At 11/12/2001 13:02, Stan Sieler wrote:
>Re:
> > they [HP] haven't valued a customer for years :(
>Sorry...I forgot to add the (obvious to 3000-L readers) disclaimer:
>   (except for CSY)
>Stan Sieler                                           [log in to unmask]
>www.allegro.com/sieler/wanted/index.html          www.allegro.com/sieler

Agreed - thanks to all at CSY for the many years of dedicated commitment.

I'm a proud lurker, but I'll step out long enough to share the note I
posted to Carly before I crawl back to the shadows. As always, the words,
thoughts and opinions are mine.

+++ Begin Quote
Dear Ms. Fiorina,

As of 11/12/2001, there are rumors on a mailing list for HP3000 users
(HP3000-L, see http://raven.utc.edu for searchable archives) that allege a
public announcement will be made this week saying the HP3000 is to be
dropped from HP's product line.

There has also been discussion concerning whether HP can be persuaded to
release the source for MPE in that event.

I thought you'd like to know what a 25+ year customer thinks about this,
and what my choices might be.

My first choice by a wide margin: later this week, you will publicly
announce that this is a false rumor, and that HP has absolutely no
intention of anything other than continued world-class support for the
world-class system that so many businesses rely on every day for their
mission-critical systems.

My second choice is that you would announce that rumor is true, but that HP
recognizes their customer's needs for a solid application solution, and
will be working with long-time advocates of the platform to move the OS to
an open-source or similar model. This would assure customer's that the
HP3000 platform will continue to exist and support them for a long time.

My third choice would be that an end-of-support program is announced, and
that HP would offer trade-in programs for HP9000 or other systems.

Your personal reputation in this industry, and frankly, HP's future as a
company, may be stake here. The question is, can you and HP recognize and
serve those who have come to rely on your superb products (see
http://www.adager.com/HpResourcesTOC.fm.html for some success stories)?

Or will you turn your back on their judgement of the best solution for
their needs. If you choose to ignore them, you surely can't believe they'll
replace their trusted HP3000's with other HP's, can you? I know that if HP
crippled my organization, I'd never buy another computer / printer /
cartridge / calculator there, and it would be a pure business decision. See
http://www.TechGroupMD.com/mpeusers.htm for a partial list of HP3000
customers you would risk losing.

Oh, me? Well, it's safe to say that if the HP3000 is dropped, I won't be
selling anyone on the notion that HP is a business partner to be trusted. I
would mention HP as just another commodity supplier to include in a bidding
process. Is that what you want?

Good luck.
+++ End Quote

--
Regards -- Tony B. Shepherd -- [log in to unmask]

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *