Conference 7.286::digital

    Is this good, bad, or otherwise?
    

>    Is this good, bad, or otherwise?
    
Depends how dire the circumstances were that prompted this.  It
does tend to make me wanna revive my WAG from another note that
Palmer will step upstairs concurrent with annual results being
released and somebody else (like Charlie Christ, or maybe an
outsider) will be named President.  Although i'm surprised Enrico
didn't wait til then to make his announcement if that's how the
deck is stacked.

- paul

    I thought that Enrico was just being the fall guy.  You know, taking
    the rap for Bob's incompetent management.

    Lets face it, from all the mail messages about discretionary spending
    it would appear that four years of management by cost control is not
    working (not that that should be a surprise).  In the same period HP
    have expanded revenues to $31 billion.  But that appears to be out of
    Digital's league - we are into centralised management and cost control
    - not expanding revenues.

    Of course, the are those who will say that we have done well maintaining
    our revenues because we are now in a lower margin business, for example,
    personal computers.  So, what was our strategy to offset these lower
    margins?  Sorry, we do not hear anything like that from Bob.  All we
    get are platitudes like "It is a privilege to work for this company".
    I wonder if the 62,500 or whatever number of people are left now think
    about working for Digital under Bob.  Not to mention the 60,000 people
    whose lives were shattered when they got the flick.

    Bob should not have to take all of the blame.  The board must accept
    some of the responsibility as well.  But then, we are talking about
    the person who gave himself a huge rise before the company incurred
    losses of $183 million - to bring his package into line with other
    CEOs in the industry.  Did he compare himself with the CEO from HP?
    If he did, then we got the short shrift.  The CEO of HP has actually
    done something for his company.

    Anyhow, I do not normally read this conference because most things
    here are too bitter and twisted.

    Bryan

re: .1

It's good, and the right thing to do. If it's your plan and it fails so badly,
*and* you've lost the workforces trust, it's time to fall on your sword. All
vpees should note.

    Heck, I been saying THAT for years.
    
    See 2342.*
    
    :-)
    

February 2, 1993



Mr. Enrico Pesatori
219 East Lake Shore Drive
Apartment 6D
Chicago, IL  60611

Re:  Offer of Employment

Dear Enrico:


As the letter dated December 21, 1992, contemplated, the
following provisions shall constitute the terms and conditions
upon which you shall be employed with Digital Equipment
Corporation ("Digital" or the "Company")).

1.   Status

You will be employed as of February 3, 1993, as a regular
employee with the title of Vice President and General Manager,
Personal Computer Business Unit, on an at-will basis and your
employment shall continue for so long as it is mutually
agreeable to both parties; provided, however, that your
employment will not be terminated during the first six months of
employment, and during the second six months, only on six
months' prior written notice.  In this capacity, you will be a
member of the Senior Leadership Team.

2.   Compensation

Your beginning annual rate of base compensation will be
$550,000.00, which is payable weekly (or on such other basis as
may be applicable to senior executives generally as Digital
shall determine from time to time).  Your rate of base pay will
be reviewed periodically and adjusted accordingly in light of
the compensation practices and policies in effect from time to
time.

You will participate in Digital's short-term incentive
compensation program.  Any payment thereunder will be made
solely in the discretion of Digital's Board of Directors (the
"Board"), subject to the Company's performance, which is the
same basis on which the other members of the Senior Leadership
Team participate.  If payment under this program is made to
other members of the Senior Leadership Team, a payment will be
made to you as well.  It will be recommended that your target
participation range will be at least $200,000 for on-plan
performance, pro-rated for the number of months of the fiscal
year during which you are employed by Digital; provided,
however, no less than $100,000 will be paid to you under this
program for fiscal year 1993.

3.   Stock Awards

The Board has approved an award to you effective on your date of
hire and contingent on your actually being employed by Digital,
which grants you a stock award of 10,000 shares of Digital
common stock under the 1990 Equity Plan, which will be evidenced
by a separate award letter, to vest in equal amounts over a
five-year period from the effective date of the award.  All
vesting restrictions on such stock shall lapse if your
employment is terminated by the Company for reasons other than
for "cause" or by you for "good reason" (as each such term is
defined in Paragraph 7, below).  You will be solely responsible
for any income tax consequences (including making a Section
83(b) election) associated with your receipt of such an award.

The Board has approved an award to you effective on your date of
hire and contingent on your actually being employed by Digital,
which grants you an award of a non-qualified stock option with
respect to 30,000 shares of Digital common stock at an option
price of $35.00 under the 1990 Equity Plan, which will be
evidenced by a separate award letter, to become exercisable in
equal amounts over a five-year period from the effective date of
the award. All vesting restrictions on such stock shall lapse if
your employment is terminated by the Company for reasons other
than for "cause" or by you for "good reason" (as each such term
is defined in Paragraph 7, below).

4.   Loan

The Board has approved a loan to you, contingent on your actually
being employed by Digital, in the principal amount of
$150,000.00 for the sole purpose of purchasing a new principal
residence in the Boston area, which shall be secured by a second
mortgage.  You agree to execute a promissory note with terms
substantially as set forth in the attached form of promissory
note and execute such other documents which the Company
determines to be necessary or desirable to effect such security
and to establish the tax-free nature of the transaction under
Section 7872 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and the regulations thereunder.

5.   Confidentiality Agreement

You will be required to sign Digital's Employee Invention and
Confidential Agreement (the "Confidentiality Agreement") as of
your date of hire, a copy of which is attached.

6.   Employee Benefits

As a regular employee, you will be eligible to participate in
Digital's employee benefit plans, such as pension, savings,
disability, life insurance, medical coverage, dental coverage,
and cafeteria arrangements under the terms as separately
provided for under each such plan or arrangement, except as are
provided for below.  To the extent necessary, Digital will
provide medical and dental coverage for your dependents who
reside outside of the United States under Company-provided
medical and dental plans for employees (and their dependents)
who are employed by the Company (or a subsidiary or affiliate,
as the case may be) in Italy.  Moreover, to the extent it is
feasible to do so, Digital will make no contributions on your
behalf under the U.S. Social Security system and will make or
cause to be made such comparable contributions on your behalf
under the pension system in Italy.  All other fringe benefit
arrangements that are provided to regular employees will be
provided to you except that you will be eligible for four weeks
of vacation on an annual basis.

7.   Severance

If, prior to February 3, 1997, (a) you voluntarily terminate
your employment hereunder for good reason (as defined below), or
(b) Digital terminates your employment hereunder other than for
cause (as defined below), then, in either such event (each, a
"Severance Event"), Digital will, for a period of two years from
the date of such Severance Event, (i) continue to pay you your
base compensation as constituted at the time of the Severance
Event and (ii) provide you and your dependents with life
insurance, medical, dental and pension benefits equivalent to
those provided at the time of the Severance Event (collectively,
the "Severance Package"); provided, however, that if, at any
time during the two-year period following such Severance Event,
you accept employment (as defined below) with any entity which
competes (as defined below) with or if you publicly criticize
Digital, then Digital shall not be obliged to continue to
provide the Severance Package after such acceptance or
criticism, as the case may be.  Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, neither (a) your acceptance of
employment with any entity which does not compete with Digital,
nor (b) your failure to attempt to find other employment will
entitle Digital to discontinue the Severance Package. If so
requested by Digital, at the time of the Severance Event you
agree to enter into a separate agreement with Digital containing
the terms of this Paragraph 7.

For purposes of this Paragraph 7, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth below:

(i)  Being "employed" or "employment" means having a common law
     employment relationship with another entity or engaging in any
     other comparable position such as independent contractor for,
     owner of, consultant to, or partner with or of another entity.

(ii) "Cause" means (a) the commission of a serious willful act
     against Digital by which you intended to enrich yourself at the
     expense of Digital (which may be evidenced by your arrest for,
     or conviction, guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere of a
     crime involving moral turpitude); (b) your continued failure to
     perform your duties hereunder in one or more material respects
     through continued inattention or neglect (except that which is a
     result of your illness or disability), which failure does not
     cease within 15 days after written notice thereof specifying the
     details of such conduct is given to you by the Board; or (c)
     your willful misconduct which has caused or has a high
     likelihood of causing material harm to Digital; or (d) the
     breach of one or more terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.

