In a message dated 1/28/03 2:29:37 PM Pacific Standard Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:


> Anyway, my main point was that some products, such as these, are not worth
> repairing (even if for free).  When better performing products can be had
> for a reasonable price, take the opportunity to upgrade your system.  This
> especially makes sense if homesteading is in your future.
>

Oh I agree.  Down the road though this may not be possible.  Disc drives are
a logical item to replace with newer/better/faster/bigger models.  Still
though for anyone still using HPIB disc drives, there are no newer models.
Upgrading requires a change of interfaces, which if you are on a 9x5 or 9x2
system isn't so easy.  Something to think about is how long SE-SCSI drives
will be available.  Will anyone be making NEW SE SCSI drives 5 years from
now?  Probably not.  Can all 9x7 users migrate to FW-SCSI?  Do they have the
slots in their system cabinets for that?

For anyone planning on keeping an older HP-3000 system running for say 5+
more years, it might be useful to collect a set of replacement parts/units so
that known good hardware is on hand and ready to go.  Having a replacement
unit on hand eliminates the big rush/emergency when something important
fails.  You just swap it out and then calmly deal with getting the bad unit
either repaired or replaced so that you have a spare again for the next time.


All of the third-party maintenance companies are doing this now.  They look
at what equipment they have covered on maintenance contracts and the
likelihood of failure and plan to have spare parts available in their
warehouses so that their service technicians have an inventory of what they
will likely need.  If someone is planning on being a self-maintainer for some
equipment, then there should be some planning for how/where to obtain more
spare parts in the future.  My suspicion is that a lot of HP-3000 users are
not all that used to self-maintaining hardware so many people are perhaps not
yet aware of the options available.  Getting dead power supplies repaired
instead of throwing them out is just an example of what can be done.

Wayne Boyer

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