Ted ponders:
> I'm just wondering why all the focus on Carly and Ann.  After
> all, if Winston does not feel a need to aim at "name
> recognition" for the 3000, why should they mention it?   Is he
> not aware that the "narrow marketing" choice is damaging
> the 3000 even in those markets on which they have focused?  Ought
> we not rather write our corporate message to him, as he is new
> to the position?

I think there are two groups of people who are disturbed by the lack of
mention of MPE by HP's upper management.

First are the people who are upset that HP is not more actively marketing
the 3000.  I would remind these people that these days the 3000 is nothing
without applications, so it really needs to be the 3rd party software
application providers who take the lead in selling the HP3000.  That said,
HP has to provide the support that these suppliers need in order to actually
sell their product and its associated 3000 hardware.  This is a bit tough
when, to an outsider at least, the platform appears obsolete.

Second are the people who are worried that HP's failure to acknowledge the
existence of MPE at the highest levels implies that they have already
written it off, and that the large vocal customer base, and in fact each new
sale, is actually a "problem" because it won't go away quietly and leave
them to get on with what they see as important this week.

It's this latter concern which I think HP needs to address sooner than
later.

"Funny, it *looks* like Philadelphia, but it sure feels like Boston!" :-)

G.