Duane Percox <[log in to unmask]> writes:

> I would like to take exception to this line of reasoning. Not
> only with this post, but with previous postings made by John.
>
> HP owes you, me, and the general computing public *nothing*,

This is absolutely correct.  In general, you pay your money and you take
your chances.

However,

> And in the future, if HP products are the best choice I will continue
> to buy and use them. IMHO, to suggest otherwise is to violate
> the basic ethics that Information Technology professionals should uphold.

I don't know about the ethics of making purchasing decisions, but one of the
components of my purchasing decisions has been the commitment by the vendor
to the item I'm buying.  Such commitment is often hard to detect, so you end
up relying on what the vendor writes about the product and how they use it.
Things like "5-year plans" and such like.  HP has been committed to the
HP3000, even though their press releases have made spotty mention of it.

That commitment could (and in fact, is very likely to) change radically on
November 14th.  Such a reversal of commitment has to be taken into account
when making purchasing decisions.  Ethical?  You decide, but it makes good
business sense.

Jim Phillips                           Information Systems Manager
Email: [log in to unmask]     Therm-O-Link, Inc.
Phone: 330-527-2124                         P. O. Box 285
Fax:   330-527-2123                           10513 Freedom Street
Web:   http://www.tolwire.com          Garrettsville, OH  44231

LONG LIVE MPE!

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