This brings up some good points.  I'd like to comment that we have little
definition
about what is included in the support we get from HP.  I recall in the old
days
(HP 70) that the contract indicated they would come out on a regular basis
for
scheduled maintenance (cleaning the filters with a vacuum cleaner).

We've been having a performance problem on one system (the customer
overloads the system) and HP sold the customer an expensive performance
analysis report that they will not find a use for.

"Guy Avenell" <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message
news:a3p4230prr@enews1.newsguy.com...
> Thank you Bill.  I have only been with Systems Support Group for a little
> over two years.  We help customers who are not happy with their HP 3000
> contract maintenance.
> The very first HP contract we took over was because a company's HP 3000
> console went down and HP said, "That monitor is not covered on your
> contract."  We found out they had entered the serial number for an HP 9000
> console on the contract, which wouldn't work on their HP 3000/922.  They
> didn't even bother to figure out why the system console wasn't on their
> contract.
> When we took over the contract, we cleaned out about 4 years worth of dust
> and debris from the cards inside the cabinet.  I know there have got to be
> some good HP CEs out there, but every contract we have picked up, we have
> had to clean up the machine, and redistribute the load.  The customer
> couldn't believe how much faster they were running, with no additional
> hardware.  When you are not on salary, every customer counts.
> We have kept our customers alive for seven years and with Beechglen
> Development Inc., who needs HP support for software issues.
> My only question is who will give you a legal user upgrade?  Since HP is
> dropping the support, the least they could do is pull out the stops.
>
> Guy Avenell
> Systems Support Group
> www.hptraderonline.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Towe" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 4:13 PM
> Subject: [HP3000-L] A Letter to the HP3000 Community:
>
>
> > Dear HP3000 Community:
> >
> > I would ask that each of you take only a few minutes of your time to
read
> > this letter carefully, consider its content and consider its intent.  I
am
> > writing this letter from my heart and soul regarding HP's atrocities
> > perpetrated against the HP3000 environment.  Please forgive any
> > inconsistencies in dates and times of events invoked herein.  Anyone
> wishing
> > to discuss this
> > topic with me can reach me at the number and e-mail listed at the bottom
> of
> > this letter.  I encourage responses and forwards of this e-mail to
> everyone.
> >
> > During roughly the past decade, dating back to the early 1990's, we as
the
> > HP3000 community have been bastardized in the computer industry.  Not by
> > IBM, not by DEC, not by SUN...but sadly, by the creator,
Hewlett-Packard.
> > HP has waffled back and forth for years on discontinuances and
> continuances
> > regarding the HP3000 environment.  They tried to unbundle IMAGE from the
> OS
> > to
> > break our backs, they tried to discontinue the HP3000 as a whole back in
> > 1994.  HP has stated the proprietary environment no longer has a place
in
> > the computer industry (someone inform IBM).  They manufacture and then
> > immediately discontinue systems within the HP3000 (i.e. the 9x8 family).
> > The software vendors responded in kind by quickly halting software
> > development
> > for our community platform.  Then three years ago, the HP World show in
> > California, Hewlett-Packard stood before each of us and pledge
allegiance
> to
> > our HP3000.  New systems would be developed using the latest and fastest
> > technology, new software alliances would be created, better performance
> > tools, better operating systems would be introduced.  Hewlett-Packard
> > created the N-class and the A-class for the e3000.  Although a bit too
> much
> > like the UNIX class for me, it was still development in the HP3000.
> >
> > Last winter, HP waffled again.  Dan Prather said we no longer had a
place
> in
> > HP's family; this only two short years after the 1998 HP World show.
Once
> > again, we are back on the street.  This time seems to be for good.  If
one
> > had asked me if I thought Hewlett-Packard would honestly follow through
> with
> > its support of the HP3000 since 1998, I would have cautiously said
> "maybe".
> > I had suspicions it would not last.  In hind sight, the development of
the
> A
> > and N-class systems for the HPe3000 was an omen of what was to be.
> > Certainly one had to notice the similarity of this hardware to that of
> > the HP UNIX systems.  HP had a future plan for the HP3000 all right, but
> that
> > future entailed migration.  Migration from the HP3000 to the HP9000 and
a
> > silver bullet against the HP3000 environment.  HP Sales still actively
> > recruits each and every one of us to buy NEW HP3000 systems, paying
> > exorbitant amounts of money only have the equipment available for
> migration
> > within six years.
> >
> > Well, I won't stand for it!  I am tired of relying on HP as a parent
> > continuing to make hollow promises!  HP created the HP3000, but we
> fostered
> > it into what it is today.  HP never expected this environment to breath
on
> > its own.  We did it and we do not need HP to continue.  We don't need HP
> with
> > its troubles; Carly Fiorinia's
> > hidden agenda; the politics that come with living in the HP corporate
> shadow
> > (HP-UX..beware of your future).  IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE OUT OF THE