(iii) "Good reason" means Digital's (a) effecting without your
     consent a material change in the nature or scope of your
     authority, powers, functions, duties, or responsibilities of the
     position for which you are employed; (b) the reduction of your
     base compensation or benefits provided to you pursuant to
     Paragraph 6 hereof that are provided to all senior executives
     generally (other than as a result of actions by Digital that
     affect all senior executives generally) or benefits specifically
     provided to you hereunder; (c) requiring you to relocate to an
     area more than 50 miles from Maynard, Massachusetts; or (d) the
     breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

(iv) "Compete" means rendering services directly or indirectly
     to, becoming associated with or employed in any capacity by, or
     having any ownership interest in any individual, firm,
     corporation, or other entity engaged in or actively planning to
     engage in any activities  competitive with those activities of
     Digital with respect to which you have managed, or with respect
     to which you possessed or had access to Digital's confidential
     information, know-how or trade secrets (including but not
     limited to information, know-how, or trade secrets relating to
     the research, development, design, manufacture, marketing, sale,
     or distribution of any Digital product or service with respect
     to which you possessed or had access to Digital's confidential
     information, know-how, or trade secrets).  For purposes of this
     definition, "Digital" shall include Digital and any of its
     subsidiaries and affiliates.

8.   Relocation

You will be provided with the standard relocation benefits
offered transferring employees, including temporary housing for
up to 6 months.  In addition, Digital will reimburse you up to
$20,000 for rent payments that you are required to make with
respect to your primary residence in the Chicago area for
periods of time after the date your employment with Digital
commences, upon request and receipt by Digital of appropriate
documentation.

9.   Legal Fees and Assistance

Digital will reimburse you, upon request and receipt by Digital
of appropriate documentation, for legal fees you incur for
counsel provided to you in connection with your employment with
Digital, such reimbursement not to exceed $5,000.

Upon request, Digital also agrees to provide you with assistance
from the Law Department with regard to matters involving your
termination of employment from your last employer.

10.  Personnel Policies and Procedures

Unless specifically excepted for above, your employment with
Digital will be subject to Digital's personnel policies and
procedures as amended from time to time.


11.  Legal Status

Notwithstanding the foregoing, your employment with Digital is
contingent on Digital's ability to verify your identity and
employment eligibility as required by federal law.


12.  Merger

This Agreement includes all of the agreements of the parties
relative to your employment with Digital, and supersedes any
prior agreements or representations between the parties as to
the subjects covered.

Please indicate your understanding and consent to the foregoing
by signing and dating the copy of this letter and returning it
to the undersigned.


Very truly yours,

/s/ Robert B. Palmer
Robert B. Palmer
President and CEO


I have read and agree to the terms as stated above.


/s/ Enrico Pesatori      /s/ February 2, 1993
Signature                     Date

    

    hmmmmm.......... are we going to take up a collection  ??? ;)

re: (my own) .2

>>    Is this good, bad, or otherwise?
>    
>Depends how dire the circumstances were that prompted this.

Well, the announcements in Livewire that Q4 will be "well below"
expectations and that we'll take a restructuring charge to get
rid of another 7000 people makes this look a lot worse.

Plus Palmer mentions disappointing results from PCs, Europe in
general, AND memory and printers, the latter of which fall in
Christ's domain, so maybe that indicates they're not happy with
him either.  If Pesatori had just resigned because he wasn't
going to get the top job when they did their next shuffle, that
would have been fairly benign.  This sounds more negative.

If the BOD is still endorsing this "cut your way to growth"
philosophy, i think the stockholders should turn them out en
masse in the Fall.  They should know better by now.

- paul

    
    well, watch for the stock to take a big hit today. Seems this company
    can't get its act together. I'll bet when the next layoffs come, very
    few VP's will be affected. Just more worker revenue producing bees.
    
