Off-topic, but interesting (Fiorina fired)

From: Tom Jennings <tomj_at_wps.com>
Date: Wed Feb 9 20:14:47 2005

On Wed, 9 Feb 2005, Vintage Computer Festival wrote:

> It's a matter of principle. Making printers that print hidden water marks
> on your page steps on that principle.

It's very, very simple: THERE ARE NO PRINCIPLES IN CAPITALIST
CORPORATIONS. Or, there are, but they can be changed as needed.
Same difference.

>> I'm not denying that HP isn't the company it used to be, both in culture
>> and in quality of products. But I say "The HP Way" didn't die -- it just
>> never existed. The founders were just as good at marketing as, say,
>> Steve Jobs is today. They simply hid it better.
>
> Evan, get your favorite hot sauce ready so you can dash some on your foot ;)

I think Evan is right.

HP was always an obnoxious company, anyways. For example, when I
worked at Apple in 1986 (OS/ROM group, MAC II and SE) a few of us
gay employees asked to use, and were granted, rooms to meet in at
Apple. When we asked, out of mere curiosity, what some policy or
other was on gay employees, the HR person said "gee, I don't know,
I'll ask". Turns out there was no policy at all, but after I left
some dialog occurred and some got written (positively).

At the same time, at HP, gay HP employees did the same thing;
simply asked to use a meeting room to talk. Denied. When they
pushed, pointing out that other employee groups were allowed to
use meeting rooms, the policy was changed for a while so that no
employee groups could. Nice!

This was at Silicon Valley plants. I'm sure things changed later,
but I'm sure it took some effort. None of this is any more onerous
than at most large corps, but wey weren't any better, either.
Received on Wed Feb 09 2005 - 20:14:47 GMT