> Hi Folks,
>     We just received this and I wanted to share it with those that know
> what MPE/iX is and those that have contributed to its well being over the
> many years. It was written by Howard Pringle of the Waukesha, Wisconsin
> Public Library, a user of the Inlex Library system and is a testament to
> all of you who have contributed to a "state of being" that will be very
> hard to match in the ensuing years ahead. This is more about the attitude
> that people will always hope to inspire in others, personally and
> professionally. MPE/iX, created by incredibly talented people and used by
> those who know the difference.
>
>           Eric Sand
>           [log in to unmask]
>
>
> Copy of an announcement posted to WPL staff...
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------
>
> At 8:30 a.m. today, November 4, 2002 I turned off our faithful H-P 3000
> and the INLEX software for the last time.
>
> This particular machine had served us with utmost reliability since
> March of 1992 and needed only one unplanned service call in 10 years -
> and that was 8 years ago! The INLEX software had served us since 1987
> and never, in that time, had it ever generated a software-related
> shutdown of our operation. These statistics show what a commitment to
> quality, professionalism (and overbuilding) can accomplish even in an
> area so subject to change and instability as computer hardware and
> software. This combination of H-P and INLEX survived power outages, beta
> tests of software, an occasional human ooopsie, and everything else we
> could throw at it without a complaint, and when we did do something
> untoward, came right back and basically said "Thank you sir, may I have
> another..."
>
> This computer platform was a thing of the past in many ways; a past
> when quality was the bottom line and engineers were in charge and the
> customer really mattered; not a time when accountants had the final say
> on everything and all projects were measured in terms of what they would
> do to the company's standing on Wall Street. Hewlett-Packard (the OLD
> Hewlett Packard of the late 80's and early 90's) produced, in my
> opinion, the finest hardware platform and most stable, finely developed
> operating system and simple database management system made available to
> the public. Unfortunately, new management and new ideas failed to
> realize what a gem H-P had in the 3000 hardware and MPE OS and they
> finally killed the product - and the desire of many customers to ever do
> business with H-P again.
>
> INLEX only ever ran on the 3000 and MPE and this combination of rock
> solid hardware and a software product that was incredibly well thought
> out and written put those of us who used it in a very advantageous
> position. The software just plain ran - it ran well, reliably, and
> intuitively. Staff found it easy to use and new employees picked it up
> quickly. It wasn't perfect but it was a darn sight closer to that ideal
> than anything else I've encountered. The people at INLEX were
> knowledgeable, friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile. In
> time they became family - not just a vendor. That was why it was so sad
> to see H-P kill the underpinnings of the product when it discontinued
> the 3000 and set the stage for the ultimate dissolution of the company.
> We really, genuinely cared about the folks in Monterey and their loss
> and pain was our loss and pain.
>
> Alas, a time in all of our lives has now passed and I for one am going
> to miss these past good times immensely. There are good people too at
> SIRSI but it isn't the same. A relationship built over 15 years is not
> something that can be easily dismissed, especially one as special as
> that we had with INLEX (and to a lesser degree with the OLD H-P). But,
> as the old saying goes, all things must pass and so too must this. All
> future project will be inherently compared with the INLEX project and I
> fear none will quite measure up. We can only hope that they will at
> least come close.
>
> Howard
>
>
>
> J. Howard Pringle               [log in to unmask]
> Library Systems Manager    phone: (262) 524-3688
> Waukesha Public Library    <http://www.waukesha.lib.wi.us/>
> 321 Wisconsin Avenue       The opinions expressed are
> Waukesha, WI   53186       mine, Mine, ALL MINE!!

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