    Mark

    So, if I read .6 correctly, Digital will pay Enrico at least 1.1
    MILLION dollars over the next two years as part of his severance
    package.We'll also pay for his life and health insurance. 
    
    Any peon that quits will get nothing. Get TFSO'd and you'll get a few
    weeks pay, but no benefits. It would appear that being a senior officer
    is much more lucrative than I imagined!
    
    Harry
    

    re: $550K * 2 = $1.1M
    
    That was his starting salary; the package references his compensation
    at the 'severence event'. The interesting question is whether he will
    qualify under the terms of para 7(iii). Given the 2/97 expiration on 
    the severance clause, his exit was well-timed IF he qualifies.
    
    He probably lost some of the stock options he'd been previously granted, 
    though we'll have to wait for future 10-Ks and annual reports to see
    how much he actually ends up with. (For example, the offer letter put
    a constraint on the initial stock grant that lapses over 5 years).
    
    Dave

    
    Hey, I'll gladly take his severance pay.

    	Bob Palmer mentioned the disappointed PC business in Q3 too which
    started the stock sinking, wiping out my children's college tuition
    and hurting their dreams for colleges.  However, this should not be
    a "NEWS" for VPs and higher. 
    
    	It has long been complained extensively that our PC strategy is
    too conservative to encourage customers buying from us.  It seems that
    nobody in the top is bothered to listen and making adjustment.  Even our 
    own employees are "forced" to turn into our competitors for office work.
    Many SI and MCS people are in telecommuting program.  People need to
    buy printers and other equipments .  The IGP program will take months
    to get thoese equipments.  Guess where they were buying from?  CompUSA,
    OfficeMAX, Staples, Wiz ...   Many Digital employees bought HP printers 
    and fax/copy machines because those equipments are in stock and on-sale. 
    They are avialable immediately to meet customer's need.
    
    	Maybe our VPs and higher should spend a couple of minutes to visit
    those stores to get first hand feeling as a customer and collect first
    hand information about why our PC business is disappointed.   If people 
    in their positions failed to understand why the business is not as 
    expected, they should be re-educated or replaced.

    re. 13
    
    Having your savings and investments too closely tied to the stock of
    one's employer is a fundamental mistake in saving for major goals such
    as college tuition.
    
    It is a shame for your kids that you have made this mistake but
    hopefully others will learn from it.

    
    re: severance package
    
    The letter said he would only get the 2 year package if he left
    voluntarily with "good reason" (as defined in the letter), or he
    was fired without "cause".  The announcement says he is leaving
    voluntarily, and I don't know that any of the "good reasons" hold,
    so he may not be getting that package at all.  Then again, I may
    just be naive... :-)
    
    Rich

    Obviously, he knew what was being announced today....maybe that will
    make it only 6,999 now.....
    
    
    L.

    
    One of the "good reasons" was if the scope of his job were to change
    without his consent.  So, if the BoD was planning to make a change in
    his job and he didn't agree, then it reads to me that he gets his
    severance package as promised.
    
    --S
    

>    Obviously, he knew what was being announced today....maybe that will
>    make it only 6,999 now.....
    
and one less VP too...

-mark

VPs are like the Hydra - cut one off, several more spring up in their place.

I'd like to think that the VPs would be proportionally represented in the
head-chopping that was announced, but I know better...

				Steve

    Rumor has it that Enrico suggested cutting costs instead of heads!  How
    preposterous.  Such thinking does not belong in Digital.
    
    I just made all of that up of course.
    

We are all assuming he is leaving voluntarily too. Did he jump or
was he pushed? At any rate, they won't stiff him for his golden
parachutte. Palmer may be coming to him for a job someday. liesl

I am not assuming he is leaving voluntarily, despite the wording of his
memo.

For a while, a couple of years ago, Enrico was more visible than Palmer - and
there was discussion of the idea that Enrico was being groomed as Palmer's
replacement.  Very quickly, Enrico "disappeared".  I think he had a lot of
things he wanted to do to revitalize Digital but was prevented from doing so.
Too bad.  I think he was the one "straight shooter" we had among the VPs.
All the others I've listened to seem to say one thing and do another.

				Steve

    The speculation on CNBC was that he was pushed.
    That coupled with Palmer's statement that the results from the PC
    business are unacceptable, plus the rather short "thanks for the
    memories" does lend some credibilty to the "pushed" theory.
    

We've seen a number of other senior folks "resign."  Mr. Palmer made a name for
himself, early in his tenure as CEO, that he demands performance.  Those who
don't "meet their commitments" are evidently given the choice: walk or get the
ole heave ho.

Bruce

    San Jose Mercury's article says, "Digital Executive Rumored to be Fall
    Guy for Poor Sales"
    
    

    re:.25
    
    Well if Bob demands performance, I will assume that our Board should
    also demand that SAME performance. So since BOB's performance IMHO is
    not that of say.. like the CEO of HP.. then he to should fall on the sword.
    Like I stated a long time ago, It doesn't take a genius to get to 
    profitabilty by whacking heads.. You must be creative and have a strong
    and happy workforce. Just the opposite of what we have...
    
    
    Joe 
    

re -1

He has halved the workforce, closed millions of feet of real estate, cut costs
and sold off big chunks of business.  And all the while has maintained revenues
at around 13B.  Take a look at other mini-computer makers, Wang, Prime, DG etc.
They are either out of business, or much smaller.  There is no doubt that 
missing several key markets cost Digital big time, but we are still here to talk
about it.  Job losses are almost inevitable in any mature industry, you can't
blame BP for that.  I say the jury is still out on him.  And BTW, I think the 
newly forming sales model is much better for us in the long haul.

Brad.

    re .14
    Thanks so much for the financial advice! 

    the dark at the end of the tunnel!

    re:.28
    
    Which ESF are you about to be a part of????? Until I see more
    information on definitions around the new "Enterprise Sales Force",
    I'll reserve my judgement.......  This NEW model started out quite
    differently and has taken MANY different roads over the last 5 months. 
    What makes you think that what you've heard so far is actually how it's
    gonna be?  Please share..... I don't think any of the sales people
    (VP's that are working in the workshops) have a clue as to what the end
    result will look like....  
    
    Just mine......
    
    Toodles.....JPs
    

    re:.28
    Good thoughts, but Wang,DG,Prime etc.. were in TROUBLE long before
    Digital was.. We were still cresting at that point.. Being at 13B with
    our great product line is no big deal.. Compaq is a 14B company and all
    they do is sell PC's....
    
    Joe

RE: Note 4688.32 by MASURE::CRAPAROTTA 
 > -< Good Try.. >-
    
 > Compaq is a 14B company and all they do is sell PC's....
    
    Thinking like this is a big part of our problem.
    
    -Bruce
    
    

    re: 4688.32
        "Good thoughts, but Wang,DG,Prime etc.. were in TROUBLE long before
        Digital was.. We were still cresting at that point.."
        Being at 13B with our great product line is no big deal.. Compaq is 
        a 14B company and all they do is sell PC's....".
    
    
        All of the mini-computer companies started getting in trouble at
    	the same time for the same reason... PCs.  Back then, we had 
    	momentum based on a common architecture, clusters and DECnet.  In
    	a sense we had a bigger sand castle but faced the same ocean.  We
    	got in trouble later then Wang, Prime and DG because we had more 
    	money and could ignore the problem longer.
    
        One thing I like about Digital's current strategy is we are not chasing
        after lost markets.  Compac has made itself *THE* PC
        company and is reaping money.  We seem to be trying to postion
        ourselves as *THE* 64 bit computer company.  We're playing the hand
    	we were dealt.  We've got the products and many good applications.
        I don't think our marketing is up to it.
    
    	We're in 64 bit systems and Client-server computing.  Everything
        that doesn't fit will be sold or closed.              
    
    

>    	We're in 64 bit systems and Client-server computing.  Everything
>       that doesn't fit will be sold or closed.              
    
