> Based on past models of emulation (Visicalc commands work in every
> spreadsheet there is), there shouldn't be any real problem
> using names like
> FOPEN, so skip those court battles, and don't even call
> OpenMPE an emulator:
> it's a new product designed to work as but better than the original.
>
> Seems to me this is the only way MPE could ever become
> OpenMPE anyway, and
> Open seems to be the only way this will ever fly
> economically.  It also fits
> the tried-and-true KISS and StepwiseRefinement theories we
> all know and
> respect if not love.
>

I have to agree that the current direction of OpenMPE seems to be
unworkable.

I see no way with the current thinking expressed here about licensing and
costs that an HP controlled MPE license running on an emulator could be
economicaly viable. Perhaps this is what HP is trying to acheive as there is
little doubt they would like us all to just shut up and migrate.

In truth any solution that leaves HP in control of licensing, or any other
bottleneck, of a new emulated system is sure to fail as HP will be unable to
issue those licenses for a variety of reasons. This is not because I believe
in some conspiracy by HP on this, but because they proved incapable of
handling this when the 3000 was still a shipping product of theirs. I have
little faith that they will improve once the product stops shipping.

As a side thought, has anyone on the OpenMPE board approached these 3rd
party licensees directly to see if HP can be cut out of the picture with a
direct deal between them and the emulator developers? After all, since it
currently looks like OpenMPE is the only way they can see any future revenue
off of MPE, maybe they are open to discussion on it.

Never hurts to ask.

Comments are my own, not my employer's... etc.





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