On 9/27/2011 6:56 PM, Craig Lalley wrote:
> First off, the HP3000 reunion was a wonderful time. It was appropriately
> held at the computer history museum.
Hi Craig - I emerge from the shadows every now and then when I really feel
the need to say something.
Wish I could have been at the reunion. I retired (a few years ago) and we
tend to stay around the Boston area - at least until my wife retires too.
The museum -is- on our travel list - I look forward to it.
> I am not sure if I should put a plug alert here. This is probably the
> most on-topic discussion in months.
Thank you. I enjoyed your post - and subsequent comments - greatly.
Balance of your post clipped - I'm sure all are reading attentively, and
have varying degrees of jubilation.
But.
If you're thinking of trying this as a solution path, it might be a good
idea to dive into the archives, head to December of 2001 and read ( as I
think Alfredo said - "lovingly" :) the entire thread posted on December 2nd:
"Re: HP e3000 announcement".
First, a personal note. I regarded HP's business decision regrettable,
because it meant that HP deserted me as an HP3000 professional. Possibly
Studebaker and Packard mechanics felt the same way :) I made it to
retirement, but not with the memories (or funds) I had expected to have.
I have not since then purchased or recommended an HP product, and have no
plans to do so in the future. HP's behavior in the marketplace has failed to
change the impression formed then: the HP I trusted and had confidence in no
longer exists.
I stay subscribed to the list because I still like to hang out with old
acquaintances, and because I learn a lot here to this day. I could still be
accused of being bitter and biased - but I think I'd beat the rap :)
I learned of this new emulator product here - thanks Craig. At first I was
very excited, then remembered I had scrapped my HP2626W terminals, tossed
all the manuals and most of the software. There's still a few pocket guides
around, a SMUG micro-proceedings booklet and a few Adager note cubes. And I
still have the "3K migration" desert photograph Wirt printed for me. But I
had concluded the HP3000 was no longer a viable platform some time ago.
The emulator would have been VERY exciting 10 years ago. I hope it helps
some homesteaders over the next decade or so. But if I were you, I'd be a
little cold about evaluating your future with it. I suggest you:
1) Read all the posts in the thread at Dec 2, 2001 - permalink is:
http://raven.utc.edu/cgi-bin/WA.EXE?A2=HP3000-L;MPdq1A;200112021922160500A
2) Ask yourself: if HP didn't consider you a customer then (read the posts),
are you now?
3) Consider: HP used to hope you'd move to HP-UX - they at least made some
money that way. Where is the incentive for them to cooperate with you today?
4) Think: HP3000 clocks still have that 2027 limit - 7 bit year offset from
1900. When do your forecast model reports stop working? Other software?
5) Review: given all that's happened in the last 10 years (wow - seems like
yesterday), what does this emulator really mean for you and your company?
6) If you think you understand it all and have a plan to use, go to the
archives and read the post from Winston Prather on August 19, 2000.
7) Go to November 12, 2001 (15 months later) in the archives and read my
"Nasty rumor" post.
8) Read again George's response on December 3, 2001.
9) Ask yourself if your plan from above will work when dealing with an
entity like this. Remember: they view the last ten years as a period of
cooperation and working together. If not, adjust your plan now.
I hope this new product can be helpful to homesteaders, but if you're going
to take that path, please prepare for a rough road. Read the archives from
that time period, and see if you think HP's contribution and help today will
be any more or less than it was then. Don't take anything for granted, learn
from history lest you repeat it, get everything in writing, involve your
lawyers and executives early and often, never take a step without a safety
net and prepare for the worst case scenario every step of the way - and it
may turn out okay.
Good luck to the emulator adopters. It is exciting news, and I hope it turns
out well for you. I might even see if I can kick the tires. Now let me kick
my soapbox back into the closet and return to the shadows :)
--
Respectfully -- Tony B. Shepherd -- [log in to unmask]
* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
|
