HPe3000 forum delivers objective advice

ManMan MRP and HPe3000 users facing withdrawal of the machine in 2006 have another lifeline: the independent HPe3000 Forum (www.hpusers.or.uk/3000sig). It’s a not for profit group of users and suppliers, with members including Nike, Perwill, SSI and Transoft. Although it’s supported by Hewlett-Packard, and the firm makes it clear that it wants to keep its customers, offers and advice do appear entirely unbiased – driven by HP users and partners. The site welcome page says: “There are some difficult and complex choices to be made,” and it declares its objective as “to make life as easy as possible for the HP3000 IT manager”. Special offers include a free confidential migration assessment from HP itself, and much the same from Transoft. The former involves what HP terms an objective look at your situation by HP MPE software support engineers, not sales people, and the result is a report indicating requirements for the future, recommendations and a list of names for help. Transoft, meanwhile, is offering a free day’s consulltancy. Next meeting is on July 2 in the Reading area.