 That trend has accelerated as of late 2006 given reported U.S. prices as low as $30,000 for used 64-bit z800 models and about $100,000+ for new System z9 BCs.IBM has announced that z/VSE V4R1, due at the end of 2006, will require a z/Architecture system.This announcement may accelerate retirements of 3000s given the system's popularity with VSE users.