> HOUSE!
> >
> >
> > Here is my proposal.  Read carefully and with an open mind.  Remember a
> > monsoon is made up of single drops of water.
> >
> > I propose we, as the HP3000 community continue business as usual in the
> > HP3000 environment.  Do not migrate, do not discontinue using the
HP3000.
> > Do not do anything.  Get third party support (it is superlative to HP).
> The
> > last "HP3000" technician that performed for us, had to read up on the
> HP3000
> > being only HP9000 certified.  HP does not teach HP3000 to its techs
> anymore.
> > Finding someone who knows HP3000, one must look to the independent
market.
> >
> > Our community as a whole has the technical expertise to manage with a
> number
> > of technicians HP3000 certified for 30 years!  We have the availability
of
> > surplus equipment (BlueLine can still source equipment for HP3000
Spectrum
> &
> > Classic
> > series).  The 9X7 family is the largest HP3000 family in operation
today.
> It
> > is no longer available for HP support as of April 2002.  When it was
> > created, it was produced in such mass production that the surplus of 9X7
> > equipment is
> > enormous and will be available easily for the next decade.  HP is paying
> > companies with stockpiled warehouses of 9X7 hardware to destroy them (I
> can
> > stop that with you help).  They want to keep them out of the HP3000
> > community so we have no choice but to migrate.  They cannot afford to
have
> > the HP3000 survive because we (AS A COMMUNITY) become direct competition
> > with HP.
> >
> > We have the software developers and vendors to continue to create better
> and
> > newer applications for our environment (LUND, Quest & Robelle to name a
> few).
> >  They will continue to develop and
> > create, if we continue to purchase.  We will petition HP to open
> > MPE for the community to maintain.  If not, we will find another way;
> > although I have some customers that still run MPE/iX 5.5 without
problem.
> > Can one name another computer environment that is more stable, has less
> down
> > time, better performance, longer durability and requires less coddling
> than
> > the HP3000?  Remind your bosses, directors and board members of this
when
> > asked.
> >
> > We have the support availability (anyone running a 9X7 or 9X8 not
seeking
> > 3rd Party Support, should do so NOW)!!  I recommend that each of you
> > currently running an HP3000 9X7 look for alternative resources to
continue
> > to operate this system.  There are MANY, MANY qualified Independent
> > Resellers (IRs) and Service Provider companies in the US today that
> provide
> > excellent HP3000 hardware and support options and will continue to do so
> far
> > past HP's "death" date.  HP cleaned the market up three years ago.  Our
> > community choices are many and highly qualified.  Every industry has
> > undesirable participants just as we do, you simply must be careful when
> > interviewing a company in which to conduct business.  It is just like
> > purchasing anything these days.  CAVEAT EMPTOR: Buyer Beware.
> >
> > Finally, I truly believe we as a community can pull together, pool our
> > resources and continue without HP.  Not only can we maintain at our
> current
> > status, but I truly believe we can grow.  It is time we moved out of the
> > shadow of HP, from under the hammer continually held over our heads.
> DON'T
> > CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE HP SAID TO.  This is our environment
now.
> > HP created it, and we honed it, developed it and raised it as a child of
> our
> > own. HP no longer wants it.  WE DO.  And when HP sees we can survive on
> our
> > own, one can bet the house, HP will want back in.
> >
> > I have personally been in this industry for 11 years.  I feel I can
speak
> > with authority on this subject.  My company, BlueLine Services, is an
> HP3000
> > Services Provider Company; one of many qualified companies out there
> today.
> > We provide HP3000 systems & peripheral hardware sales and support.  We
> > continue to
> > support ALL THE HP3000 servers that HP has slated for discontinuance and
> > that are already off support.  This list includes discontinued support
by
> HP
> > on storage, peripherals, printers, terminals, memory, power
> > supplies...anything else in the HP3000 environment: 9x7, 9x8, 9x9, 99x,
> > N4000, A-Class.  Again, BlueLine is one of a large number of qualified
> > HP3000 companies that will help perpetuate our community beyond the
> > suffocating grip of Hewlett-Packard.  Companies like BlueLine Services
can
> > be the "HP" of the future.  All we need is for our community as a whole
to
> > join in.
> >
> > Since the announcement of the HP3000 dissolution, the HP3000 community
is
> > migrating to third party support and sales companies INDEPENDENT OF HP
in
> > record numbers.  Let's continue.  We will not go quietly into the night.
> We
> > will stand and
> > fight for our HP3000.  Hewlett-Packard cannot take this from us.  We
have
> the
> > right and the place to reap the reward of our labors now and well into
our
> > future.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > -Bill P. Towe
> > President
> > BlueLine Services, LLC.
> > HP Services & Sales Provider Company
> > 2435 Southwell Road, Suite 2A
> > Dallas, TX.  75229
> > (877) 464-2583
> > (214) 808-9110 cell
> > (972) 241-3074 fax
> > [log in to unmask]
> > www.bluelineservices.com
> >
> > * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
> > * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
> >
>
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>

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