I received the following communuication from someone in Germany.  I was
given permission to post it to the list without address because I think it
expresses very well the problems of independent software developers (number
punctuation edited to correspond to American conventions):

>Hi John,
>I work as an independent consultant in the HP3000 area in Germany. Currently
>I own a HP918 and a old HP920 (just for testing networking communications
>between HP3000's). After buying the new /918 in 1995 HP offered me a new
>support contract covering only the new /918 hardware (approx. $170/month)
> and software (image, allbase/sql, posix dev.it approx. $475/month). This was
>far more than I was willing to spent and it does not include NS/DS which cost
>another $350/month.
>
>The other problem was: I needed a lot more of the basic development tools.
>COBOL CM for old CM-System which some customers use.
>COBOL NM for most of the newer developments.
>SPL, FORTRAN/IV, FORTRAN/77 NM and CM, PASCAL CM and NM, TRANSACT, DICTIONARY
>for some rare customers.
>HP asked for another approx. $1,670/month.
>The final result was: I currently have NO support contract. HP earns nothing.
>
>Another example:
>One customer was willing to spent some money on the development of an
>company-own security and control system which required the use of AIF
>procedure exits.
>HP quoted  approx. $15,000. My customer accepted this price !!!
>But after discussing how to get the documentation: One upper level manager of
>the german responce center decided "This software could not be supported in
>Germany".
>The final result was: The project was cancelled, HP earns nothing.
>
>The conclusion:
>HP should find a way to support small software developers. I'm ready to spent
>approx. $200 to $400 a month but this cost must include all required
>software.
>I think such kind of a solution would bring a lot more developers to the
>HP3000 business. In my opinion it is an very interesting market.
>
John D. Alleyn-Day
Alleyn-Day International
408-286-6421   408-286-6474 (Fax)
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