Richard and others commented:

> Or, if they are going to crip the CPU, at least drop the price
> of the initial system so low that it competes with an off the
> shelf Dell server with SQL-server for 100 users.

I would expect that one of if not *the* worst impact of running
the new A-Class e3000 at ONE-FOURTH the CPU speed of
the equivalent HP 9000 will be in choices many if not most
potential *new* customers will end up making;  i.e.:

If you have existing Image/SQL apps, the ability to extend into
the intranet and Internet realms with Java, Apache, WebWise,
Sendmail, Bind/DNS, etc. is a big plus; even if all those CPU-
hungry web apps run significantly slower on the e3000 than
on the 9000 variant of the A-Class.

But if you are a potential NEW customer *without* existing
IMAGE apps, consider:  You can buy a 9000 A-Class that will
run the above and most other internet apps FOUR TIMES as
fast for LESS MONEY than you can buy an e3000 A-Class.
If being on the Internet / an intranet with above "standard
apps" & etc. is an important part of running your business,
will other advantages of MPE and Image/SQL on the e3000
overcome having to pay MORE $$ to get ONE-FOURTH the
performance ??..  In most if not all cases I expect the answer
is no...

Since in the long run the e3000 has to continue to get some
percentage of new customers on an ongoing basis, I see the
huge performance DISincentive for "standard" Internet apps
compared to the 9000 A-Class (and for that matter name-
brand Win2K servers) as a major stumbling block....  So I
respectfully suggest HP needs to re-think where they set the
clock speed on the e3000 A-Class....  and soon....

Ken Sletten