>Charles Finley wrote:

...
>What HP does or does not do is up to them.  If we're to believe Mike
>Cappelas, it seems to be their philosophy
>  - That you will ultimately be able to get any kind of computer you want
>from them as long as it is Linux or Windows.
>  - There is no longer to be an HP 3000 because customers are no longer
>interested in proprietary operating systems.
>  - You should migrate your HP 3000 to HP-UX, but wait that's not either
>Windows or Linux, I'm confused.

You mention that the HP3000 is being discontinued because customers are no
longer interested in proprietary operating systems.  But fear not,
proprietary operating systems are very much alive and well and flourishing:
Windows, HP-UX, AIX, Solaris and even the OS/400 are all proprietary.
Indeed, Windows is the most proprietary OS on the planet.

I suggest that the demise of the HP3000 being based on its proprietary
nature is just an easy way to try and explain it without looking too deeply
at what it has to offer or the so called alternatives which suffer from the
same affliction.  In fact, one of the reasons for the growing interest in
Linux seems to be a disenchantment with the other proprietary UNIX's.  So
now we have HP pushing proprietary Windows and (their proprietary?) Linux.
No wonder the world is confused about proprietary or non-proprietary
operating systems.  The arguments on this point are really quite beside the
point.  If an OS works best for your use, then stay with it and forget
chasing trends of the moment  --  leave that expensive and fruitless
strategy to the HP's of the world.

The reasons for the demise of the HP3000 are actually rooted in problems
with HP marketing and vision as discussed previously in this thread.

Thank you for elaborating on the features and nature of the IBM iSeries.  I
think many readers will find it of interest.  I myself have been an IBM
hater all of my professional life.  But, with the recent developments
regarding HP in general and the HP3000 in particular, I find myself looking
at IBM products, marketing and support commitments with new eyes.  I have
followed the AS/400 come iSeries from afar, through news reports and
application software user group participation, and have a growing sense of
admiration for their steady market approach as opposed to the new "trendy"
HP approach that jumps from strategy to strategy and makes users feel very
insecure with their investments.  It seems to me that HP is becoming much
more like a Compaq (a failed model) rather than becoming more like an IBM
(successful upscale model with which the "new" HP hopes to compete)  --  I
think the contest is already over.

Next year we will be adding another UNIX server to our environment.  At
first, I thought of getting another HP9000.  Then I began to think of the
possibility of switching to an RS/6000 come pSeries with AIX.  Now, I am
adding the iSeries with OS/400 to my list of possible alternatives with its
ability to run AIX and Linux in other partitions.  I keep slapping myself
thinking this is all just a nightmare and it will all be OK when I wake
up.  But, alas, it is truly happening.

I have plenty of time to evaluate my next choice, but the point is I have
several choices other than HP and the chance to escape the HP game of
russian roulette.

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