Was: <No HP3000 in "Federal Solutions from Hewlett-Packard">

John Korb said:

[....SNIP good stuff....]
>Can't the HP Marketing people at least add "and HP3000" to
>some of their literature?  Does it cost so much to add those
>two words?

I whole-heartedly agree.  I think one of the biggest reasons
that many in the general computing community have had the
perception that HP is backing away from the 3000, is that for
several years HP seemed to *deliberately* avoid doing things
like this that would essentially have been no cost;  or at least
very low cost.  Even with CSY saying & doing good things, it
was at best a very mixed message from HP as a whole (I
think I am being generous);  and without any doubt it was a
negative message from much of the HP Sales organization.
And for several years there was little or nothing from senior
corporate managers to counteract the "negative advertising"
from some parts of HP.  Perceptions like this can become
reality pretty quickly if they are left to fester.

HP World - Anaheim was the closest I have seen HP come
to being collectively "on message" as far as a positive pitch
for the 3000  (Roseville being the most noteable exception;
hopefully CSY or CSO will manage to "re-educate" them.
(Yes, I know:  I'm drifting into politico-speak.  What can I say;
we are after all in the heart of the political silly season) ).

I suppose it's not politically correct anymore, but I can't help
but recall an ad on TV some years ago, when Joe Namath
was not quite so far out of his prime as a football player.  The
ad was pushing aqua-velva or something;  that doesn't matter:

Anyway, this ad has Broadway Joe coming down the steps
on the outside of this building, with an *absolutely* beautiful
young blond on his arm.  Joe saunters over to a small crowd
of his adoring admirers with his lady of the evening, and with
just the right amount of swagger, he says:  "Heyyyy, if you're
not going to go all the way, why go at all ??"....  Supposedly
he is talking about football, but heyyyy, *they* all know what
he's talking about....  Sports heros and sex:  Another classic
from Madison Avenue, on what sells products in America.....

.....  Like I said, not politically correct anymore...  But it says
it so well:  HP, if you're not going to go all the way, why go at
all ??....  Anaheim was a pretty good start;  now what we need
is for HP *as a corporation* to be seen and heard delivering on
the positive message Dick Watts and Harry Sterling presented
at HP World..  Y'all stand by to see if they finish the job....

Oh, </soap box off>, I suppose....

.... Hmmmm....  In 1996 we had the "Proposition 3000" button,
which after initial reservations in some quarters ended up being
passed out by HP at HP World....  Maybe for 1997 we can
have something like:

"HP 3000:  If you're not going all the way, why go at all ?"

Oh, yeah, following Birket's lead:   (tm)  ....or is it   (C)    ;-)

>...And to all the wonderful HP 3000 Lab, Response Center, and Support
>personnel, thanks!  Your products ARE wonderful.  Your efforts ARE
>appreciated.  You have good reason to have a high pride in your software
>authorship.  Keep up the good work!  ...but get those Marketing people
to
>take off their blinders and see beyond the 9000.

Ditto.

Ken Sletten