At 13:51 2/11/99 -0600, John Backus wrote:
<snip>
>At HPWorld they seemed to do an about face and when asked about pricing and
>concerns that they would follow the trend to price the product too high for
>everyone but large corporations with deep pockets, they responded, "We are
>not a
>charity. We have to please our stockholders." Great attitude, huh.
>
But they are right, they have to please their stockholders.  Many
companies, such as HP (for the most part) please their stockholders by
pleasing their customers.  Cognos has apparently chosen another strategy,
which is their right.  However, if their pricing strategy drives down sales
and revenue as buyers exercise their right to go elsewhere, their
stockholders will start asking just what in hell is going on.

Writing letters and grumbling in this and other forums will not change
their strategy; only going elsewhere will.