"Amazon.com is installing high-end HP 9000 V-Class enterprise
                servers that will deliver the high availability, scalability
and
                mainframe-class performance needed to support its e-commerce
                business."


Just my $.02 - ignore if you like :-)

No offense, I'm very happy with the HP3000s but they do not scale nearly as
well as the HP9000s.  Of course, the HP9000s crash more often and aren't
nearly as fault tolerant, but you can't have everything :-).  Seriously
though, the 3.8GB limit on memory is hurting the 3000s now.  The V2250 can
go to 16GB and the V2500 I believe can go to 32GB, along with a
corresponding number of CPUs.  Yes, I understand that performance wise, a
997 1 way has the potential of winning out against a V2250 1 way (depending
on a lot of factors), but compare a 997 8 way with a V2250 32 way (yes
apples and oranges).

If one didn't know the relative strengths and weaknesses of MPE, then just
seeing the scalability might incline some to go to the 9000s.
-------------------------------
Gary L. Paveza, Jr.
Technical Support Specialist
All opinions are mine and not those of my employer