HP to spin off PC business to focus on enterprise software - Page 5

Originally Posted by digitalclips

That's the best thought so far. Oh boy would that be fun to watch! "Here google take your Android and shove it" by not making hardware HP can be as Microsoft is to those manufacturers, just the OS! I think you cracked it. So then we'd have Microsoft against HP fighting for what Apple leaves behind. Google then has to become like Apple as in hardware and Software ... That will be a disaster.

Originally Posted by GQB

Actually, what's perfectly obvious is that they will simply license WebOS to anyone who wants to use it. They said as much months ago, even before the touchpad crashed and burned.

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

Do you really think there is no chance for WebOS?

I never had any hands on -- but from what I've read and seen, it is a better "Tablet OS" implementation than Android, QNX, WinMobile 7 (or whatever it's called).

What if HP offered free WebOS licenses for tablets -- with tie-in apps to support their business/cloud services? HP would get to offer "tablet solutions" for its services -- the licensees would get an entre into business sales.

... Or HP could just write iPad / iPhone apps.

Originally Posted by Apple ][

I don't feel sorry for them. I enjoy watching dumb bastards suffer, so I was actually over at precentral for a quick minute before to put a smile on my face.

Some of those people apparently live in an alternate reality and they were denying all the signs of doom up until the very end, much like Hitler must have felt in his bunker towards the end. If only the "fruit company" weren't so good at advertising. If only millions of clueless sheep didn't buy the fruit tablet. If only Best Buy sales people did a better job at selling.

Originally Posted by melgross

Wow! You actually remember Ling Tempco Vaught?

Originally Posted by melgross

I used a Pre for a few days. It was different, but nothing to write home about. It wasn't "discoverable" in the sense that iOS is, and the copy, Android, to a slightly less extent is.

I haven't played with the tablet, but when it shows up in the remainders bin for $49 I'll likely pick it up. Just read all of the reviews. Every one said that while it had promise, there were too many problems. HP quickly came out with an OS update that was supposed to clear up the hesitations and sluggishness, but only a little bit here and there. So HP said that they were going to up the CPU speed from 1.2 GHz to 1.5. I guess that won't happen now.

Not one reviewer said that they could recommend this over an iPad. Not one! In fact, most said that they couldn't recommend it at all yet. They will never get the chance now.

There is just no way that another company would be so dumb as to buy into a failed product. They will get tagged with that failure. It will become their failure.

Right now, both business and government are moving, in a big way, to the iPad. despite some people still wanting to think these things are just media devices, they are very strong in the creation and business markets. A number of industries are so strongly committing to the iPad, that when asked point blank if they will consider writing software for Android tablets, they say no. Getting them to commit to a failed OS would be almost impossible. Why would they?

Remember the old slogan? "it's the software, stupid!" Well, the iPad has all of the software in business. And a tablet is going to cost the same as the iPad anyway. So why should businesses buy something else? I can't think of a single reason.

Hewlett Packard, the world's largest PC maker, has announced plans to spin off its PC business and scrap its recently acquired webOS smartphone and TouchPad tablet business to focus on software and services.

According to a report by Bloomberg, HP "has been aiming to lessen its dependence on lower-margin PCs, where growth has stalled as consumers flock to tablet-style computers like those made by Apple."

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

Ha!

You forgot the HP iPod

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

Yeah... Jimmy Ling was the wonder child of buying/selling companys.

AIR, he took his little company, and bought Chance-Vaught Aircraft... sliced/diced/parlayed that to where he bought a major steel company -- may have been US Steel.

Tempco was a big part of his empire -- I forget what they did -- insulation or something to do with chemicals.

Anyway, he'd leverage his little company worth $100 to buy a bigger company worth $1,000. Divide the big company into 3 parts and sell them each for $750 each, while retaining the cash -- at least, that's the way I remember it.

I think Ling would approach a company with lots of cash and say (essentially) "Lend me the money so I can buy you out"... and he'd convince then to do it

Originally Posted by island hermit

Give it time... Google will make an offer to HP for WebOS.

Originally Posted by Commodification

Sweet!!! $100 Touchpads here we come!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

"Remember the old slogan? "it's the software, stupid!" Well, the iPad has all of the software in business. And a tablet is going to cost the same as the iPad anyway. So why should businesses buy something else? I can't think of a single reason."

Well... when you put it that way...

I would only add to potential customers (especially business, education, medical, government..) why wait -- your time is now?

... but where's the fun in that?

Originally Posted by drhamad

OK am I the only one that is going to point out that nowhere in this article does it mention a spin off? The headline probably was not written by the author, so that doesn't count. All the article says is that HP is considering strategic options for the PC division... and even that is a one-liner.

Originally Posted by rp2011

This is bad news for all of us. We need strong competition to drive innovation and competitive pricing. Hopefully the spun off HP can survive and thrive. Or be sold to capable hands.

Originally Posted by ouragan

This is the kind of news that you should expect on April's Fools Day.


