To start, I would like to thank everyone on this list for the wealth of
information that has helped me learn about the HP 3000 and the market that
we serve. This is the first time I have posted anything in this group, yet I
have been reading it on a regular basis to keep in touch with what you are
saying and asking for. Now to the point of this message.
It is unfortunate that some people concentrate on a single sentence out of
an hour long conversation. That is human nature, however, and it is
important that we deal with it. I do the same thing. This is yet another
lesson for myself about how portions of the HP 3000 market react to certain
types of information.
I would ask all readers to consider the whole before reaching conclusions
based on a single line. When I am asked a direct question by an editor, I
cannot insult their intelligence by claiming something other than the truth.
And the truth is that a part of the market at the time the interview was
conducted had ongoing concerns about the future of the HP 3000. The good
news is that the perception is changing in much of the market. It is
noticeably better today than it was in December when I had the conversation
with Jean Nattkemper.
We believe in the HP 3000 and are doing everything feasible to ensure a long
term future. I believe today that we have product plans that go farther into
the future than most companies in this business. We are working to change
the perception in this part of the market and have been consistently giving
the message that the investment in the HP 3000 is increasing and we are
committed to it. This, by the way, was a significant portion of the article
that this single line was taken from.
You will see a more visible message about the HP 3000 in the very near
future. There will be significantly more press coverage than in the past few
years and a new advertising campaign will run as a follow up to the warm up
we did late last fall. Much of this effort will be influenced by what the
members of this newsgroup have been saying for the past several months.
On a final note, you should be aware that the news today about the HP 3000
is all positive. We were recently honored with the HP President's Quality
Award that Harry Sterling mentioned in a message to this newsgroup. We also
just finished our first fiscal quarter for 1998 and the HP 3000 business had
its greatest growth in five years. This directly impacts our investment
level in both the product and the marketing.
Thank you for your ongoing support. Your openess with your feedback and
continued use of the HP 3000 is the best possible thing that can happen to
the product line. I look forward to meeting many of you at the upcoming
IPROF conference.
Roy Breslawski
Marketing Manager, Commercial Systems Division
Joe Alexander wrote in message ...
FWIW There seems to be some confusion at Commercial Systems:
"I have to say the in the general HP 3000 user base today the general
concern still is, When is it [the HP 3000] going away?" - Roy Breslawski,
Marketing Mgr, Commercial Systems Division, Jan. issue HP World.
"The good news is that people realize computer vendors no longer put all
their eggs in one basket - and that seems finally to have put to rest the
rumors about the HP 3000's imminent demise." - Harry Sterling, General
Mgr, Commercial Systems Division, Feb. issue HP World.
Harry and Roy need to talk more often.
The interview with Roy Breslawski continues in the Feb. issue - "Now,
the other reason for the resurgence of the 3000 is the external market. I
don't want to knock any other systems, but a lot of customers have tried
moving to some other systems a little prematurely."
Exuse me? Customers are abandoning the 3000 "a little prematurely"?
This from the guy responsible for marketing the 3000?
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Views, opinions, other verbage strictly mine & mine alone - not those of
my employer
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Joe Alexander Systems Manager
Biowhittaker, Inc. Walkersville MD
[log in to unmask]
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