Denys wrote [in part]

> Back to the [Management Round Table],in my estimation, it is a waste of
time and an
> embarrassment (year after year) and as such, it should be eliminated.

On this I must disagree with my old friend.  One of the most valuable
processes for a decision maker is to be exposed to real-life end users.
 All managers (including those in HP) need an occasional visit from people
who deal with their products in day-to-day situations.  The more direct,
the better.  It prevents ivory tower product design or marketing apathy.

In the past the MRT has bordered on class warfare, and some shows (say
Boston), small arms fire would have not been unexpected.  But even this
venting process is valuable.  There are many components to demand (some
logical, some emotional) and HP does well to take the heat of their
decisions (when they make bad ones).  If anything, we as the consumers
should be more generous with our praise when they make smart decisions
(918DX, 64-bit MPE, Netscape/iX).

So, I say (a) let's keep MRT and (b) let's focus on having HP's management,
marketers and design engineers interact with their customer base . . . up
close and personal . . . arms length at most.

Guy Smith

(my opinions do not reflect those of my management, employer, or anyone
with common sense)