First of all, you don't give up the No. 1 position among computer builders.

Second, HP is known for its computers and printers, not the quality of its software which is, at best, mediocre.

Third, any company (like IBM, Dell, etc.) can offer its services and there is no need to divest itself of its hardware design and manufacturing component.

Fourth, to abandon computer hardware design and manufacturing goes against the tradition and almost 100 years of history at Hewlett Packard.

Fifth, computer hardware design and manufacturing is making money for Hewlett Packard. There is no need to abandon a successful business making money for a new venture.


Finally, computer hardware design and manufacturing is such an important part of Hewlett Packard that it cannot be abandonned by the Board of directors of Hewlett Packard unless they get approval by 2/3 of the shareholders of every class in value and number.

April's Fools Day comes early this year. Or it comes for a second time this year.

Originally Posted by libertyforall

HP is *NOT* killing WebOS!!! They are just spinning off the hardware side of it!! Nice misleading reporting, AI!

Originally Posted by AppleLover2

You need to read a story written by a responsible journalist if you want the rest of the story:

The HP board's authorization of "the exploration of strategic alternatives for its Personal Systems Group (PSG)" includes "a broad range of options that may include, among others, a full or partial separation of PSG from HP through a spin-off or other transaction."

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391379,00.asp


DED's stuff is mostly vitriol. News ain't his forte. Pissing on his "enemies" to quiet the demons in his head is where he is at.

Originally Posted by GQB

And they would keep WebOS without hardware to put it on... because?

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

I am thinking out loud here.

With recent events it appears that the iPad may not get any meaningful competition for another 6-12 months (or longer).

Apple's CFO, at the last earnings call forecast lower gross margins for this quarter because of a product transition,

It doesn't look like that will be an iPad 3 with a Retina Display and/or an A6 CPU.

It doesn't appear that the iPhone 5 will be out in time to have any major downward effect on GPM.

iPods, Macs, AppleTV?

Nah!


What if Apple does this:

1) Bumps the RAM and SSD size on the iPad (especially the largest model)
2) Adds Thunderbolt and USB/FW access
3) replaces the various cell radio chips with a 3G/LTE world radio chip
4) FFF -- Furnishes a Fine Finder-like App
5) Robustifies iPad Pages, Numbers and Keynote bring them into line with iWork and Office
6) keeps the prices level the same except a new high-end model.

This would definite have a downward effect on GPM but would eliminate a lot of SKUs -- 2 WiFi only and WiFi + Cell in each Model.

It would, likely, push the date for meaningful competition to 18 months.

Nothing I've seen or read about comes close to iOS 5 on an iPad 2 (or even an iPad 1).

That could be game, set and match!

Originally Posted by AppleLover2

To call this crap misleading is being kind. I'll put it more plainly: It is just simply wrong. It has no support in fact. It is bullshit.

As such, it is irresponsible journalism.

Originally Posted by AppleLover2

Because they will still have a huge hardware business. Or they could license it to other hardware manufacturers. Or do something else.

Originally Posted by melgross

This is really very interesting because this new tablet segment is still so very new. The iPad hasn't been out for more than 18 months! 18 months!!!

Yet, after just three months, we were seeing business software appearing. Tim Cook expressed his own surprise that the tablet was taking off so well in business because of how conservative business normally is. Jobs said that iPad sales were being driven by sales to business. I agree.

When I was on line to buy my iPad2, all the people around me were buying it for their businesses! I was amazed by that. I'm more amazed that GE has written a sophisticated app for this and said that, nope, no current plans for anything else. I'm seeing that often.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/...less/231300594

The Eu has standardized on the iPad for their legislators, and so has the Canadian Parliment.

Even the Pope is using it.

Originally Posted by melgross

No way. It's dead at HP. Whether they use it in printers or other devices where the UI is stripped out and most of the multitasking is discarded doesn't matter. That won't be WebOS.

Remember Darwin? That's OS X without the UI. It's not OS X, and it's used as an embedded OS for some applications. That's what Web OS would become.

You have to answer why other companies would want to license it for what it was intended; phones and tablets. This OS has proven itself to be a dud. What makes you think that another manufacturer could license this, and a year later come out with a product that anyone would care about, because it would take at least a year from when they sign the agreement.

There would be no software, and that's a major problem now. It would be a bigger problem in the beginning of 2013 when a new product came out.

Just saying that HP would license it out isn't enough for an argument. You have to give at least one good reason why that would work.

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum


And, there is no reason that Tim Cook and/or his manufacturing agents couldn't go tap-dancing across the globe introducing iPads and Manufacturing Jobs in many other countries (while removing their import tariffs).

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

Interesting that your link included this pic:




With a stylus, no less... and the real problem was that it wouldn't fit in the pocket of a lab coat -- answer... bigger pocket!


To your list add:

Apple, Microsoft May Bid for 15 Million Turkish Tablets, AA Says

The weird thing is that you and I both watched the WinTel hegemony establish itself over a decade.

