Alan Yeo writes in part:

> As a former customer using HP applications, MM/PM 3000 & FA and for the
>  last 12 years as an ISP selling 3K Manufacturing Applications I have
>  mixed feelings on the Buyout.
>
>  HP have always made wonderful hardware, but their applications have
>  always been dogged by failures to continue development.

As I wrote the other day, if I understand what CSY is doing (and there's a big
IF in there), the past successes or failures of MM/PM 3000, etc. are of only
marginal relevance to the Open Skies buyout.

If my understanding is correct, I believe it may be better to think of Open
Skies as becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary company, not of HP as a whole, but
of CSY's. Whether it will carry the HP name or just a small addendum line of
explanation underneath Open Skies' logo, or none at all, I haven't the
slightest idea.

In that regard, HP has had a long history of successful buyouts of other
companies, some of which now form major HP divisions. Sanborn Instruments, a
medical instrument company, was purchased in the early 1960's. As a
consequence, medical instrumentation is a HP stronghold nowadays.

Similarly, the first HP computer I ever worked on was the HP2116, in 1964,
which by chance was also HP's first computer. The lineage eventually became
the HP1000 series computers -- and for a time -- outsold HP3000's by a 30 to
40:1 ratio. The HP2116 was purchased from Raytheon in ca. 1962-3. More
recently, HP purchased the Apollo/Domain workstation business.

However, as in all business ventures, not everything is a success. HP, in the
early 1980's, purchased a major stake in Genetech, a genetic engineering
company in the bay area, and for a bit of time, the company was called, HP
Genetech. Genetech still survives, but HP pulled out after only a few years.
And they can do the same thing here, if need be.

On the whole, from the little bit I hear, I remain quite optimistic about the
venture. But, of course, only time will tell. What I do know from Ron
Seybold's reports is that Open Skies is getting some good people from CSY and
I'm sorry to see them move out of our direct line of contact.

Wirt Atmar