From: maklinm@cognos.com (Max Maklin)
Subject: Re: DDS distribution (was: Patching policies of HP)
Organization: Cognos Incorporated, Ottawa CANADA
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 18:35:25 GMT

In article <28510412@hpuamsa.neth.hp.com> robs@hpuamsa.neth.hp.com (Rob Slotemaker CRC) writes:
:^()  Thanks for your comments. We are always pleased with comments which can lead
:^()  to improvements, but I am personally not in a position to implement the
:^()  improvements just right now. But let me give you some notes.

Rob, you and the few other HPers have always unselfishly took the time to 
keep us up to date and out of trouble.  Maybe some day vendors will realize 
that their very own SEs out there who know more, in some cases, there their
own corresponding sales force, especially those who choose to venture in 
this large (rather cold sometimes :)) world we call Usenet.

:^()  
:^()  You wrote "HP uses a periodical patching mechanism known as DART tapes".
:^()  I think it is better not to use the word "patching" in this. We (Response
:^()  Center Engineers) speak about patching when we send the customer a patch
:^()  (called PHxx_nnnn). According to the documentation sent with each DART, the
:^()  DART media includes one or more of the latest application products newly
:^()  developed or updated by HP.

Yes, I would agree it was a little narrow.

:^()  
:^()  One improvement has already been taken care of partially. As per DART 7
:^()  customers with CD-ROM media only receive a new one when one or more of the
:^()  products that are part of the contract has been updated. I don't know the
:^()  details of DAT media, but there is difference between CD-ROM and DAT. CD-ROM
:^()  media always contains all products, which are codeword protected. DAT media
:^()  only contains products which are part of a customer's contract. So I can
:^()  imagine that, when no product as part of a contract has been changed, we don't
:^()  send an empty tape :-).

Hmmm, I believe I was trying to say that its the DART doc kit they keep sending
to us, whether it applies to our software contract.  In these instances, I too
never receive any blank tapes (Detail Update: Since I receive DARTS on 9-track 
and 4mm, I can vouch that no tape is sent).

:^()  
:^()  The fileset document indeed is a large document and for those not familiar
:^()  with reading such documents it indeed can be difficult to understand and get
:^()  only the information you need from it. Maybe the document should be
:^()  "customized" for each contract. I will see if I can initiate actions to let
:^()  people at least think about that.

Maybe, if the above can be set-up, you could cost justify the savings in 
paper and printing so that a more elaborate detection system could be built and
save money in the long run.  

:^()  
:^()  I am glad your local support people could help you with the Allbase revision
:^()  problem. Let's hope such problem don't occur very often.
:^()  
:^()  I personally think DART is a nice mechanism to get new or updated applications
:^()  to the installed base. Are there any other things you think need to be
:^()  improved ?

Again no complaints about the theory, I would still rate HP as having  one of
best product update policy from Unix vendors (SCOs is pretty good too!).  The
only other thing I would wish for is to see vendors listen to their customers.
While not all the numbers may add up at first, the customer will ultimately 
decide the success of business.  And maybe by letting people like yourself
and others to play a more active role in providing feedback to those 
empowered to make the decisions, will some positive changes.


Max
-- 
Max Maklin                                                P.O. Box 9707 
Technical Analyst	                           3755 Riverside Drive
Cognos Incorporated                              Ottawa, Ontario CANADA
Internet: maklinm@cognos.COM                 UUNet: maklinm@cognos.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp