3com to Compete with Cisco 181
RNelson writes "3com has announced its new lines of routers poised to compete with Cisco. 'The company claims that these routers will cost 30 percent to 50 percent less than similar offerings from market leader Cisco.' The new routers compete the Cisco's 3725, 3745, and 83xx routers."
but will it (Score:5, Interesting)
Foolish move... (Score:2, Interesting)
backdoors (Score:1, Interesting)
gmail invite [google.com]
Interesting move for 3Com... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:30-50% less? (Score:5, Interesting)
So obviously this is much better and we're all relieved, and then it dawns on us: Who else other than Cisco can buy PC133 sticks of RAM in bulk for probably $10 a pound, stick a "Cisco Certified" sticker on them, then sell it to you for $450 a stick, and make you feel like you're getting a good deal?
i rather like 3com network software (Score:3, Interesting)
also i hate all the different software versions (SMI, EMI, etc) that comes preinstalled in cisco switches.
Interesting (Score:1, Interesting)
Most of the time coporate bodies switch on price (or just fire more people) so good work 3Com.
When that article came up on /. [slashdot.org] I knew that more brands of routers need to hit the market and quickly.
With one company, you inherent all the faults of that company. With different companies coming up to play the game, you'd have vastly different gaps and holes.
Its all about moving away from the typical exploits.
Hmmm, I think posting late at night makes my sentences incoherent. Sorry guys.
Confused (Score:2, Interesting)
I can't think of any reason to particularly give a hoot about either, but this non-news article could only have been posted as a chance to flame a company we hate, or praise a company we love.
Re:30-50% less? (Score:5, Interesting)
Contrast that with Cisco: Last time I had a Cisco with a dead port they sent me the replacement overnight delivery and then told me I had three weeks to return the old one or be sent a bill.
Cisco's advantage is their customer service. They have your back when things go bad. 3Com doesn't understand this and until they do I won't consider them a serious player.
Used to work for Cisco (Score:5, Interesting)
That said, you don't just pay for the name, you pay for the brand, the relationship, the support, and the leadership. They do something similar to what Microsoft does, but in a much more benign way, IMHO. They make sure their products work well and give advantages in the way they interact with other Cisco equipment, but then they work with others on interoperability as well. This creates a level playing field and allows "innovation" in important areas, but then they work closely with standards bodies to standardize the parts that "deserve" to be universally applied across the whole internet.
One such example is multicasting. There are many different standards for multicasting, *even across Cisco's own line*! However, they will work to standardize it and then implement that standard on all of their routers and encourage others to do the same through marketing, partnering, and collaborative development. They line up everyone in advance, even competitors, and work to get such a standard universally accepted.
Basically, they really do have true leadership. They choose the protocols and technologies that have a chance of getting wide adoption, and make sure that they are the ones behind them. That increases their visibility and credibility in a self-perpetuating cycle.
Of course, I might be biased from having worked with them, so I would love to hear other opinions. I came away thinking that it's a first class organization, and while not perfect, is certainly a model for how competition, cooperation, and coordination should interact.
Re:30-50% less? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Faster Better Cheaper, pick two.... (Score:2, Interesting)
access router competition (Score:2, Interesting)
Cisco is in an interesting position in spite of buying linksys, they will face competition from 3com (who is positioned below them in the market now) and from above by Juniper. Both Juniper and 3Com are getting into the access router comptetion.
I'd like to know if 3com has some or any of the convergence features (voip, ipv6, qos, multicast) that new networks often need. Cisco access routers may cost, but it is easy to implement a network with some excellent modern features. Cisco has a modular product line that will allow you to implement without VOIP or other features and then later add it easily. It is also easy to find people familiar with cisco IOS command line. You may pay less for a 3com router, and then waste time configuring it or finding out you can't configure the features you need.
For Juniper a different set of problems (as there are a few people out there that know JunOS and there is a training infrastructure for it like Cisco). Juniper may have the convergence features (I don't know I haven't looked at the product line), but it is more likely as they are moving from the top down.
Cisco will face some interesting comptetion, but I'm sure they will respond- which can only be good for the customer.
-A
Disclaimer: I am Cisco certified and like using their networking equipment.
Too late, and no voice support (Score:4, Interesting)
The author mentions that these products compete against the Cisco 3725, 3745, and 83xx (that should read 8xx series) routers.
In related news, Cisco today announced three new router families, the 1800 series, the 2800 series, and the 3800 series, which are positioned to replace the 1700, 2600, and 3700 series. Nice of 3Com to position against an obsolete technology platform
Competitors are crawling out of the woodwork with products positioned against Cisco's old tired iron, but Cisco isn't exactly sitting back on its laurels and scratching its head.
What all these competitors are missing is that Cisco's router strategy has subtly changed in the last 18 months: voice features and services are a key part of Cisco's differentiation, and none of its competitors, be it Juniper, ADTRAN, Tasman, Enterasys, or 3Com, have stepped up to challenge Cisco on that front.
VoIP is an ideal in the branch office, and Cisco is in a cushy position to get a corner on that market unless some of its competitors get their act together.
3com nics.. great.. 3com switches.. ugh.. (Score:1, Interesting)
I know Cisco stuff works.. and it's EXPENSIVE.. personally i LOVE alcatel switches.. they worked as advertised.. and unlike cisco.. were pretty simple to configure.. I hate cisco IOS.. unless you use it all the time.. every day.. it's impossible to configure without having to go back and make changes before you get it right.. that and IOS isn't consistent across platforms.. what works on a 3600 doesn't necessairly work on a switch.. doesn't necessairly work on a cat5000..
Alcatel.. good gear.. too bad more people don't use it.
3Com's got a nasty habit..... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:30-50% less? (Score:3, Interesting)
HP is similar as far as their network gear goes--lifetime warranty where the replacement part shows up on your doorstep the next morning with a prepaid label in the box to ship the defective unit back.
Re:30-50% less? (Score:1, Interesting)
That is excellent customer service and I remember that support guy to this day.
I won't trust them again. (Score:3, Interesting)
One of our customers bought about $50k worth of 3Com broadband over cable equipment, called a few days later to ask about a firmware upgrade, and were informed that 3Com had never made such a piece of equipment.
Classy.
-Matt
Re:Used to work for Cisco (Score:3, Interesting)
It's not just the brand, it's the whole support infrastructure with them. Cisco is to the networking world what Dell is to the PC world, in terms of customer support caliber.
Re:30-50% less? - How About This... (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:30-50% less? (Score:3, Interesting)
that one should have went back, but it didn't because corporate had already cut the check and bossman had to save face - "Now our e-mail server is faster..."
and the wheel goes round.
Software (Score:2, Interesting)
I hope they have learned from that lesson...
Re:but will it (Score:3, Interesting)
As we've all seen before... it is possible to kill a great product by overcharging for crappy service. Now... I'm not saying that's where we are now. It's too early to tell yet. But we're definately a bit nervous (and a little annoyed at how quick Juniper was to increase our cost for support before ironing out the wrinkles).
I hope (for our own good at least) it all works out.