HP executives know that selling HP3000's is profitable, and they know that promoting a profitable business brings more profits.  I believe the reason they don't mention MPE in discussions intended for widespread publication is that they want to convey an image of HP as a forward-thinking, cutting-edge kind of company.  Never mind that Unix is older than MPE, the public perception is that Unix, Linux and NT are the "latest and greatest", and the publicists are playing to that perception.  After all, when it comes to publicity and advertising, perception is reality.  What they fail to realize is that they could craft a perception of MPE as "cutting edge" if they cared to.  The e3000 nonsense seems to be exactly such an attempt -- they just aren't following through at all levels of the company.

The movement of many former MPE shops to Unix over the last several years was not done because of the need for some functionality that MPE lacked, in many cases.  Rather it was a fear of investing in a "dying" platform.  After all, the trade press inundated everyone with the notion that (1) everyone was going to open systems, (2) "open" means "Unix", and (3) "proprietary" is a bad word.  Since the press is so powerful a force in creating such perceptions, maybe letters to editors are the best approach.  Again, I submit that HP could do a lot to influence the press and the public by promoting MPE as a living, vital OS.
 ----------
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Publicizing the e3000; Plan B
Date: Monday, August 14, 2000 9:06AM

<<File Attachment: ENVELOPE.TXT>>
F. Alfredo Rego <[log in to unmask]> writes:

> HP's Corporate Executives are smart people.  They must have very
powerful
> reasons for NOT wanting to mention MPE in public.

<snip>

> A very powerful reason is MONEY:  MPE makes good money for HP and, if
> HP's Corporate Executives mentioned MPE in public every now and then,

Alfredo has "hit the nail on the head" so-to-speak.  The main motivation
for
most commercial enterprises, and especially one so large as HP, is
increasing share-holder wealth, which is as it should be.  Obviously, HP
feels that the best way for them to do this is by not touting the benefits
of the HPe3000.  No business does something from altruistic motives.  If
we
want HP to start talking about the HPe3000 publicly, we need to show them
how doing so is going to impact the "bottom line".  Otherwise we will
continue to receive "lip service" from the HP brass

> to "appease the demands of the protesters" -- during keynote
> speeches at HP World, whether videotaped or "live" :-)

and nothing substantive in the way of real change in their public conduct.

Extrapolating from HP's recent public comments, they obviously are
committed
to another avenue (i.e., NT, Linux, Unix, etc.) as the computing platform
of
tomorrow.  We need to show them how the HPe3000 can be the computing
platform of tomorrow as well as today and yesterday.  Also, I think the
following quotation is applicable here:

"Never appeal to a man's better nature.  He may not have one.  Invoking
his
self interest gives you more leverage. - Robert A. Heinlein"



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