This is happening much faster -- call it tipping point, critical mass, or power curve, whatever.

I am getting the feeling if you're not established in the tablet game, today (especially this day/week/month) -- you never will be. The field is already littered with the bodies of also-rans, never-rans, scratches... the race may already be over!

And, there is no reason that Tim Cook and/or his manufacturing agents couldn't go tap-dancing across the globe introducing iPads and Manufacturing Jobs in many other countries (while removing their import tariffs).


Edit: 18 months is amazing! It took me 15 minutes to realize the power of the Apple ][ ('course Woz's younger brother, Mark, taught me the ropes -- he could type Integer BASIC faster than I can think). The Mac -- I was impressed, but it took much longer for me to see its future -- had trouble with that damn mouse and that click and point [sic[ thingie.. The iPad... Like someone said, Steve had me at [large screen] scrolling

Originally Posted by AppleLover2

In the meeting, webOS GBU VP Stephen DeWitt made it clear that HP intends to continue to work on webOS and likely intends to license it. DeWitt was adamant, saying several times We are not walking away from webOS.

http://thisismynext.com/2011/08/18/h...usive-details/



And BTW, I never said " that HP would license it out". I was listing possibilities.

Originally Posted by quinney

Are you suggesting that Apple would own the manufacturing capacity in those many other countries?

That would represent a huge change. Even if they could get Foxconn or some other contract manufacturer to expand to other countries, it would be a slow and difficult process and Apple would not give up their desire to have a high quality standard. I think Turkey might have to settle for manufacturing accessories if they want iPads for their kiddies.

Originally Posted by melgross

The 18 month thing is the most amazing. From something that few writers thought anyone would have a use for, much less a use for, it's already sold over 35 million units, assuming it sells as well this quarter as last. How long did it take to sell that many phones?

Originally Posted by melgross

No way. It's dead at HP. Whether they use it in printers or other devices where the UI is stripped out and most of the multitasking is discarded doesn't matter. That won't be WebOS.

Remember Darwin? That's OS X without the UI. It's not OS X, and it's used as an embedded OS for some applications. That's what Web OS would become.

You have to answer why other companies would want to license it for what it was intended; phones and tablets. This OS has proven itself to be a dud. What makes you think that another manufacturer could license this, and a year later come out with a product that anyone would care about, because it would take at least a year from when they sign the agreement.

There would be no software, and that's a major problem now. It would be a bigger problem in the beginning of 2013 when a new product came out.

Just saying that HP would license it out isn't enough for an argument. You have to give at least one good reason why that would work.

Originally Posted by tt92618

Wow, now this is a real bummer.

I apparently was THE guy in the whole country that bought one of these, and i've only had it about a week. I bought it during HP's recent 'sale'.

I'd like to say that i'm pretty unhappy with HP at the moment, and I have to wonder about the business logic of this move. They didn't sell enormous volumes, but they sold enough of these things that there are a couple hundred thousand people out there who are not going to be very happy right now. If they are much like me, they are currently putting this device back into its box in preparation to send it back to HP, and they are likely making plans to never purchase another HP product as long as they live.

I mean really... put these things on sale, announce the price cut is permanent because consumers showed pleasing amounts of interest, and then kill the whole product line 1 week later, and barely more than a month after introduction? Absolutely horrendous.

HP has created some ill will with this that isn't going away overnight.

Regarding the device itself, I just have to say that WebOS truly is very nice. It suffers at the hands of its software, and it is pretty clear that HP rushed it to market. But it is sad that HP is so short sighted in this. A second round of better hardware would have gone a long way toward erasing the negative commentary.

I've got an Amazon RMA and this thing is headed back to Amazon ASAP.

What a sad, short life for something so promising; the buffoons at HP ought to be slapped.

Originally Posted by AppleLover2

Because they will still have a huge hardware business. Or they could license it to other hardware manufacturers. Or do something else.

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

No, Apple would not own the manufacturing. I was suggesting something like what Foxconn is setting up for Brazil -- I am sure with Apple's approval.

It won't work in all countries or regions. But, if Apple/Foxconn can package the assembly process so that it can be done, profitably, anywhere, increases market penetration, creates jobs (and fanout of support jobs), reduces tariffs, reduces prices to consumers -- all of which increase sales.

Maybe, Governor Moonbeam can convince Foxconn to set up some assembly in California -- oh, there's that NIMBY thing.

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

No, Apple would not own the manufacturing. I was suggesting something like what Foxconn is setting up for Brazil -- I am sure with Apple's approval.

It won't work in all countries or regions. But, if Apple/Foxconn can package the assembly process so that it can be done, profitably, anywhere, increases market penetration, creates jobs (and fanout of support jobs), reduces tariffs, reduces prices to consumers -- all of which increase sales.

Maybe, Governor Moonbeam can convince Foxconn to set up some assembly in California -- oh, there's that NIMBY thing.