Ted Hook asked:

> Could someone explain what is meant by:-
>
>       "crippling code"

For the A-Class and some N-Class HP e3000s (but NOT
for the equivalent HP 9000 hardware), HP added code
that burns / wastes / throws away CPU cycles;  to
slow down the lower-priced boxes.  They did this to
create the desired range of "price - performance"
points.

Look at the very bottom of this page:
http://www.aics-research.com/relperf.html
You will see that there is an A400-100-110;  which
might lead you to believe that there is a 110 MHz
processor in that A-Class...  But hardware-wise it's
really a 440 MHz processor; that has been programmed
to throw away at least three out of four CPU cycles.
...  Note I say "at least" because independent tests
by MPE techies have indicated the "slowdown ratio" is
even worse than that;  some tests have shown that
overall the performance of the box amounts to having
about a 55 MHZ CPU;  i.e.:  The "crippling ratio" may
effectively be closer to 8:1 instead of just 4:1...
:-(

The "crippling code" was of course "invented" before
HP announced end-of-HP-sales and end-of-HP-support
dates for the HP e3000 on 2001-11-14.  Since then and
especially at HPW-LA last September, many in the user
community have asked HP to remove the crippling code
from all A-Class and N-Class boxes;  at least after
end-of-HP-sales at the end of October of this year
(on the theory that once HP stops selling new boxes,
there is no further need to "encourage" customers to
buy more expensive boxes).  So far HP has given the
standard "we have no plans to do this" answer to all
these requests...  HOWEVER:  I encourage MPE users to
not give up on this issue;  keep asking;  at the
upcoming Interex Solutions Symposiums and at HPW next
fall.  I'm still fairly hopefull that once we actually
cross the "end-of-HP-sales" boundary that ex-CSY will
reconsider, and will at least provide a low-cost means
for end-users to uncripple their boxes;  or, even
better:  Make an "uncrippling" patch available to all
sites by or shortly after the end of October 2003...

DISCLAIMER:  I have NO inside / non-public knowledge
about any HP intent to uncripple A-Class and N-Class
CPUs down the road.  All I know about this issue is
what has been publicly discussed at HPW and on the
various HP e3000 discussion lists:  Users have asked;
so far HP sez "no plans";  users still want to see it
happen...

Ken Sletten