Having been a part of the prior focus group (gee, I
hope I didn't violate some NDA just now), and having
seen the giant strides forward during the past two
years in emulator development and the release of MPE
source, I can say with some degree of certainty (a
degree of certainty approaching unity) that Wirt is
correct when he states:

> The emulator is dead, and thus the future of MPE is
> dead

As for blame, I am sure there is more than enough to
go around.  However, OpenMPE was destined for failure
from the very beginning with its favor-currying,
lapdog acquiescence to anything HP wanted.  This is
not what we needed.  We needed a more confrontational,
demanding style.  If we had any hope of getting HP to
release MPE for any form of emulator or open-source
development, it was in the hope that Wirt describes:

> But those same characteristics also make a
> corporation exceedingly vulnerable
> to concerted public opinions. In general, it's
> rather easy to direct the
> actions of a corporation, simply because the
> corporation fears negative publicity
> so much more than anything else -- especially if
> you're the risk-averse, CYA
> manager who might be tagged with causing what might
> turn out to be
> well-reported, large-scale negative reactions.

But the fire is all but gone now.  The outrage felt by
most on 11-14-2001 has run its course.  HP (and the
people who run it) may be many things, but it/they are
not stupid.  They knew that it was a waiting game and
the passage of time would work to their favor.  Now
that everyone has had their catharsis, we have settled
down into doing what we are paid to do:  run our
businesses.

At this point an MPE emulator is a non sequitur, as
useless as the teats on a boar hog.  Those who want to
stay on the 3000 "until they pry my cold, dead fingers
from it" can do so by purchasing all those 3000's
being retired.  Those who want to move to Windows can
do so.  Those who want to move to *nix can do so.  The
tide has turned and no one can stop it now.

HP has won, and we have helped them.  May God forgive
us all.


Jim Phillips



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