Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mailrus!ulowell!swan!asherman From: asherman@dino.ulowell.edu (Aaron Sherman) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apollo Subject: Re: HP Response to Netpower Open Letter Message-ID: Date: 17 Sep 90 07:23:31 GMT References: <7680002@hpccc.HP.COM> Sender: news@ul-cs.ulowell.edu Organization: CPE: University of Lowell -- Lowell, MA Lines: 87 In-reply-to: lufkin@hpccc.HP.COM's message of 16 Sep 90 06:07:22 GMT lufkin@hpccc.HP.COM (Paul Lufkin) writes: TO: Apollo INTERNET Customers FROM: Hewlett-Packard Company SUBJECT: Response to Open Letter "Hewlett-Packard, Apollo Customers, and the Internet" DATE: September 15, 1990 I was impressed that HP not only posted this to the net, but also E-mailed it to each of the signatories (of which I was one). Only a few complaints: 1. Improved response to APR's: When HP receives an Apollo This section does NOT address the fact that Apollo documentation says that mkapr is GOING AWAY! HP currently accepts APR's via email, over the phone, or through regular mail. HP will investigate creating an address on Internet, specifically for submitting APR's, which would be available to any HP user. We currently This COULD be a hint that mkapr is being kept, but I'm not sure. 2. Electronic Mail Services and Services via the Internet: Hewlett-Packard appreciates that electronic services are very important to workstation customers. HP is committed to creating and delivering services that meet your needs and help your productivity. Currently, HP's strategic investment in electronic services is HP SupportLine. HP SupportLine is an electronic support This, I'm fuzzy on. What is HP Supportline? Is it a group of operators that I call, or is it a peice of software? If it's a peice of software do I get a database with it, or does it just know the address and port to connect to a server at HP (this would be neet)? If it's a static database, then it doesn't sound terribly usefull, but if it's dynamic with a refresh of any less than a month, and it has current info, then it sounds VERY usefull and I applaud HP's creativity on this one. We introduced HP SupportLine to customers at ADUS in September 1989 and shipped HP SupportLine to HP/Apollo support customers worldwide in February 1990. There are now We have not got it here, and we've been paying an arm and a leg for service. However, HP will actively seek an interpretation of the Internet guidelines to determine whether HP SupportLine meets the "commerciality" requirements. Hewlett-Packard This is a VERY good point, and I would not want to try to push HP into violating the internet guidelines/rules. * Security: HP is aware that there are Domain functions which have been viewed as features to some, and potential security issues to others. The Apollo Systems Division is developing a technique to make these functions customer-selectable. Everything is customer selectable. That's why I keep magnets. :) Regards, Dave Perozek General Manager, Apollo Systems Division Marc Hoff General Manager, Application Support Division All in all, it's more that I expected, but less than I'd hoped for. I would have liked to have seen less PRBS (40% of this letter in my opinion), and more usefull information about what HP intends on doing. But, hey, who am I to ask for miricals! I'll just see if they follow through on this much. -AJS -- asherman@dino.ulowell.edu or asherman%cpe@swan.ulowell.edu Note that as of 7/18/90 that's asherman@dino.cpe.ulowell.edu "That that is is that that is not is not is that it it is."