AS400, said Mr. Scott W. Brown, AS400 band manager with IBM Canada.

IBM representatives from Canada, on Wednesday delivered a presentation about the latest AS400 application system and touted its future as a bright one.

Mr. Bob McCutcheon, with Independent Consulting Services, and among about 60 local business representatives currently using AS400s, said IBM is "jumping ahead of the competition'' with the introduction of the new AS400. This system, added Mr. McCutcheon, has "always been dependable but people are looking at other systems'' and he commended IBM for improving its price performance. ICS is a computer consulting firm here.

Mr. Danny Dunlop, marketing manager with Bermuda Computer Services, said there are 48 AS400s installed in Bermuda at various businesses. Users of these 48 application systems is much higher though, he added.

The AS400 is designed to handle several operators.

During Wednesday's presentation, video was shown of two users of the AS400; Mountain Equipment Co-op, an $80 million dollar Canadian outdoor goods co-operative and; the municipality of Montreal's assessment office -- both lauded the AS400.

Mr. Brown called the AS400 the "crown jewel of the IBM line.'' To show the capabilities of the AS400, Mr. Brown noted the Calgary Stock Exchange has three people to manage it, all with one AS400 while the Vancouver Stock Exchange, about three times the size of the Calgary exchange, using another type of system, has 150 people to manage it. Mr. Brown noted this example is one of "extremes'' but it goes a long way to show what the AS400 is capable of.

IBM launched the newest AS400 line May 3 in Toronto. When power performance bits go to 64 next year, noted Mr. Brown, the AS400 will be able to handle the jump from 48 bits.

IBM has delivered similar presentations across Canada and the Caribbean as well as in Bermuda this year to promote the capabilities of the newest AS400 The seminar was held at the Ocean View Golf Club.