As you all might have figured Duke was away in Dallas and just getting back home today. Thus the quietness somewhat on his part.
This week is where rubber meets road on this whole arrangement plus contract. Hopefully both sides get it done and this misfit company gets put to bed, officially.
I see a lot of LET folks questioning the viability of those customers and deal. I'd be lying if I said I don't feel the same. I totally understand where people are coming from. The numbers work now with some adjustments (read: right sized nodes on some real hardware in spots --- E5's, other legitimate optimizations to operations). Going to be some tough decisions to hard drop some (as I keep referring to 100TB plans and other plans that are abuse magnets).
Folks on the annuals and lower resource plans will be mostly unphased / no impact now or renewal period. Clearly, Duke will carve off the entirely unsustainable plans at some point. The market then can freely swoop those customers up. Have at it. 100TB at $5-7 knock yourselves out offering that so I can buy three and make you the next drama brand. I'll make you famous.
Folks with long term or piles of credits, Duke's team will give some attention, after papers are signed. Goal is to make good for those customers (i.e. provide them with services that work well).
If other companies want to sell their old blades at $10 per month and try to siphon dedicated people, have at it. But I sincerely doubt people are going to drop those crazy E3's for Xeon circa 1990's. Yeah someone knows who I am finger banging in public - pew pew. Nice try though, A for effort. Keep talking wonk and numbers don't work while trying to drive your willy between two parties already in active commit deal... Cute. Like the little schoolboy rejected by the pretty girl, shit talking in the gym. But it's all good. I laughed. Hell I would have encouraged you in other deals. This is the wrong one.