[Info-vax] OT: HP Poised to merge PC and printer divisions

[Paul Sture]

"H.P. Is Said to Be Poised to Merge Business Units

Hewlett-Packard will merge its personal computer and printing divisions 
in an effort to cut costs, improve its designs and become more efficient, 
a person briefed on the plan said Tuesday.

The consolidation is the first major strategic move by Meg Whitman since 
she became chief executive last September. Until now, she had focused on 
understanding H.P.’s businesses, which are as various as home computers, 
corporate call centers and computing systems, and on communicating her 
ideas to employees. Last month, however, she warned of radical changes, 
possibly including significant layoffs."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/technology/hp-is-said-to-plan-merger-of-
computer-and-printer-units.html

short URL:

http://nyti.ms/GGE8S1
¨
"Besides creating Apple-style ease of use between PCs and printers, H.P. 
is hoping for an increase in sales this year from Microsoft’s new 
operating system, which H.P. is expected to sell in regular PCs and new 
lightweight ultrabooks. The Microsoft product, Windows 8, is expected to 
be released at the end of summer."

Unless Microsoft drop their insistence on the new Metro GUI interface for 
desktops as well as tablets, methinks that HP's faith in Windows 8 income 
for desktops is over-optimistic.  Corporates at least will probably stick 
with Windows 7.

-- 
Paul Sture