Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpl-opus!poulton
From: poulton@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com (Ken Poulton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: SNAKE CLUSTER(?)
Message-ID: <63300030@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com>
Date: 6 Jun 91 09:32:17 GMT
References: <1991Apr15.204425.8682@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Organization: HP Labs, High Speed Electronics Dept., Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 39

>> Given there is a non-zero cost for implementing and supporting these
>> features, are you willing to pay more for an HP system with partitions on it?
> 
> How much more would it cost, per HP 9000/750, to have the disk partitioning
> ability of all other Unix systems - 0.1%?

I think that no one is going to change the price of the 700's based on
the cost of adding particular software features.  In reality, we have
several labs that do HP-UX software; their budgets are set based on the
financial performance of that portion of HP and management's view of
whether they are adequately staffed to do their assigned jobs.  These
views and budgets don't tend to change very rapidly.  The net result is
that at any particular time, there is simply a finite amount of
resources (personpower, $$) available to be applied. 

Whether a given feature makes it into a given release is based on a
prioritization of features.  There always is a long list and there is a
cut line (that tends to move up or down the list as releases get behind
or ahead of schedule).  Partitions for the s300 just never made it
above the cut line.

The prioritization tends to be done by management and marketing.  That's
where you come in: tell your sales rep, or much better, write a letter
to the relevant marketing manager when you have particular unmet needs. 
I don't think that posting here is very effective; it mainly reaches lab
folks.  

My own opinion is that this system tends to freeze out many smaller
features (like disk partitions) in favor of a few larger ones (e.g.,
NFS).  I can't judge the correctness of that, just note that marketing
is in the driver's seat.  If you care about something, let *them* hear
it.  Lost sales with dollar figures attached speak louder than anything
else. 


Ken Poulton
poulton@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com

"Take two standard disclaimers and call back in the morning."