by John Vanderwall...

In the Wheelhouse: Selling the Metal

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:00:15 +0100

Let's dissect two studies that put IBM i at the top of the list for lowest total cost of ownership, total cost of acquisition, and total amounts of awesome! You want justification? You got it. Written by Steve Pitcher International Technology Group (ITG) recently published two studies that talk about total cost of ownership, total cost of acquisition, risk exposure, cost of downtime, and security/malware considerations for the IBM i. The contents, in general, are things we know already: IBM i o...

In the Wheelhouse: An IBM i Success Story That Needed to Be Told

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 06:00:15 +0100

This week, I feel compelled to dissect a great IBM i customer success story. Plus, I'll fill you in about a new smartphone app for managing your IBM i. Written by Steve Pitcher Steve Will, the Chief Architect for IBM i, has a great blog called You and i. Last week, Steve told a great story about a company in Japan called Nishii Paint Industry Co. Ltd. that had 20-year-old Visual Basic applications that needed to be rewritten and an NEC PC server running sales and warehouse systems that needed r...

In the Wheelhouse: A Rose by Any Other Name

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:00:15 +0100

IBM rebrands one of its most revered products, and we take a good, hard look at COMMON Europe's Top Concerns survey. Plus, IBM i gets native support for the product formerly known as Lotus Notes Traveler: IBM Traveler. Written by Steve Pitcher Lotus Notes is dead. Long live IBM Notes! With most other Lotus products slowly getting "bluewashed" in recent years, it made sense that IBM would eventually rebrand Lotus Notes and Domino as IBM Notes and Domino. Even the icons are changing from...

In the Wheelhouse: Are You Ready for Big Collaboration?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 06:00:15 +0100

Leading up to Connect 2013, we're getting a teaser about what IBM is doing with Lotus Notes and Domino. Written by Steve Pitcher On November 13, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. EST, IBM will release an important set of announcements and previews about the "new IBM Notes and Domino Social Edition beta program, and updated product roadmaps, that truly demonstrate IBM's strong commitment to the Lotus Notes and Domino platform." Speakers on this webcast include Ed Brill, Director for Social Business ...

Building a Sound Investment Strategy Through Technology

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 06:00:10 +0100

At their core, all companies must be careful investors. Written by Chuck Losinski Editor's Note: This article is an introduction to the white paper "Building a Sound Investment Strategy Through Technology" free for download from the MC White Paper Center. Combining IBM Power Systems hardware (System i, iSeries, AS/400) and reliable automation software is a powerful investment strategy for companies that increases revenue, reduces expenses, improves their bottom line, and enhances customer exp...

In the Wheelhouse: How Many Updates Did IBM Squeeze into IBM i 7.1 Technology Refresh 5?

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 06:00:15 +0100

Really, it's that full. Overflowing even. Within the last two weeks, IBM announced new PureSystems offerings, new POWER7+ iron, and IBM i 7.1 Technology Refresh 5. I'll touch on the hardware but focus on what everyone can take advantage of: IBM i 7.1 TR5. Written by Steve Pitcher On October 3, 2012, IBM announced IBM i Technology Refresh 5, which will be available for download on October 19. Some of the features you can get right now and others not until December. The IBM i 7.1 TR5 announcement...

In the Wheelhouse: Smarter Computing Is Ready to Launch

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:00:15 +0100

IBM is about to blow the doors clean off with some major announcements and webcasts in a few short days. Perhaps Power7+ is on the agenda? Let's explore. Written by Steve Pitcher The first webcast, entitled "Smarter Computing in the New Era of IT," is taking place October 3, 2012, at 10:45 a.m. EST. This webcast showcases the following:...

IBM Launches Global Initiatives to Help Managed Service Providers Capture Cloud Opportunity

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:00:10 +0100

IBM today announced a broad set of global initiatives to better position clients to take advantage of cloud opportunities. This effort is aimed at further expanding IBM's cloud ecosystem, enabling organizations to develop solutions and services on IBM SmartCloud and PureSystems, built on open standards. As more clients embrace cloud computing, they are looking to local technology providers known as Managed Service Providers (MSP) to help them quickly develop cloud based services in a more simplis...

In the Wheelhouse: Connect, Kenexa, Connections, and Hey, Is That a Watson in Your Pocket?

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:00:15 +0100

This week, we'll cover the state of Lotusphere, the meteoric rise of IBM Connections, and not too far off in a distant pocket, IBM Watson 2.0. Written by Steve Pitcher After 19 years, Lotusphere as a full conference is no more. The place to be in January for all things Lotus, collaboration, social, and more is IBM Connect 2013 in Orlando, Florida, from January 27–31, 2013. Some are bemoaning "yet another IBM name change." Yes, IBM tends to rebrand things from time to time. I'm not go...

In the Wheelhouse: Setting Fire to the Rumor Mill

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 06:00:15 +0100

Lots to get straight this week: IBM Connections 4 Beta has been released in the IBM Greenhouse, there are rumors of IBM's interest in buying a part of RIM, and most intriguing, IBM gives an indication of its IBM i install base. Written by Steve Pitcher In the latest IBM i roadmap, Power Systems General Manager Dr. Colin Parris stated the following: "IBM i is the integrated operating environment for IBM Power Systems, which is used by over 150,000 businesses around the world."...

In the Wheelhouse: IBM i Access Client Solutions, Where Have You Been All My Life?

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 06:00:15 +0100

This week, I'll talk about the brand spanking new and overly awesome IBM i client offering and give you a lesson in risk management from Amazon's recent outage. Written by Steve Pitcher IBM released its technology preview of IBM i Access Client Solutions last week. If you remember, I wrote a little teaser about it a few weeks ago. Not much has been written about it yet, so I'm going to break it down for you. If you're maintaining IBM i Access for Windows installations, then keep reading. You're...

In the Wheelhouse: Cloud, Services, and Kicking RIM While They're Down (Again)

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 06:00:15 +0100

This week, I'm trying to make sense of what the heck is going on with Research in Motion and how it will affect BlackBerry customers. Plus, there are some new announcements on IBM SmartCloud and IBM PureSystems you need to know about. Written by Steve Pitcher IBM recently expanded on its cloud-based SmartCloud for Social Business portfolio by announcing IBM SmartCloud Notes Entry. IBM SmartCloud Notes Entry is a product that may go well with customers who've already employed IBM Smar...

In the Wheelhouse

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 06:00:15 +0100

In this new column, Steve Pitcher examines and analyzes the news and issues surrounding our industry. Written by Steve Pitcher This week we'll talk about IBM PureSystems, IBM Collaboration Solutions education, Betamax vs. IBM i, and the striking similarities between RPG and Freddy Krueger. Really. A Brief IBM PureSystems Recap On April 11, 2012, IBM announced the next step in its Smarter Planet initiative: IBM PureSystems. I plan on delving much deeper into the subject in a later column, but ...

New Tools, Insights, and Solutions Mark COMMON 2012 Vendor Announcements

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:00:15 +0100

MC Press Online talks with more than 20 vendors to find out what the latest technology announcements are coming from the COMMON expo floor. Written by Chris Smith COMMON this year was held in the happiest place on earth—Disneyland. It's a great place to vacation, and I hope many of those attending the conference and expo took advantage of the entertainment and vacation opportunities either before or after the show. Living only about 35 minutes from Disneyland, I of course haven't set foot in ...

Informix Dynamic Server Entices New Users with Free Production Edition

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:00:10 +0100

IBM has invested heavily in new features of a leaner and meaner Informix V11.7 that is scalable, more reliable, easier to use, and very fast. Written by Chris Smith With the increased interest in AIX on Power, the question eventually arises as to which database the user plans to run. IBM i has DB2 built into the OS, but when you install AIX, you have to go shopping for a database. According to IBM, many AIX users have opted for Oracle. Presumably, this is because the applications they wish to r...

Do You Really Trust Your Tape Backup More than the Cloud?

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 06:00:10 +0100

New SmartCloud Virtualized Server Recovery services from IBM promise to extend to SMBs disaster recovery features approaching high availability. Written by Chris Smith IT administrators have for decades backed up data to tape and then quietly endured the surprises that too frequently accompany failed attempts to restore a single file or files from those backup tapes. I would hesitate to ask how many would bet their lives on the reliability of their backup tapes. Yet the survival of their busine...

After Computers Solve Our Traffic Problems, Could Improved Relationships Be Far Behind?

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 06:00:10 +0100

For now, however, always try to grab the driver's seat if you anticipate lengthy delays in the car. Written by Chris Smith Editor's Note: I'm off this week, but I pulled this column from the 2007 archives of Showcase magazine because I wanted readers to consider whether or not we have made any progress in the past four years in automating traffic management and transportation. Or are we still sitting in traffic jams for hours and wasting gas as we have for years? Feel free to post your comments...

