Dear HP3000 Community:
I would ask that each of you take only a few minutes of your time to read
this letter carefully, consider its content and consider its intent. I am
writing this letter from my heart and soul regarding HP's atrocities
perpetrated against the HP3000 environment. Please forgive any
inconsistencies in dates and times of events invoked herein. Anyone wishing
to discuss this
topic with me can reach me at the number and e-mail listed at the bottom of
this letter. I encourage responses and forwards of this e-mail to everyone.
During roughly the past decade, dating back to the early 1990's, we as the
HP3000 community have been bastardized in the computer industry. Not by
IBM, not by DEC, not by SUN...but sadly, by the creator, Hewlett-Packard.
HP has waffled back and forth for years on discontinuances and continuances
regarding the HP3000 environment. They tried to unbundle IMAGE from the OS
to
break our backs, they tried to discontinue the HP3000 as a whole back in
1994. HP has stated the proprietary environment no longer has a place in
the computer industry (someone inform IBM). They manufacture and then
immediately discontinue systems within the HP3000 (i.e. the 9x8 family).
The software vendors responded in kind by quickly halting software
development
for our community platform. Then three years ago, the HP World show in
California, Hewlett-Packard stood before each of us and pledge allegiance to
our HP3000. New systems would be developed using the latest and fastest
technology, new software alliances would be created, better performance
tools, better operating systems would be introduced. Hewlett-Packard
created the N-class and the A-class for the e3000. Although a bit too much
like the UNIX class for me, it was still development in the HP3000.
Last winter, HP waffled again. Dan Prather said we no longer had a place in
HP's family; this only two short years after the 1998 HP World show. Once
again, we are back on the street. This time seems to be for good. If one
had asked me if I thought Hewlett-Packard would honestly follow through with
its support of the HP3000 since 1998, I would have cautiously said "maybe".
I had suspicions it would not last. In hind sight, the development of the A
and N-class systems for the HPe3000 was an omen of what was to be.
Certainly one had to notice the similarity of this hardware to that of
the HP UNIX systems. HP had a future plan for the HP3000 all right, but that
future entailed migration. Migration from the HP3000 to the HP9000 and a
silver bullet against the HP3000 environment. HP Sales still actively
recruits each and every one of us to buy NEW HP3000 systems, paying
exorbitant amounts of money only have the equipment available for migration
within six years.
Well, I won't stand for it! I am tired of relying on HP as a parent
continuing to make hollow promises! HP created the HP3000, but we fostered
it into what it is today. HP never expected this environment to breath on
its own. We did it and we do not need HP to continue. We don't need HP with
its troubles; Carly Fiorinia's
hidden agenda; the politics that come with living in the HP corporate shadow
(HP-UX..beware of your future). IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE!
Here is my proposal. Read carefully and with an open mind. Remember a
monsoon is made up of single drops of water.
I propose we, as the HP3000 community continue business as usual in the
HP3000 environment. Do not migrate, do not discontinue using the HP3000.
Do not do anything. Get third party support (it is superlative to HP). The
last "HP3000" technician that performed for us, had to read up on the HP3000
being only HP9000 certified. HP does not teach HP3000 to its techs anymore.
Finding someone who knows HP3000, one must look to the independent market.
Our community as a whole has the technical expertise to manage with a number
of technicians HP3000 certified for 30 years! We have the availability of
surplus equipment (BlueLine can still source equipment for HP3000 Spectrum &
Classic
series). The 9X7 family is the largest HP3000 family in operation today. It
is no longer available for HP support as of April 2002. When it was
created, it was produced in such mass production that the surplus of 9X7
equipment is
enormous and will be available easily for the next decade. HP is paying
companies with stockpiled warehouses of 9X7 hardware to destroy them (I can
stop that with you help). They want to keep them out of the HP3000
community so we have no choice but to migrate. They cannot afford to have
the HP3000 survive because we (AS A COMMUNITY) become direct competition
with HP.
We have the software developers and vendors to continue to create better and
newer applications for our environment (LUND, Quest & Robelle to name a few).
They will continue to develop and
create, if we continue to purchase. We will petition HP to open
MPE for the community to maintain. If not, we will find another way;
although I have some customers that still run MPE/iX 5.5 without problem.
Can one name another computer environment that is more stable, has less down
time, better performance, longer durability and requires less coddling than
the HP3000? Remind your bosses, directors and board members of this when
asked.
We have the support availability (anyone running a 9X7 or 9X8 not seeking
3rd Party Support, should do so NOW)!! I recommend that each of you
currently running an HP3000 9X7 look for alternative resources to continue
to operate this system. There are MANY, MANY qualified Independent
Resellers (IRs) and Service Provider companies in the US today that provide
excellent HP3000 hardware and support options and will continue to do so far
past HP's "death" date. HP cleaned the market up three years ago. Our
community choices are many and highly qualified. Every industry has
undesirable participants just as we do, you simply must be careful when
interviewing a company in which to conduct business. It is just like
purchasing anything these days. CAVEAT EMPTOR: Buyer Beware.
Finally, I truly believe we as a community can pull together, pool our
resources and continue without HP. Not only can we maintain at our current
status, but I truly believe we can grow. It is time we moved out of the
shadow of HP, from under the hammer continually held over our heads. DON'T
CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE HP SAID TO. This is our environment now.
HP created it, and we honed it, developed it and raised it as a child of our
own. HP no longer wants it. WE DO. And when HP sees we can survive on our
own, one can bet the house, HP will want back in.
I have personally been in this industry for 11 years. I feel I can speak
with authority on this subject. My company, BlueLine Services, is an HP3000
Services Provider Company; one of many qualified companies out there today.
We provide HP3000 systems & peripheral hardware sales and support. We
continue to
support ALL THE HP3000 servers that HP has slated for discontinuance and
that are already off support. This list includes discontinued support by HP
on storage, peripherals, printers, terminals, memory, power
supplies...anything else in the HP3000 environment: 9x7, 9x8, 9x9, 99x,
N4000, A-Class. Again, BlueLine is one of a large number of qualified
HP3000 companies that will help perpetuate our community beyond the
suffocating grip of Hewlett-Packard. Companies like BlueLine Services can
be the "HP" of the future. All we need is for our community as a whole to
join in.
Since the announcement of the HP3000 dissolution, the HP3000 community is
migrating to third party support and sales companies INDEPENDENT OF HP in
record numbers. Let's continue. We will not go quietly into the night. We
will stand and
fight for our HP3000. Hewlett-Packard cannot take this from us. We have the
right and the place to reap the reward of our labors now and well into our
future.
Sincerely,
-Bill P. Towe
President
BlueLine Services, LLC.
HP Services & Sales Provider Company
2435 Southwell Road, Suite 2A
Dallas, TX. 75229
(877) 464-2583
(214) 808-9110 cell
(972) 241-3074 fax
[log in to unmask]
www.bluelineservices.com
* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
|
