Have you seen IBM's recent letter to HP3000 users?  Here is the first
paragraph:
 
        "Recent response to Proposition 4000 shows us many of you
        are interested in exploring your options and are curious
        about what AS/400 can do for you."
 
"Proposition 400"?  IBM is STEALING your marketing talents, Jeff.  For
those of you who don't know, Jeff Kell is the CREATOR of the term:
 
        Proposition 3000
 
and the presenter of the first talk at the famous IPROF "Proposition 3000"
session (chaired by Tony Furnivall) last March.
 
 
 
Anyhow, IBM has a side-by-side comparison between the AS/400 and the HP3000
with several features.  Two things stand out:
 
        Investment stream
                - billions of $ for the AS/400
                - in question* for the HP3000
 
        Strategic Commitment
                - Yes for the AS/400
                - in question* for the HP3000
 
For the items with "*", IBM explains: "These items raise questions only
Hewlett-Packard has answers to".
 
----
 
Harry Sterling said wonderful things at HP World in Anaheim, and Dick Watts
answered (on his http://www.hp.com:80/hpworld/watts.html web site) several
fundamental and strategic questions about the HP3000.  But these two
high-ranking HP executives are addressing their comments to the FAITHFUL,
whereas IBM is addressing its comments to people who are outside their
"installed base".
 
It would be very sad if we allowed IBM to pick up the "Proposition 3000"
spirit and put all of its corporate might behind their copy-cat
"proposition 400".
 
Why can't HP put all of its corporate might behind the original
"Proposition 3000" spirit?  The buttons at HP World were certainly
magnificent.  But, again, they were seen only by the faithful.  We need to
tell people OUTSIDE of the HP3000 installed base.  The giant poster project
was a way to reach people outside of the MPE culture.
 
If a loosely-organized group of grass-roots people (no pun intended
regarding the troublesome grass at the poster's assembly site) could
accomplish such a great feat, just imagine what a company of the size of HP
could do if it managed to get its act together!
 
 
Proposingly 3000,
 
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|               |
|            r  |  Alfredo                     [log in to unmask]
|          e    |                           http://www.adager.com
|        g      |  F. Alfredo Rego               Tel 208 726-9100
|      a        |  Manager, Theoretical Group    Fax 208 726-2822
|    d          |  Adager Corporation
|  A            |  Sun Valley, Idaho 83353-3000            U.S.A.
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