The more companies like HP disappoint us, then the more we “the little
guys” need to take charge! It's always been true that doing business
with large corporations would give us a comfortable feeling of security,
seemingly more secure than working with a small independent company.
Recent trends in the last two decades (maybe more than two), shows us
that “Big Corporate Security” is no longer a good feeling. This actually
shows us that independent consultants and Open-Source is more reliable
than the traditional security of the Big Support corporations.

Source code should be publicly recorded for Accountability,
Audit-ability and a Openly known future controlled by the people. Could
be a good plan for government as well!

A rarely-understood benefit of Open Source software is its
audit-ability. Closed-source software forces its users to trust the
vendor, trust that the software and hardware will not only continue to
exist, but also trust that it is designed well, without serious security
issues, freedom from back-doors, adherence to standards and flexibility
in the face of future changes.


I propose that all publicly available and comercial software be
submitted to a central agency, like the Open-Source foundation, or
similar, like a hybrid Patent/Copyright system. Whereby the author of
the software would apply for a certification of software authenticity
and uniqueness, and to be publicly recognized as the author for all
time. The software documentation, main features, and source code (with
build/make procedures) would all be required for this certification.
This way, if an author decided to abandon a product, someone else could
still use it, and have access to the source, even create a new product
from it. The original author and history of the source would be
maintained, and therefore the original author could always defend
his/her contribution to most recent spin-off.

--
Mike.


On 08/21/2011 06:27 AM, Craig Lalley wrote:
> Christain,
>
> Perhaps the problem is that HP is now run by MBA's and accountants who don't understand the product or what customers want.
>
> Awhile ago, management rose from ranks of engineers that understood what the customer wanted and the product being developed.   In the 70's and earlier companies grew slowly and earned their profits.
>
> Or maybe my old age is tainting my opinions.  :-)
>
> -Craig
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- On Sun, 8/21/11, Christian Lheureux<[log in to unmask]>  wrote:
>
> From: Christian Lheureux<[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Disappointed again.
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Sunday, August 21, 2011, 2:37 AM
>
> Hi all,
>
> Even doing business with only privately-held companies is far from enough. As you all have seen many times, a privately held company can be purchased overnight by a publicly-traded company for any reason. A privately-held company can go public for any reason. Just see the frantic pace of M&A in the tech business : 3PAR, Lefthand, Ibrix, and many, many more.
>
> I'd rather put my faith in a short-term capital-gains tax, to fend off speculators, as suggested by James, but this ought to be coordinated worldwide, to avoid capital feeing to the nearest tax haven.
>
> Speaking of HP and tablets, well ... if history is any lesson, just let me note that any market where HP can't grab, say, a 30% share is abandoned, period. Remember the Photosmart cameras ? Proprietary OS mini-computers (a.k.a. HP3000) ? Dot-matrix printers ? TVs ? Polyserve file cluster ? With the Tablet, they probably quickly realized they would never get 30% against the iPad, so they dumped it, full stop. Same goes with the smartphones / pocket PCs as compared to the iPhone. Why do you think they purchased 3Com ?
>
> Remember, it's not at all about tech innovation, but all  about market share, actual or future. ROI. Earnings per share. Gross margin. Operating profit. You name it. I guess that's the way companies are run these days, and, BTW, it's what keeps them in business. Anybody remember the seven pillars of the HP Way ? #1 was profit.
>
> Sigh .... just my €0,02.
>
> Take care,
>
> Christian
>
> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] De la part de James B. Byrne
> Envoyé : dimanche 21 août 2011 04:20
> À : [log in to unmask]
> Objet : [HP3000-L] Disappointed again.
>
> On   Date:    Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:21:45 -0500, michael
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
>> Yesterday, HP was in the perfect position to bring the tablet to
>> business applications with the Linux based TouchPad, which was HP's
>> response to the Apple iPad, but more in-line with business
>> applications.
>> HP spent $1.2 billion for Palm in March 2010, and similar to ten years
>> ago, in August 2011, HP dumps it without warning, and without any
>> regard to partners and customers.
>>
>> I almost bought one, and had plans to develop business solutions for
>> the TouchPad. HP has shown that you can't have any faith in a company
>> (HP) that appears to be fully invested into an idea to invent, even if
>> they themselves have invested billions of dollars, they've proven that
>> they will throw everyone (including themselves) under the bus in a
>> heartbeat!
>>
>> The HP way,
>> HP Invent,
>> HP WTF!
>> --
>> Mike.
> The short answer is: do not buy anything from any publicly traded, joint stock, company, that you plan to depend upon for the long term. Period.  The so-called efficiency of the market on the stock exchange amounts to a roulette wheel and companies that thereby choose to dance to the tune whistled by gamblers have no vision beyond that of the end of their own nose.  Instead, buy from private firms that have some idea of what it takes to stay in their own 'business' and are not beholden to speculators.
>
> The accomplishment of HP's shareholders is that the last bits of HP gear at our firm will be gone by year end ( with the sole exception of the HP3000), and good riddance.
>
> The pity is that the stock and commodity markets could be returned to their basic function overnight if governments decided to do it.
> All it would take is a 100% capital gains tax on sales of investments held for less than 12 months.  Bingo, companies have access to capital and the gamblers will flee to somewhere else.
>
> --
> ***          E-Mail is NOT a SECURE channel          ***
> James B. Byrne                mailto:[log in to unmask]
> Harte&  Lyne Limited          http://www.harte-lyne.ca
> 9 Brockley Drive              vox: +1 905 561 1241
> Hamilton, Ontario             fax: +1 905 561 0757
> Canada  L8E 3C3
>
> * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
> * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
>
> * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
> * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
>
> * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
> * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
>
>


* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *