rclark@speclab.bgp-usgs.gov (Roger N. Clark) (06/06/89)
I've heard a rumor (I hope it's only a rumor) that the series 800 is soon to be a dead-end machine. This is because of the speed of the 68040 plus an i860 porcessor is so good, combined with need for commonality with Apollo (apparently the only processor commonality between the two companies is the 68000 series). I am still hurting over the series 500, and the way it was phased out (yes I know its still officially sold and supported, but reality is that the operating system and hardware have been left in the dust). So a plea to HP: don't do to the 800 what you did to the 500. If the 800 cpu is to be phased out, give us an upgrade to the new architecture as a cpu board swap at cost. But keep the I/O cards, cabinet, I/O buss, everything else so that the upgrade is a minimal cost (a few $K or less). If you don't I believe you will lose a LOT of customers for many years! For example, after spending about $60,000 on my 500 (cpu, memory, expander, I/O cards), I found it being phased out and a trade in value of less than $5K (software was another $4K or so)! And all that within 3 years! Who can afford $60K every 3 years, not including peripherals? I have had the 800 for less than a year, and you know what they say--most rumors in business are true. Please HP, keep a good low cost upgrade path, and if you phase out one architecture, give your customers a path too good to pass up. I will do my best to not be burned more than once (and strike one has already occured)! Of course these are my opinions and not those of my employer, especially considering that the government must be fair with open competition.
mike@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Mike McNelly) (06/08/89)
The rumor is without any foundation. Development and resources for the Series 800 continue to increase. Mike McNelly mike%hpfcla@hplabs.hp.com
rclark@speclab.bgp-usgs.gov (Roger N. Clark) (06/19/89)
> The rumor is without any foundation. Development and resources for the > Series 800 continue to increase. Sorry to alarm everyone, but you know what they say...80+% of all rumors in business are true. I've since heard rumors (unofficial) of "good stuff" comming for the 800. But that the really hot stuff is more than a year away.