NetApp’s Warmenhoven is taking an interest in a former customer who has chosen an HP EVA solution, here is the email exchange from Toasters the mailing list for NetApp filer users.

From: Warmenhoven, Dan (Dan.Warmenhoven@netapp.com)
Date: Tue Jun 12 2007 – 20:36:01 EDT

Hi Paul,

I am very sorry that you are no longer a NetApp customer. If you
wouldn’t mind sharing with me, what vendor / product solution did you
choose to replace your F740, and why did you choose that solution over
NetApp (especially since it sounds like you were happy with both the
product and the support).

Thanks

Dan

Dan Warmenhoven
Chief Executive Officer

Network Appliance, Inc.
495 E. Java Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Phone (408) 822-6600
Fax (408) 822-6601

________________________________

From: XXX, Paul [mailto:XXX@###.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 12:03 PM
To: NetApps list server
Subject: Farewell all!

Well, it is with deep regret that I bid all you toasters a fond
farewell. I’d like to say that I appreciate all the help during the
time that our 740 served us for about 8 years. The 740 was a fine
device and NetApps support was top-notch. After a very lengthy
discussion over several months, we went to another storage solution.
By the way, if anyone is interested in the 740 maxxed at 1TB raw and
includes a spares kit with motherboard and misc other parts that were
never used, send me an email. It is located in the Southern Indiana
area. First come, first serve. You have to arrange for transport. If
I don’t hear anything from anyone by the end of the week, it’s going to
the recycler. Thanks again to all.

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d
be a shortage of fishing poles. – Doug Larson

________________________________

XXX, A+, CA, CCA, CET, MCSE

Systems Administrator
Shoe Carnival Inc.
(###)######
XXX@###.com

When I corresponded with the former NetApp customer yesterday I found that one of the main reasons for his departure from NetApp’s products was the cost of maintenance and support. Like so many NetApp customers he was looking for an affordable alternative to NetApp’s maintenance and upgrade policies. His email’s last sentence to me yesterday ended with “Maintenance costs played into it as well.”