    This appears to be a very NICHE market and won't support a $13B
    structure.  I guess as soon as we realize this and get down to the
    appropriate size we'll continue to downsize.  Whatever this new size I
    doubt that it will be able to sustain the engineering cost for three
    operating systems.  Not from Digital anyways.
    

    Think I'll go to Fry's today and see if I can talk a sales person into
    selling me a Digital PC..... 

    You might want to try CompUSA first.  I don't remember us getting a
    employee discount at Fry's.  At least not here in Southern California.
    
    	Regards,

    
    If we were smart, we would get out of the PC business completely.
    We should focus on the things we do better than anyone else in the 
    computer business. Management is what we do better than anyone. oh,
    and we wrote the book on "corporate dieting".

    Sure let's get out of the fastest growing part of the computer
    industry.  Why after all Compaq is only a $14B company just selling
    PC's.  If we want to be in the NT game we better figure out how to sell
    Intel servers and do it quick before we get buried.
    
    

    
    .39
    
    I think you should recalibrate your sarcasm meter.

I had half expected Palmer to announce that we were getting out of PCs in
his DVN, but instead we're going to "reduce costs".  If we can't manage to
increase revenues, reducing costs is a "going out of business" strategy.

				Steve

    .41
    
    I was unable to see the DVN, can you elaborate and what he said?

He didn't say anything that wasn't in the mail message sent out yesterday
(posted here somewhere).  A tunnel-vision focus on "reducing costs" with
no plan to grow revenue.

					Steve

    Digital's problem is it tries to be all things to all men; if it would
    sort out exactly what market it intends to target, it could do well.
    
    Laurie.

    <<< Note 4688.44 by PLAYER::BROWNL "The new car has finally arrived!" >>>

    Digital's problem is it tries to be all things to all men; if it would
    sort out exactly what market it intends to target, it could do well.

  It's a little like cleaning out the hall closet, basement, attic, garage...
  Never mind that last one.  Too easy to make jokes about a garage sale.  As
  I was saying, Digital hanging on to things it does not do well and even
  those it does do well is a little like cleaning out a closet.  When you
  have the item in your hand, you ask yourself if you really want to throw it
  away.  Nah.  Let's keep it.

  	mikeP

    Doesn't it just irk you when some idiot says - "It's thinking like
    that, that got us into trouble in the first place."  
    
    Well, brrrrttttt!!!!!
    
    I am the lowest man in the organization, I haven't even gotten "TO" the 
    ladder yet, and my thinking doesn't mean doodlely to anyone "ON" the 
    ladder.
    
    So double brrrtttt!!!! ..... and have a nice day! ;-)
    
    

    Couple of postive articles in InformationWeek July 1, 1996:
    Citibank Picks Digital AND EDS For Desktop pg. 20
    
    Digital Boost Prospects - Alliances driver strong growth at services
    unit. pg. 20 (also indicates "Moneymaker: Digital's service's unit
    generates $1 billion in revenue." Hope we don't downsize here).
    
    IP Switching Added - talks about enhancements to GigaSwitch pg. 104.
    However, I found this statement interesting in the last paragraph: "One
    networking area where Digital is lagging, Walker [referring to Larry 
    Walker, VP and GM or NPU] admits, is in 100-Mbps Fast Etherner.  "We
    regret not having started investing in 100Base-T early enough," he
    says.  Digital is now working on a Fast Ethernet enterprise-level
    switch."  I guess this guy doesn't read the trade magazine because they
    have been speculating on the trends for quite some time, moreover, I
    guess they haven't been listening to the customers.  I remember when we
    were asking for Telnet on Terminal Server and they indicating that you
    didn't need that because we had LAT.  We always seem to miss the
    windows of opportunity.
    
    NT Systems to Hit 500 Mhz - Alpha machines planned by Digital and
    smaller rival.  Side-bar: First out: DeskStations workstations
    consistently beat Digital's to market. pg. 105.
    
    However, great article on Sun: Sun Launches Fault-Tolerant Server. 
    They're entering the market and we're getting out.  Interesting the
    name is ft-Sparc like our ft-VAX products that we're no longer
    committed to. pg. 22.
    