Impress Your Kids July 4th; Explain How Fireworks Depend on Computers

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:00:10 +0100

If you have ever wondered why today's fireworks extravaganzas are so much better today than they were years ago, it's all due to computers. Written by Chris Smith Those of us who are over 40 (ahem—50?) may remember watching fireworks as a kid, but it was a totally different experience from today. I recall sitting on a rooftop with a view of Long Island Sound watching a barge out in the water. We sat and waited, and waited, and waited, and I thought I would literally explode from the anxi...

IBM Technology Can't Overshadow Its Spirit of Volunteerism

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:00:08 +0100

Company's centennial is marked by release of new book, worldwide volunteer effort, and succession planning for tomorrow's leaders. Written by Chris Smith This week marks IBM's 100th anniversary, and the company is celebrating the event with the release of a new business book that not only chronicles the company's long history, but synthesizes the principles necessary for every business to survive in a changing environment. The company also is marking the occasion with an unprecedented worldwide...

The Cloud Beckons as IBM Announces Its Upcoming Enterprise+ Service

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 06:00:10 +0100

With isolated security and a service level promising 99.9 percent availability, the production-ready cloud may be imminent. Written by Chris Smith The demand for cloud services is skyrocketing, and IBM is poised to introduce a service later this year that will allow businesses to dial in the security and service levels businesses have come to expect from on-premise servers. Part of its IBM SmartCloud offerings, Enterprise+ will offer a core set of multi-tenant services to manage virtual se...

New PHP Toolkit, New Oracle Connectivity Highlight Zend Server 5.1

Fri, 27 May 2011 06:00:10 +0100

An XML open-source toolkit, addressing programmer-requested needs, is the latest child from the Zend-IBM partnership. Written by Chris Smith With all the emphasis on planning these days, I have to say there are times when it's better just to act and amaze yourself with how much gets done as a result. I was trying to arrange a meeting with the folks at Zend last week as they left from different points on the globe for COMMON Europe in Milan, Italy, but we finally threw up our hands and just deci...

You Can Give Your Green-Screen Application New Functionality with Presto 3

Fri, 13 May 2011 06:00:10 +0100

New SQL query feature takes Web-enablement tool to new heights. Written by Chris Smith We've all heard the apothegmatic description of screen-scraping programs as doing little more than putting lipstick on a pig, but today's Web-enabling tools are going far beyond just dressing up an unattractive legacy program....

CSF Scripting Tool from Maxava Helps Automate Repetitive Tasks

Fri, 06 May 2011 06:00:10 +0100

Combined with a remote mobile system management tool, users can oversee their backups from beneath the shade of a beach umbrella. Written by Chris Smith The underlying idea behind mobile computing is to give people the tools to make better use of their time, regardless of where they happen to be—in the car, on a plane, or waiting for a delayed flight (as I am now while writing this article). Mobile devices, however, have limited functionality. Thus, applications running on mobile devices will...

What Is So Important About a Conference, Anyway?

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:00:10 +0100

Having the right pair of shoes may ultimately mean more than the high-minded platitudes that drive industry trade shows. Written by Chris Smith Author's Note: Starting Sunday, users and vendors working with IBM technologies will be attending the year's largest annual industry event. I was thinking about how the annual meeting—and user group—have changed over the years, so I went back and retrieved an article I wrote in 2007 leading up to the conference. There were similarities with how th...

aXes from LANSA Uses the Cloud to Modernize Multiple IBM i Servers

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:00:10 +0100

New aXes-Robot APIs provide batch access to 5250 programs. Written by Chris Smith You have a farm of IBM i servers with a collection of outdated hardware, highly customized applications, and an impatient management team that would just as easily scrap you and your colleagues along with the jumble of wires that only you understand. What to do? Go to the cloud—the cloud gateway, that is....

Is IBM i Ready for an App Store?

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:00:10 +0100

With the meteoric rise of the mobile application market, could there be enough buzz over at the Apple App Store and at Amazon to share a little success with those of us longing for attention? Written by Chris Smith The mobile application market is taking off like wildfire, and it looks like developers are not only having fun but making tons of money as well—at $1.99 per download! The Apple App Store is so successful, the number of downloads is no longer measured in millions; it's gone into th...

Profound Logic Goes Native, Sheds Dependence on 5250 Data Stream

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:00:10 +0100

The company's release of its new DDS Conversion Module into general availability heralds a new day in the chronicles of IBM i modernization. Written by Chris Smith For developers who want to preserve the integrity of the IBM i platform while performing a transformative modernization on their applications, Profound Logic last week released one of the most intriguing solutions to date using IBM's Rational Open Access for RPG....

