In article <[log in to unmask]>,
Neil Harvey <[log in to unmask]> writes
>Whenever I travel, I always seem to end up as a victim of impossible to
>use or cumbersome airline reservation systems.
>When I can (and if the line behind me is empty or out of earshot :)), I
>try to follow what the reservationist is doing and get chatting.
>
>Almost without exception, the operator hates the system, has to re-enter
>the few simple bits of information over and over on different screens,
>and it takes MUCH longer than it should to resolve seemingly simple
>issues.
>
>So, as a vertical and rapidly growing market, airline reservation just
>has to be a great target for a killer application.
>
>Forget client/server, mainframe, relational, buzzword etc.
>Just provide sturdy, logical, functional, dependable systems, and you
>will clean up in this market.
>Sell the solution as a bundle, including facilities management.
>
>(Oh, and don't forget to add access over Internet and email enquiries
>and bookings)
>
>Regards
>
>Neil
>
>

As a former customer using HP applications, MM/PM 3000 & FA and for the
last 12 years as an ISP selling 3K Manufacturing Applications I have
mixed feelings on the Buyout.

HP have always made wonderful hardware, but their applications have
always been dogged by failures to continue development.

MM/3000 and PM/3000 were very good products when they were launched, and
I would bet that many hundreds of companies have 3K's today because of
the purchase of MM. But they have been ill served by HP over the last
decade as these products were allowed to vegitate as HP waited for the
3K to die. Until they were finally sold off to exegysis.

Transact was a very good 3.5GL language, when they bought it, but none
of the development it needed really ever happened.

Allbase/4GL bought in an re-launched with a great fanfare as the best
development environment ever. Dead about 1 year later.

HP/PO Launched out of a bespoke development for a cosmetics company. As
Still Born as an application can be.

Netware/IX. On its death bed.

Oracle on the 3K. On it's last release?

My personal opinion is that any application development that HP gets
involved with is doomed, but maybe this will be different. We know that
it is apps like OpenSkies that have enabled recent sales of 3K's to new
customers, so if CSY are going to run it for customers it may have a
future.

The main problem I think companies like HP have with applications is
that it brings them into conflict with their VAR's and ISV's. Many times
in the past I have seen new customer sales lost, as HP trying to sell
its own application on the 3K was competing with one of its own VAR's
selling its application, and it only mudded the waters.

Also the application is only ever a tiny part of HP's business, easily
forgoten or neglected in favour of Hardware. Where as for a VAR or ISV
it is normally the major percentage of its business and gets lots of
attention. It's normally only when software companies get taken over by
larger organisations, that their application support and development
starts to go downhill.

So I guess we will have to wait and see, what strategy HP adopts. But I
for one on its past record wouldn't bet my own money.

I would rather HP made and marketed the 3K, and got involved in
promoting all the applications available for it.
Alan Yeo
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Phone +44 1684 291710   it doesn't mean someone isn't!.
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