Well Dave, an interesting question.  

Like most of the people wrapped around 3000 support, we are finding the pool 
getting smaller and our geography getting larger.  Your interest in third party 
support, yet your unwillingness to go there now, might very well mean it will 
not exist when you need it later on down the road.  HP's support product has 
been good for you probably because you have not had to use it - the HP CE's 
are not what they used to be, and most of the real talent is out in the third 
party market now. No interest in saving cash?  Most third party companies will 
reduce your rates by at least 30-50%, and provide upgrades and other 
services at drastically reduced costs.  This is, after all, what we do.

Most of us in third party support geared up for HP leaving the marketplace 
back in '07.  All the users cried, but HP said they were gone - end of story.  
Then they changed their tune... again and again and again.  Why leave when 
the golden goose is still alive and producing?  Perhaps pressure from large 
corporations that were not given enough time to migrate, migration paths that 
did not work - even for HP themselves - still a large client for the HP3000.

My suggestion - find a good third party maintanance (TPM) company now, and 
start supporting them so they will still be around to support you.  It may 
sound a little self serving, but expecting us to wait (and starve) until HP finally 
decides they have pillaged enough, may find most of us gone when you need 
us.

Old (experienced) HP CE's are out there in the third party world, and they 
have years and years of experience - myself for example - 27+ years 
supporting the 3000 - yup, started on the Series III.  Try to find that at HP 
anymore - and if the guy is still a CE after 25+ years - ask why?

One mans opinion, but it mine and I like it.

Here is the CTS pitch - 100% parts, 100% availability, 100% of the time.

We can't rely on HP to bale us out if we get into a situation, so we have 
provided all the required resources for ourselves.  Yes - all of them.

One last piece of advice - check your TPMs references.  I am amazed that 
users sign on with critical system support and never check parts supply, 
personnel, references, and the like.  This is why horror stories exist.  Not all 
TPMs have the same commitment level to support, and some figure they will 
never have to go down the rabbit hole.  Others of us are prepared.

Enough said - perhaps this will start a conversation. 

Have a great day
Brett J Forsyth
CTS Arizona
602.315.6018
www.cts-hp.com

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