Plan to CANCEL SIGImage/SQL meeting @ HPWKen This is my comment:

If someone were homesteading I would be concerned that there will come a day when Image/SQL will need to know about SQL99 ... that day is not too far out ... so I would want to have people understand that before we give Ken and Tien-You a leave of absence.

I am sure that the database lab has been steadily reducing staffing so I'm not sure it could actually do anything at this point to earn the support dollars ... but without thinking too much I recognise that this will be a burning issue soon ...

Sorry to contradict the illustrious cast of characters who have commented but as Ken will tell you there must be a contrarian in every group;-) As a user and a vendor I would want SIG-IMAGE to help facilitate the advocacy. It is too early to stand down ... your vigilance is still needed until the knowledge base is confirmed as safely escrowed.

Birket
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sletten Kenneth W KPWA 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Wed,July 21, 2004 11:23 PM
  Subject: Plan to CANCEL SIGImage/SQL meeting @ HPW


  Hello all users of IMAGE, TurboIMAGE, and Image/SQL: 

  Given a recent reminder by Interex that HPW is fast approaching: 

  I talked to the HP Database Lab recently, and they agree with me that at 
  this point there does not appear to be a valid reason to justify holding 
  another SIGImage/SQL meeting at HP World.  EXCEPT that HP is killing it [ 
  :-(( ], I don't know of any immediate burning IMAGE issues that need 
  discussion at a separate face-time meeting.  Note that does not include 
  renewing old acquaintances (but plenty of other HPW opportunities for that). 
  Expectation is that there will be no more Image enhancements coming from HP; 
  and the odd IMAGE-specific question can probably be brought up under the MPE 
  umbrella, on 3000-L, or on the OpenMPE list.  And if there are a couple 
  "maintenance mode" IMAGE announcements from HP between now and end of HP 
  support at the end of 2006, they can also be posted to 3000-L and OpenMPE. 

  There is one issue that a member of the Image/SQL Advisory Committee (ISAC) 
  mentioned in this context, that some Homesteaders may sooner or later need 
  to be concerned about:  SQL99;  and the fact the Image/SQL does not speak 
  SQL99.  So if for that or other reason there is still a collective wish to 
  continue SIGImage/SQL in some separate and distinct form, someone will have 
  to volunteer to assume the mantle of Chairman.  I greatly appreciate the 
  confidence and support of IMAGE users in letting me continue in the post of 
  Chairman since 1996, but for a number of professional and personal reasons 
  it's time for me to move on... 

  Note it is my understanding that SIGMPE definitely WILL be meeting at 
  HPW-2004 (there are certainly many unresolved MPE and OpenMPE issues).  If 
  somehow one or more of my above assumptions are wrong, SIGMPE is probably 
  the best forum at HPW to bring up an IMAGE question.  In fact, several 
  people have suggested that SIGImage/SQL should be merged in with SIGMPE at 
  this point.  If SIGMPE is willing, I agree with that suggestion.  Since I 
  will not be at HPW this year either (cannot justify the trip), I leave it to 
  you the IMAGE users who *will* be at HPW-2004 to bring that issue to the 
  floor at the SIGMPE meeting if you so desire. 

  SIGIMAGE: 
  Quite a run since the 1990 Boston Tea Party.  Nick Demos lead the effort to 
  re-start SIGIMAGE @ Boston;  Steve Cooper took the reins in his capable 
  hands as the first Chairman;  then Jerry Fochtman;  then me.  But unless HP 
  passes the MPE technical and licensing football to OpenMPE or etc., it's 
  over. 



  PROFESSIONAL FOOTNOTE: 
  When our trusty 959KS-400 is turned off (THEORETICALLY by the end of 
  calendar year 2004), except for embedded test set computers AFAIK that will 
  be the end of the LAST serious general-purpose HP computer in our entire 
  organization (our 959 has been running essentially 24x7 since December 
  1995).  Our organization is going almost entirely to SQL/Server running on 
  Dell;  desktops are a mix of Dell, Micron, and miscellaneous Joe's Midnight 
  Computer parts;  i.e.: 
  Adios, HP:  No need to bother calling us anymore (HP the COMPANY that is; 
  NOT the many working-level technical HP employees we got to know on a 
  personal basis over the last 16 years)... 



  SIDEBAR FOOTNOTE: 
  Given where things stand right now, my closing regret is that we did not go 
  ahead and organize and put on a vocal protest demonstration during Carly's 
  speech at HPW-2002.  Realize doing that likely would not actually have made 
  anything move more in the right direction, but....  so it goes.... 

  Ken Sletten 
  SIGImage/SQL Chair since 1996. 
  Sine die.....