> Sorry about the reply delay here.  Things are rather busy
> with the approach of
> HPWorld...

As with the majority of your replies to this list, the substance is worth
the wait. :>

>
> I assure you that despite speculations to the contrary, there
> is plenty of 100%
> native MPE development going on at CSY.  :-)

My concern is that the new development I have seen appears to be
reactionary. Primarily aimed at keeping up with the resource requirements of
the larger customers. What new, native MPE, features are under developement
that will encourage customers not to move or new customers to come onboard?

>
> True, MPE now has many of the same Internet services that
> Linux does, and Linux
> boxes can be had very cheaply, so why not just migrate to Linux?
>
> But does Linux have MPE's proven OLTP scalability, and the
> reliability of the
> TurboIMAGE DBMS?
>

Yes, Image is reliable. I have not lost a single byte of data in 13 years.

But, and to me this is an important but, feature-wise Image has fallen
farther and farther behind every other database product on the market.
Sometimes stability is not enough if the product cannot store the data your
users need.

> In no way do I consider myself a hardware person, but what
> specific hardware
> examples are you referring to?
>

I am mainly refereing to peripherals like CD-RW drives, scanners, printers,
etc..

Also, the network printer spooling on the 3000 is, IMHO, very weak.

> Yes, you'll pay more for MPE compared to Linux.  But you need
> to compare the
> value of what you get for those extra dollars.  MPE offers
> proven reliability,

The reliability has suffered somewhat in the last few years. I have had more
system aborts due to bugs, primarily on the posix side, in MPE per year in
the last 3 years, than I had in the previous 10 years combined.

> proven scalability, great RC/EC support, and investment
> protection through
> upward compatibility.  Can you get all of that today with Linux?
>

Support has also suffered a bit:

The engineer HP sent to install and configure the new 939ks we purchased,
knew the hardware but had never worked with MPE.

It took me over 6 months to get a new SUBSYS tape cut for the 6.0 upgrade.
Which I needed because we purchased a new product after they shipped us the
tapes and they only sent us the 5.5 product tape.

I have gotten more correct and timely answers from this list than I have
received calling the HPRC.

Ever tried to get you contract specialist to explain an item on your support
contract? Good luck!

I could go on but I do not want to come off as anti-HP and being a totally
disgruntled customer. For example, I have had an extremely positive
experience recently with Peggy Lacy, an HP escallation engineer, who worked
very hard for 6 month's to resolve what turned out to be a third party
product incompatibility with a new feature of 6.0. I enjoy working with my
3000 but, I have very few illusions left about where I stand as a customer
with HP.

Opinions are mine not my employer's, etc..