Tonight I stopped at a local discount retailer - "Best Buy" - to look at a
new printer that HP has been advertising on TV (more on that later).  Around
the corner from the display of HP 682 color printers was a selection of
printer cables and supplies, all with the brand name "Interex".
 
Hmmm.  I thought "Interex" was a trade mark of a certain international users
group.  If it isn't, it should be.  If it is, maybe the users group had
better protect their trade mark before they lose it.
 
About the TV ad, or I should say ads (Yes, HP ran ads on TV!).
 
The first HP ad I saw was a very good ad for the HP 682 color printer.  In
the ad the parents are rushing to meet an important deadline and their new
HP 682 color printer is helping them -- it is printing a "Happ Birthday"
banner for their child (yes, a banner, and printed on continuous forms).
Great ad.
 
Then, there was an ad for HP home computers.  It was also a great ad.  A
little girl goes into her brother's room and takes a (Polaroid) picture of
him while he is in his underwear pretending to play guitar (or something
like that), then she runs to the PC, scans the picture into the PC, and
emails it to people he knows, and the sibling battle continues.  It was very
humorous, but a little malicious.
 
My point is, HP can come up with some great TV ads for some products.  Maybe
they need to try something other than "What if..." for the HP 3000.
 
John
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John Korb                            email: [log in to unmask]
Innovative Software Solutions, Inc.
 
The thoughts, comments, and opinions expressed herein are mine
and do not reflect those of my employer(s), or anyone else.