After years of turning away from the calculations that can prove the HP 3000 is a better buy than any other server, the Commercial Systems Division is starting on a project to show off the 3000’s cost of ownership edge. The 3000 division has put engineer Rachael Kornblau on the job of “putting together a customer brochure illustrating the HP e3000's superior cost of ownership. HP will use this brochure to help attract customers to the HP e3000 platform. The current plan is for this brochure to include some quantitative data, as well as customer testimonials and quotes.”

Kornblau put a request on the Internet’s 3000-L mailing list and newsgroup for quantitative data on HP e3000 operational costs as compared to other platforms like “how many folks it takes to run an HP e3000 compared to other platforms. She’s also looking for “Hidden value in the HPe3000 that might not be obvious. For example, perhaps there are technical features (like an included transaction manager) or ease of use/management capabilities that are noteworthy.” The object is to attract and retain e3000 customers, although it’s not yet clear if HP intends to extend the cost of ownership comparison to its own Unix and NT-based servers. Sites with data to share can contact Kornblau at rachel_kornblau@hp.com.