    This has been the most articles I've seen about us in a magazine.  Most
    are pretty positive.

    I haven't seen the spot in Information Week, but just to put things in
    perspective... Digital signed a contract to upgrade or replace desktop
    hardware and software, file and print servers, network infrastructure
    and also provide help desk support and break/fix services for 21,000
    Citibank seats. EDS signed up to do the same for around 6,000 seats
    (The customer did not want to be tied to one vendor).
    
    LOTS of Digital folks worked their butts off for this one! The pilot
    phase (proof of concept) lasted nearly two years. It was a long and
    painful learning experience for all involved but in the end we did
    prove that Digital is capable of providing such services on a worldwide
    scale. Our team consists of some of the most talented and dedicated
    individuals that I've ever met anywhere. 
    
    There were other major players invited to partake in this effort. Some
    declined, others tried and failed. The Digital team persevered. The
    next 3 years of our lives are already outlined for us. :-)
    
    Harry
    Core Team Desktop Technical Consultant
    Project Enterprise
    

    RE .48 Congratulations! I hope the Citibank deal will be a profitable
    one, and I hope that the slash and burn types won't wipe out one of the
    things that enables Digital to actually DO things like this.
    
    What would that be? How about a viable, energetic, motivated workforce
    IN THE FIELD that has the parts and technical backup to support such an
    effort. You might just want to check once in a while on just where the
    Field stands on this, recent announcements have once again stepped on
    the spirit and the morale of those you are depending on. 
    
    If you deplete the resources much more, it won't matter how many Alpha
    widgets are developed, because the support will no longer be viable. If
    you cannot support it, you will not sell it.
    
    .mike.

    
    re: .48, .49
    
    Having just finished taking two service calls at Citibank, I wonder.
    One was logged 7/2 @18:00, requesting service no later than 08:00.
    The other was logged at 11:59 am.  I got both calls at 16:30 (I'm
    on standby tonite).  Guess we missed our 1 hr onsite response.
    
    But, we'll probably fix the problem by laying off more field
    engineers.  Those of us left will keep on pluggin' ('til we drop dead).
    

    re.48: Such a large deal must have required high level margin
    approval...  boy, I'd love to take a gander at those ... given that MCS
    layed off lots of people because the MCS "Margin forecast" was off...
    
    

RE: .6 I remember reading in either a quartely report or annual report
that the terms of the this $150k loan were that for each year that Mr.
Pesatori remained with Digital, 1/5 of the principal would be "forgiven."
It would appear that he now has to repay us about 2/5, or $30k.

    
    
    
        The "genius" that is responsible for the eared Venturis and
    Celebris cases and any management that agreed does not deserve a
    severance.
    
    :-)

    What's wrong with the Celebris?  I thought that this was a well
    designed enclosure and system overall?  One thing I know for sure is
    that vendors designing add-on adapters love this box because when they
    have to test for FCC etc. they're guaranteed of its emissions.  And if
    anything is radiating outside the box it's their modules.  This, and
    other enclosure, have reduced significanty the cycles for emissions
    testing.

    Re: .53  The "genius" that is responsible for the eared Venturis and
      Celebris cases and any management that agreed does not deserve a
      severance.
    
    Do you mean the cases that are actually (what a concept) easy to open?
    I love those.  No more people cursing and trying to slide off
    semi-immovable(sp?) panels and struggling to figure out how to get them
    back on and then thumping the panels to force them into place.
                      

Getting the Celebris cover back on takes a bit of practice, but once you get
the technique, it's very easy and fast.

					Steve

Easy-open PC cases were *once* part of Digital added value.  Today, they 
are a commodity item.  Now, Enlight Corporation in Taiwan make a highly 
reguarded easy-open PC case.  See the URL:

http://www.enlightcorp.com.tw/main_e.htm


							-Paul

    And of course,  the easier it is to open the case,  the quicker the
    chips can be extracted.  Someone gets a productivity bonus :-(
    
    Jc