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From: eik@os.is (Einar Kjartansson)
Newsgroups: comp.text,comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Desktop publishing systems?
Summary: Perhaps HP attitude has something to do with this..
Message-ID: <110@geysir.os.is>
Date: 5 Dec 88 10:50:25 GMT
References: <2612@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> <673@wilbur.unix.ETA.COM> <831@io.UUCP> <901@kuling.UUCP>
Organization: National Energy Authority of Iceland
Lines: 48

In article <901@kuling.UUCP>, irf@kuling.UUCP (Bo Thide) writes:
> from those who have HP workstations themselves) mention HP as an alternative
> when they are discussing application software like DTP. I can't understand
> why.  HP has a large installed base (according to Datapro 1987 they sold
> *more* workstations in Europe than Sun did!), the HP screens are excellent

This is a general situation that applies to both hardware and software,
the availability of both third party hardware and software for HP computers
is very limited. I think this is the result of a deliberate policy  that
at least some part of the HP organization pursues.

HP does not really want its customers to use their products with anybody
elses products and they discourage the availabilty and use of any software
that could possibly compete with any of their own products.
Graphics is a good example of this. 

Before we purchased our 9000/840 computer we were told that we would
be able to use Starbase graphics software with our equipment which included
HP pen plotters, Tektronics 4014 compatable graphics terminals, HP laserjet
printers and Versatek electrostatic plotter. After the system arrived we
found that tools for writing starbase drivers on the 800 series were
not available, and would not be. Also that HP did not consider "terminal
graphics" of strategic importance and had no plan to support 4014 
terminals (which means over 90 persent of low cost graphics terminals and
and terminal emulators for PCs)

So we were in a situation where whe had a huge, software package that
cost close to $10000 and it supported only one type of device. 
The result was that we wrote starbase off and wrote our own interface
that suppored all our devices. Most of the graphics is now done using
PC with tectronics 4014 emulators with hardcopy on the HP laserjet.
The HPGL plotters are mostly unused because when the users are given
a choise between a laserjet and a penplotters, they almost always
pick the laserjet, because it is faster, more convenient and produces
sharper results. (Nobody seems to want color badly enaugh to hassle with
the pen plottes.)

In this case the above mentioned attitude of HP goes so far that 
in order to protect the mechanical plotter sales they discourage its
customer from using a superior HP product, the laserjet. No wonder
why there is not much third party support !


-- 
  Einar Kjartansson                           | eik@os.is
  Orkustofnun (National Energy Authority)     | eik@geysir.uucp
  Grensasvegi 9, IS-108 Reykjavik, Iceland    | mcvax!hafro!geysir!eik
  Phone: 354-1-83600    Fax: 354-1-688896    Home: 354-1-16407