Steinar,
Yes, the PL has pricing that has changed for us at least, and will be
changing for others as well. Expect Tetra to be selling for less in short
time (if not already). Looks as if the GE OSM has dropped in price too. As
Deepak pointed out, YMMV based on application. For me, I must look across
the gamut of services and cards, like 4-port OC-12c ATM, 4-port CHOC-12 to
DS1, 4x OC-48 ports, while considering chassis density, etc.
In the time I've spent with the 7609, and admittedly that has been fleeting,
I have come away disappointed more than impressed, but I have a wider array
of services to support. For many applications, I think it is phenomenal -
for example, security services. But those aren't core routing services.
I would be interested in seeing, say, a 7609-GSR or better yet 7609-T640
bakeoff. I think that would prove 2 things - 1) you get what you pay for,
and 2) purpose-built routers are still better at routing heavy loads with
diverse media. Sure, the loaded 640 will be more expensive, but it will
most definitely knock the power supplies off the 7609 in general
performance. Perhaps the SUP-720 will change that - I look forward to
seeing it in our lab, where I may be reconvinced...
c