ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

Whatever Happened to the IBM AS/400?: Is It Stuck in the Big IBM Vault of Unwanted Treasures?

2016

Purchase on Amazon

Synopsis

In "Whatever Happened to the IBM AS/400?: Is It Stuck in the Big IBM Vault of Unwanted Treasures?", Brian W. Kelly provides a historical and analytical deep dive into the evolution—and perceived disappearance—of one of IBM's most legendary computing systems. As a former IBM Systems Engineer with decades of experience, Kelly explores the transition of the AS/400 into its modern incarnations, such as the IBM i on Power Systems. He addresses the common industry misconception that the platform is "dead," arguing instead that it has been rebranded and integrated so deeply into the corporate infrastructure that it often goes unnoticed by the modern IT world.

The book serves as both a technical retrospective and a critique of IBM’s marketing and corporate strategy. Kelly examines how the system's reputation for extreme reliability and "set-it-and-forget-it" stability paradoxically led to its invisibility, as many executives and new-generation developers are unaware that the high-performing systems they rely on today are the direct descendants of the AS/400. He discusses the shift from the original proprietary hardware to the more versatile Power Systems architecture, lamenting the loss of the "AS/400" brand identity while celebrating the technological longevity of the platform's core operating system.

Ultimately, Kelly positions the book as an essential read for both "gray-haired" veterans of the system and newer IT professionals who want to understand the lineage of business computing. He makes the case that while the AS/400 might seem "stuck in a vault" of old treasures from a branding perspective, its architecture remains a powerful, living force in global commerce. The synopsis underscores Kelly’s belief that the system's "disappearance" is more a failure of corporate marketing than a failure of technology.

Suggested Reading

IBM PS/2: A Business Perspective

IBM PS/2: A Business Perspective by Jim Hoskins serves as a comprehensive guide designed to help business professionals understand and implement the IBM Personal System/2 family of computers. Written by a former IBM staff engineer who was part of the original PS/2 development team, the book moves be...

Purchase on Amazon View Details

IBM: The Rise and Fall and Reinvention of a Global Icon

A history of one of the most influential American companies of the last century. For decades, IBM shaped the way the world did business. IBM products were in every large organization, and IBM corporate culture established a management style that was imitated by companies around the globe. It was “B...

Purchase on Amazon View Details

Latest News

July 30th, 2026

Why mainframes remain central to enterprise transformation

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.