> From: Guy Smith <[log in to unmask]>

> On this I must disagree with my old friend.  One of the most valuable
> processes for a decision maker is to be exposed to real-life end users.
>  All managers (including those in HP) need an occasional visit from
people
> who deal with their products in day-to-day situations.  The more direct,
> the better.  It prevents ivory tower product design or marketing apathy.
>
> In the past the MRT has bordered on class warfare, and some shows (say
> Boston), small arms fire would have not been unexpected.  But even this
> venting process is valuable.  There are many components to demand (some
> logical, some emotional) and HP does well to take the heat of their
> decisions (when they make bad ones).  If anything, we as the consumers
> should be more generous with our praise when they make smart decisions
> (918DX, 64-bit MPE, Netscape/iX).
>
> So, I say (a) let's keep MRT and (b) let's focus on having HP's
management,
> marketers and design engineers interact with their customer base . . . up
> close and personal . . . arms length at most.
>
Fine, but at the HPWorld MRT, HP managers didn't really interact with
its consumers except for a few minutes!  It was canned, canned and
more canned>

1.  The "fireside chat" at the begining is not what we came for and a
waste of time.
2.  Many (most?) of the presubmitted questions were not answered.
3.  This "we'll get back to you" doesn't happen.

My point still is:

1.  Pre-submittee questions could be pre-answered with a handout.
2.  Then follow-up questions should be allowed.
3.  No "fire side chat".
4.  Use the time left for quesstions from the floor.
5.  "we will get back to you" should mean just that - in a timely
public manner.

Nick Demos  [log in to unmask]
My opinions are ny own and I stand behind them.

Performance Software Group
Tel. (410) 788-6777 Fax (410) 788-4476