HP's Whitman speaks

HP's new CEO has been speaking to Le Figaro, and what she says makes for some interesting reading.

http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/30/meg-speaks-the-truth/

She reckons that Apple will probably surpass HP as the world's biggest PC seller in 2012...but HP will be back on top with new products in 2013.

There is still no decision on WebOS, but expect to hear something in two weeks (does it really take so long?)

And most interestingly, she concedes that HP does need a second operating system going forward, not just Windows.

Let's hope she can right the ship.

@Ray7: Honestly it doesn't matter what they do with WebOS any more.  It has had so much bad press because of the flip-flopping that no one would ever trust it again. 

The problem I have been having with HP is that they seem to be going in the wrong direction.  For example... Their initiative to have magazine subscriptions sent directly to your printer.  It is also silly to web enable printers so you can print something no matter where you are even though you are not there to receive the printout.  Everything is going digital and the only real reason to print things out any more is for pictures to hang on your wall.  You would think that they would be investing in technology to better digest digital media instead of going backwards trying to make printers their focal point.

Well my wife is loving the Touchpad and if HP can get people to auto print off a personalised newspaper every morning using that most precious commodity (ink) then more power to their elbow.

3 hours ago, Ray7 wrote

And most interestingly, she concedes that HP does need a second operating system going forward, not just Windows.

Sadly I kinda agree. Android would be a good choice, as much as I hate to say it. Microsoft used to be the one pushing the technology, WMC and TabletPC. Whether it is well received or not, at least they are doing it. And now, all MS does is catching up, and very slow at it. HP needs to have an OS that keeps up with the trend or even push the trend, otherwise people wouldn't think it is cool anymore.

3 hours ago, JeremyJ wrote

...going in the wrong direction...

And, their (consumer) product quality is in the toilet, further damaging a once great reputation

15 hours ago, JeremyJ wrote

@Ray7: Honestly it doesn't matter what they do with WebOS any more.  It has had so much bad press because of the flip-flopping that no one would ever trust it again. 

The problem I have been having with HP is that they seem to be going in the wrong direction.  For example... Their initiative to have magazine subscriptions sent directly to your printer.  It is also silly to web enable printers so you can print something no matter where you are even though you are not there to receive the printout.  Everything is going digital and the only real reason to print things out any more is for pictures to hang on your wall.  You would think that they would be investing in technology to better digest digital media instead of going backwards trying to make printers their focal point.

The problem I have with them is that they don't seem to have any direction at all. You're right though: after all this flipping back and forth, who  is going to trust them enough to develop apps for WebOS?

They may as well can it; the damage is done.