I don't know...I suppose I'm just getting crabby in my old age, but I weary of these constant brush-wars with HP about the 3000.  As I recall, this whole brouhaha has been rising and falling since the 9000 was released.  First, HP is 'uncommitting' to the 3000, then it isn't, then it is, then...well, you get my drift.

There is a term for what has started this latest dustup and that is "Freudian slip".  If MPE isn't automatically on the lips of every senior HP exec after 22 years, it never will be, and regardless of any other box they sell, the 3000 is their flagship machine and could be for another 22 years, if they ever learn the lesson.

I'm going to recycle a phrase I contributed during the last of these wars a couple of months ago because even after Sydney, it obviously still fits.  HP is still "talking the talk" but is unwilling to "walk the walk".  I seriously doubt they ever will.  If I were to offer a recommendation to a customer on a long-term solution to a business problem, the 3000 would be on the list, but probably not on the short list.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From:   Russ Smith
Sent:   Wednesday, July 26, 2000 4:13 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: One reply from Ann Livermore...

Listers,

I received the following email from Ann (or someone capable of emailing from
her address at HP) this morning.  If she hadn't been before now, I'm sure
she is now aware of how prolific a group we can be when touching on this
subject.  I also wonder how much work she is going to be able to accomplish
with the barage of emails she is probably receiving for what was probably
nothing more than a verbal misstep.

Rs~


----- Original Message -----
From: "LIVERMORE, ANN" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: "PRATHER, WINSTON (HP-Cupertino,ex1)" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 10:40 AM
Subject: RE: HP3000s

Russell,

Thanks for your note.  Our MPE business and customers are very important to
HP.  I am working with Winston Prather and he is taking the lead to ensure
we communicate and execute our strategy well for MPE.

Regards,

Ann

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 9:30 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: HP3000s


Ms. Livermore,

An ongoing concern of mine, in an increasingly diverse computing industry,
is that for the past six years consecutively and for approaching a decade
cumulatively, I have focused on a wonderful series of machines called the
HP3000, now the HP e3000.  My concern is not that I work with them, though,
but rather that they have tended to be the red-headed stepchild of their
creating firm.

As you brought out again in your recent comments, HP seems not to value the
e3000 and the position it can play in her future.  At least to the extent
that whenever an authority figure from HP speaks and lists the operating
environments they are expanding, focusing on and improving, the "MPE" is
usually missing.  While from conversations with various personnel from CSY
and the Response Center I know this not to be the case, I think it would go
a long way in the "rest of the world", if you and your contemporaries would
include "MPE" in the list of "HPUX, Linux, NT and MPE".

Thank you,

Rs~
Russell Smith, MPE Systems Consultant
Problem Solved, An Alden Business Services Company
1241 Alamo Drive #2, Vacaville, CA  95687
(707) 451-2611, voice
r s m i t h @ c u - h e l p . c o m
r s m i t h @ e - 3 0 0 0 . n e t


----- Original Message -----
From: "Sletten Kenneth W KPWA" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 2:51 PM
Subject: [HP3000-L] One reply from Ann Livermore...


> Earlier today Eric noted he got some feedback from Ann L.:
>
> >     I sent an email addressed to her regarding my concern
> > that the HPe3000 was not receiving enough press and I
> > received a very cordial, but short reply, indicating that HP's
> > MPE customers were "very important". It was CCed to
> > Winston Prather and was not an automated reply. I think
> > HPWorld will be a good place to press our case.
>
> After:
>
> > > Is anyone hearing anything from the emails sent to Ann?
> > > I noticed that she will be at HP World.  ....
>
> I received a private reply to my initial message from Ann
> Livermore this morning....  Maybe I'm pressing the bounds of
> etiquette a little, but given that her reply was in no way "personal
> private";  and was sent in the context of public questions about
> senior HP Management's commitment to the HP 3000 from a
> number of readers of this list;  I attach verbatim her short reply
> to me and my response in return....  I am actually quite
> encouraged by her reply;  i.e.:  She was responding to a
> narrow question;  and that was not clear from the context of
> the published quote (at least to me).....   sounds reasonable to
> me;  I'll buy that...  but as I noted in my reply, somebody should
> try and "run in to" Ann at HPW and offer her an "I Love MPE"
> or "MPE Forever" and "IMAGE Forever" button(s)...    Note I
> think I can come up with at least one or two more of the limited
> edition "MPE Forever" and "IMAGE Forever" variants;  I would
> be willing to part with them in we could get Ann to wear them...
>     :-)
>
> Ken Sletten
> ==========================================
>
> Ann,
>
> You graciously replied to my harangue:
>
> > Thanks for the note.  I do know what MPE is!  And I love it!!
> > The quotation I am now famous for was in response to a line
> > of questions about SUN's anti Microsoft, and anti NT position.
> > My response was in the same context:  Showing that HP does
> > support NT.  It was not a message about MPE lack of support
> > for MPE.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Ann
>
> Ah....   thank you for explaining the context;  that did not come
> through the way it was presented by the media (or at least the
> way I read it)....   I am considerably encouraged.      :-)
>
> CONFESSION:    I may share a bit of the responsibility for
> making this particular quote "famous":  After I sent you my
> initial message, I suggested on hp3000-L that it might not hurt
> if a few other fellow MPE fanatics also mentioned it to you....
>
> Since you have confirmed your continuing affinity for our
> favorite OS, maybe we can see about getting you an "I Love MPE" button...
> or even one of the special order, limited edition
> brass "MPE Forever" variants....      ;-)
>
> SIDEBAR:    Our site is glad to see HP supporting NT / Win2K:
> Except for our HP 3000 at the core, we are a 100 percent
> Microsoft shop:  Zero SUNs....
>
> Cordially,
> and thanks again for your positive reply,
>
> Ken Sletten
>