> From: Bruce Toback
> Subject: Re(2): Security Software for the HP3000?
> Date: Wednesday, May 08, 1996 11:22AM
>
> Tom Emerson writes:
> > > From: Bruce Toback
> > Ummm.... let's see, I don't remember specifically whether or not you are
one
> > of VESOFT's 6000+ security customers, so I guess I can rule that one out
>
> I'm impressed that you can remember all 6000 customers by name! Actually,
I
> should have included a :-) in my response to Andreas' request. Sorry for
any
> confusion, although the ensuing wild speculation has been entertaining
:-).
 
Actually, the "trick" to this is knowing how large the customer database is
at VESOFT (which is "confidential" :) , and why I waffled a bit on this by
rounding to the nearest 1,000 and adding a non-specific trailing "+" to
indicate an indeterminate number of additional instances of customers...)
 Then, realizing that only those customers who have problems (or, rarely,
suggest improvements) are the ones calling in on a seemingly regular basis,
it is fairly easy to spot a name of a customer *OR* company that is indeed a
VESOFT customer.  :-)
 
Given that the HP3000 "community" is such a close-knit group [one recent
post indicated something like there being only 60,000 sites overall, a
number I suspect is low but isn't entirely unbelieveable], I'm always
surprised to hear from an HP3000 user who has NEVER heard of VESOFT.  (and,
likewise, ADAGER, BRADMARK, COGNOS,  FRANSEN/KING, LUND, MB FOSTER, ORBIT,
QUEST, ROBELLE, TELAMON, or WRQ for that matter -- all of these companies
contributed in some significant way to the life of the HP3000 by writing
supporting software rather than application-specific software [e.g., an
AR/AP/GL/PAYROLL package]).  It is sort of like moving to a new neighborhood
and not knowing where the grocery store, post office, and gas station(s)
are.  If this internet thing keeps growing and more and more HP3000-oriented
people find out about this list/newsgroup, eventually you too could be able
to remember all 6000+ users of Security/3000 since you would, in effect,
have the opportunity to meet them all...
 
Tom Emerson