Let the Cyberwars Begin

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:00:10 +0100

While the prospect of damaging infrastructure through computer worms is now a real threat, IBM accumulates a small arsenal of technologies to fight the inevitable battle to protect our smarter, but more fragile, planet. Written by Chris Smith It's quite common for geeks to be science fiction fans, and I don't know if I'm a geek, but I do like a good sci-fi movie. Thus, I can't wait until tonight to go see Battle: Los Angeles, which opens today and tells the story of a Marine platoon's efforts t...

Zoho Creator Adds Integrated Reporting and Scheduling Modules

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:00:10 +0100

The free online database platform is taking on some intriguing advanced features that make it appealing to developers and business users alike. Written by Chris Smith Since we last wrote about Zoho Creator in 2008, Zoho has made a number of enhancements to its SaaS database development tool that expand its reporting, portability, and integration. Zoho Creator is database software that is hosted online and offered to individuals for free, with gradually increasing fees for larger businesses...

Lotusphere Keyed to Leaders Poised for Deploying Social Business

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:00:05 +0100

Upcoming Florida show to highlight social networking IBM style—social business tools that are secure and support initiatives that are measureable. Written by Chris Smith Lotusphere will open this weekend in Orlando, Florida, and those fortunate enough to attend will get a look at IBM's next generation software for social business networking now known as "social business." Conference organizers expect a good turnout of application developers along with the usual collection of business exe...

OCEAN Users Take Advantage of PHP Training

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:00:10 +0100

Zend's Pavlak shows RPG developers how to utilize open-source CMS platforms to create a free company intranet. Written by Chris Smith With the new Power processors, many IBM i administrators are finding they have extra horsepower on their systems that can be put to good use running a Web-based company intranet....

2011 Highlights: Mobile Apps, PHP, and Cloud-Based Services

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:00:15 +0100

This year will see new technologies applied to the IBM i platform, requiring a redoubled commitment to training and personal development. Written by Chris Smith Given all the negatives that the economic downturn in 2009 caused, it's not surprising that 2010 ended with some uncertainty, even as many businesses began to get their feet on the ground. The lingering malaise may have been unfairly projected onto the IBM i platform, but there is now a true spirit of optimism emerging in the IT industr...

Mobile Computing Takes Center Stage at CES

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 06:00:00 +0100

A wave of more than 80 new tablets is introduced, many running the Android OS. Written by Chris Smith Mobile computing is hitting the IT sector like a tsunami, and the underlying quake is sure to affect the landscape for IBM professionals. Users want to take their computing on the road, and last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) suggests we're on the threshold of a new mobile paradigm....

Beam Me Up, Watson

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 06:00:15 +0100

IBM to show off its accomplishments in artificial intelligence when it takes on Jeopardy! superstars in February. Written by Chris Smith The battle of the decade is about to unfold between man and machine this February as IBM's POWER7-based Watson supercomputer goes head-to-head against game show Jeopardy!'s top-earning contestants Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter....

Don't Let the Grinch Take the Geek Out of Christmas

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:00:10 +0100

Start planning now and help those near you understand what a geek really needs. Written by Chris Smith This holiday season, let's all get in touch with reality and quit pretending that we are someone we're not. If you have young children and you want to be Santa Claus, well fine. But everybody else needs to let the truth be told. You're a geek, OK? If you don't step up to the plate and admit it, how do you expect to get any geek gifts at Christmas?...

Avnet's Twitter Feeds Are a Shining Example of Social Networking for Business

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:00:10 +0100

Company draws attention to its more than 30 feeds through a successful Rock the ReTweet Twitter campaign. Written by Chris Smith The popularity of social networking is nothing short of shocking to the older generation, who value privacy, but many of today's more forward-looking thought leaders are starting to find business opportunities in the technology behind Facebook and Twitter. One of the more successful users of social networking is Avnet, Inc., whose Technology Solutions group sold $3 bi...

Why Waste Money and Kill Trees When Using Spool File Management Best Practices Preserves Both?

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 06:00:10 +0100

Save money on printing, but for a limited time, save on BCD's 2010 year-end promotion. Written by Chris Smith We don't have detailed demographics on all our MC Press Online readers, but my guess is there aren't too many who were working on computers in the early 1960s when IBM coined the term "spool file." The acronym stands for Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line (SPOOL), but folklore has it that the name actually was conceived after the term "spool" came into widespread use, since a spo...