Duane Percox ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
: Ok - I know this will create some interesting discussion, but I
: can't resist. Just so you know - I am an ardent 3k supporter.
: The following has led me to open this up for general
: discussion:
 
: 1. The recent HP Annual report does NOT mention the HP3k
: anywhere. I guess it must be too insignificant to mention, or
: someone in corporate communications hopes it disappears.
 
: 2. There seems to be a lack of HP folks in the field trained on
: the 3k. And the folks from HP I talk to seem to think the 3k is
: not worth bothering with. All these young unix bucks who don't
: appreciate anything about the 3k, let alone understand the
: typical mis environment.
 
: Any comments?
 
I think you missed the tiny part about 3k in the annual report
but that has been pointed out already.  What I wanted to respond to
was the general feeling I've got and the way I see things have gone
and are going.
 
I think I agree with you that it seems that there's lack of HP3000
(HP)folks out there and I bet there are some people in HP who wish the
3k to disappear.  I also have the feeling that (almost) everyone
out in the field has jumped to hp9000 bandwagon abandoning the hp3000
(specially sales) as the hp9000 has been so easy to sell during the
recent unix-boom... one doesn't really have to work to make the quota.
I also feel that this has caused the hp3000 knowledgeable sales people
to disappear (sales typically has high turnaround - (at least that's
my feeling about it)).  People who used to know how and where to sell
an hp3000 have moved on and new sales folks probably cannot even spell
anything else than unix.  Fortunately CSY has realized this and started
rattling cages about this in the sales organization - some of the
results were already seen in FY '94.
 
Being here in HP CSY lab, I hear a strong message from our management
that we are doing everything in our power to develop new functionality,
participate in new hardware and software projects, ensure future growth
and so on for hp3k.  Also, compared to past, this looks much better as
more lab engineers are doing new development on hp3000 than last year.
I won't discuss any development projects here, just to let you know
that there's more happening on 3000 now than during past few years.
 
I sincerely hope that the turn in hp3000 sales that happened last year
will be a permanent one and that hp3000 sales will continue to grow
steadily.  I've heard several people say that this seems to be the
hp3000's second coming.  I sure hope so - however, it's not up to us,
it's the computer market and customers who have the final word on it.
 
:-)  Eero Laurila - HP CSY Netwroking lab.