RE: Performance Computing (was Unix Review) closing down ...

[DL Hilton <hilton@entelos.com>]

"These two were aimed at SUPPORT people, not IT buyers."

It has always been thus: advertisers will spend money to get in front of
those who make the purchasing decisions, but not those who have to make the
)*#$)*#)%*#% crap work once it's been bought.

Well, some advertisers are going to loose out on this one.  As the IT
Manager here I don't get to pick out all the toys we buy - but, I have
absolute veto power.  If advertisers don't give me a reason to believe in
their product, trained support people to talk to, and straight answers to my
questions - my signature won't hit the P.O.  And, by senior exec agreement -
that, as they say, is that.

Some of you may have had the experience, as I have had, of getting "the
word" from a vendor's tech folks to cool my jets on a recent product
offering and to wait for the next revision.  I'm certain that some salesmen
have lost short term commissions over the years - but some of these
companies have gained a longer term advocate because he had access to, and
got the truth, from the guys and gals in the back room.  If you want an
example of one heroic company in this regard, it's H-P.  On a good day, Dell
comes close.

YMMV

DL