I suggest that there are two major fundamental interests amoung MPE/iX
'homesteaders' and that those interests don't necessarily overlap.   I would
guess that the majority of HP e3000 users will get the best value out of
their MPE/iX based applications running on the then existing selection of
PA-RISC hardware.   IMO, the type of user I am thinking of sees an emulated
MPE (call it MPE-em) or IA-64 version of MPE (MPE64) as a probably much more
expensive and less reliable alternative to what they already have.

All of this of course is based upon my sense of the user base and the
technology.  Regarding the user base, as aways only actual customer response
will tell us what the facts are.

I classify the universe of HP e3000s into high end, middle, and small (read:
entry level) systems.    A high end system customer already requires the
fastest processors available.   Everyone else has room to grow in the
current hardware line.    Small system owners could double their current
through put requirements several times and still have room to grow within
the capabilities of the current line of hardware.       For small and medium
sized customers this will remain the case as long as there is an adequate
inventory of spare parts and used systems.   Newer, faster, more efficient
processors will certainly come but as long as the system is reliable and
fast enough the current systems will likely remain the best value.

Bottom line.   It's my belief that discussion of OpenMPE and other options
should focus first on supporting MPE/iX on the hardware platforms that exist
on the day that HP turns it over.   Those who want subscribe to a MPE-em or
MPE64 effort should consider that discussion as a related, but separate
issue and one that many users may not be interested in supporting
financially.

Cortlandt Wilson
(650) 966-8555

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