At 06:51 PM 24/1/95 GMT, Stan Sieler wrote:
>Rudderow, Evan ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
>
>: As I understand it HP isn't so much worried about a customer's misuse of the
>: diagnostics as they are concerned about protecting their investment in
>: developing and maintaining the diagnostics.  More to the point I get the
>: impression that HP doesn't want to have third party maintenance providers
>: using HP tools to take away maintenance business from HP.
>
>: Frankly I can appreciate HP's position in this.  I certainly wouldn't want
>: to *GIVE* away a revenue source to my competition.
>
[snip...]
>If locking up the tools is the only way they can keep your business...
>maybe you should ask: who are they afraid of?   ... and get quotes from them!
>
 
Looking at this a bit more philosophically, it must be said HP is free to
charge whatever and however they want for the software...after all it is
licensed, not sold to us.  These changes for passwords only come on new
software being sent to you, not existing software.
 
If HP wanted to password the operating system so that it expires at the same
time as your support contract they also have that right, I believe.  Other
vendors used to do similar things.
 
The whole thing boils down to "How attractive does this make the HP3000 and
MPE?".  HP probably see it as a "beauty spot", helping to keep the support
revenues coming in.  I see it as simply another unattractive blemish.
 
HP already deny us the ability to use a wealth of third-party hardware
products ("Not efficiently tuned", they say), despite our recognition and
understanding of the problems associated with them.  Now they are niggardly
withholding the only tools that CAN be used, in return for a support contract.
 
OK, its not "the end of the world".  Perhaps it is the "thin end of the
wedge".  Certainly it is an indication that the only relationship HP is keen
to preserve with the installed base is its fiscal one.
 
This makes me sad. I think it reflects a management styles linked to a
mechanistic, reductionist, Newtonian worldviews, with no cultural ethos.
Where is the nobility of such an attitude?  "Squeeze tighter to keep the
shareholders happy!".  And what of everyone else?
 
----
Jim Wowchuk                    Internet:    [log in to unmask]
Vanguard Computer Services     Compu$erve:  100036,106
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