Hi Brian, just answered you offline, but let me hit the high points here as well.

If HP support is not required, then why is the license an issue?  There are 
many viable third party companies that can support these units for both 
hardware and the OS - unless HP is a monopoly (and in violation the Sherman 
Anti-Trust Act).

Any HP machine is authorized to use the last running operating system that 
was loaded on it when it was under support - on N class machines this is 
usually 7.0 or 7.5.  The OS is not separate from the machine - it is part and 
parcel.  Anybody every bought a machine from HP without an OS?  I don't 
believe that option is even available.  Why should HP get a second (third, 
fourth, fifth,etc.) licensing fee for the same box with the same OS?  Not like 
you can pull the OS off your 918 and pop it on you new system - without 
paying HP again.   So if you can't just walk the OS your new system, then 
where does it go - with the old system?  Things that make you go "hmmmm...".
  
Machines such as this are typically used for DR or testing, but there are still 
many large organizations that are grabbing any units they can find for the last 
remaining days of their transitions - licensed or not.  Survival is the key here 
and HP no longer supplies the lock. Short term rentals where support is 
included, is another venue for these types of machines.

Besides, isn't HP e3000 support an oxymoron these days anyway?

Do not let the HP fear mongers fool you.  HP throws around the term "legal" in 
a very loose way, and since they can long longer buy the FBI to enforce this, 
it really is a non-issue.  Just because HP says you cannot do it, does not 
mean you can't - legally or otherwise - and there are many legal precedents  
that support this.  HP tends to bully their customer base around on this issue, 
but have yet to prove it in a court of law, and I doubt they could.  IBM tried 
and lost in the early 80's, and DEC again in the late 80's.

Basically supply and demand is going on here - and there are not many 
machines left.  HP isn't (supposed to be) making any more, and many large 
and small e3000 clients still need critical business solutions that HP cannot (or 
will not) provide.

As far as non-HP software support, it has been my experience that all they 
really want is your model string, SUSN code and an extremely large check.

... and don't get me started on the whole new RTU fiasco...


Well, that should get some conversation started....

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