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

[Paul Sture]

On Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:30:43 -0400, David Froble wrote:

> Rich Jordan wrote:
>>
>> I expect that will mean even more broken printers with crippled
>> firmware and diminished font choices, moving UP the ladder of size and
>> price from their current moderate low end.  Printers that only work
>> properly with windows or other specially selected platforms.  And a
>> whole lot of debugging trying to work around why long established print
>> forms and setup modules work 'differently' on new PCL-5e "compatible"
>> printers running firmware generated by the 'new overseas firmware
>> programmers'.
>> 
>> 
> Well, this one is simple to answer.  Use Brother printers.  They don't
> charge you anything to talk to you, before or after the sale.  Even
> after the printer is out of warranty.
> 
> If you keep buying from those who screw you, prepare to spend a lot of
> time bent over ....

I've been very happy with the Brother printer I have. It just works, no 
fuss.  When I bought it the salesman was keen to point me at HP printers, 
but I simply pointed out the lack of a Mac compatible logo on those 
(which rather surprised him).

Here's an article which suggests that the HP division merger will give 
resellers more bargaining power:

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2012/03/22/pssg_implications_for_channel/

'But although HP staffers will not welcome further rationalisation in the 
ranks, the move could be pure goodness for resellers and distributors as 
HP has been "more difficult to work with" after splitting its Solution 
Partners Organisation in three.

Resellers and disties had lost bartering power while dealing with a trio 
of different faces at HP – the Imaging and Printing Group (IPG), the 
Personal Systems Group (PSG) and the Enterprise Servers, Storage and 
Networking division.

"By bringing PCs and printers together presumably with one sales force to 
the channel some of that power comes back again in terms of negotiating 
rebates," Brazier said.'

There's also a change to the Enterprise group:

'In addition to the PPSG change, HP also revealed the Global Accounts 
Sales org will integrate into the newly named HP Enterprise Group led by 
David Donatelli, comprising Enterprise Servers, Store and Networking and 
Technology Services.'

-- 
Paul Sture