Why doesn't anyone care about HP?
In case you missed it, Hewlett-Packard announced today that it will be bringing a multitouch notebook to consumers in the form of the TouchSmart tx2. The device will feature a swivel, LED-backlit display, Windows Vista, and full touch capabilities on the screen.
That's quite the development. Sure, HP already had some touch-screen devices in the desktop market and other companies are trying desperately to make some headway in that space, but why has no one made such a big deal about the device?
I know what you're thinking: why should we make a big fuss about a device that has evolutionary capabilities and hasn't been put through the paces? We need to wait and see.
Sorry, I just don't buy that.
When Apple announced new MacBook Pros last month featuring its own multitouch capabilities in the trackpad, the world rejoiced. Consumers were already saying how they couldn't wait to pick one (or maybe two) up at the Apple store and every major news outlet was discussing it in minute detail. I turned the nightly news on when it was first announced and it was everywhere.
And yet, as HP ups the ante, we don't hear anything about its latest notebook.
Why doesn't anyone care about HP or Dell or Acer anymore? Is it Windows? Is it that the companies have a reputation for being run-of-the-mill vendors? I can't quite put my finger on it. And although I would agree that Dell and Acer really are run-of-the-mill, I just don't believe that when it comes to HP.
On the Windows side, HP is most like Apple. The company isn't happy producing the same old device and is trying desperately to beat Apple to the living room. And we also can't forget that there's a reason why it's the top PC vendor in the world: it's pushing all the right buttons while Dell, Acer, and the others are trying to figure out how to make price and beauty a key component in their strategies.
But I digress. For every iMac, there's an HP TouchSmart all-in-one. For every MacBook, there's an HP laptop waiting in the wings. For every Apple TV, there's an HP MediaSmart Connect. And for all the beauty Apple provides, HP competes quite well.
And yet, it's as if no one cares.
See, even though HP turned a profit of $2 billion last quarter to Apple's $1 billion and its annual income is almost twice as high as Apple's, HP doesn't get the kind of respect Steve Jobs and Company does. Maybe that's because HP doesn't have a well-known, dynamic CEO or maybe it's because HP doesn't want to be in the limelight. Or maybe it's because HP doesn't engage in flashy keynotes every few months to tell the world about upcoming updates to existing products. Whatever the case is, HP is rarely remembered, but often times chosen when it's time to buy some tech.
Have you ever considered that? If you ask someone what kind of computer they want next, rarely will you hear them say an HP machine even though they end up buying one. And if you ask someone which company is the most successful in tech, I seriously doubt HP will top the list.
Some might say that that's all part of HP's genius, but I doubt it. I think HP would love to hold the limelight like Apple, but it just can't do it. It's easy for some of us to sit here and say that any company can captivate audiences like Apple, but I think that's a total and utter lie. See, Apple's culture is what makes it successful. It's a culture of secrecy and pomp and circumstance unlike anything this industry has seen.
And it works.
But HP is different. HP doesn't hold lavish events and fails to deliver the kind of experience (from a PR standpoint) that Apple does. And although it hasn't hurt its sales, it still stands behind Apple as one of the foremost companies in the industry.
But who cares? HP is enjoying incredible success and the company is showing no signs of slowing down. And although no one makes a fuss about its products like they do with Apple's, we can't fault a strategy that's turning a $2 billion profit each quarter.
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Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
I honestly am beginning to wonder if laptops matter less and less because of high-capability/low-cost platforms like the iPhone. An iPhone can do much of what I would do with a laptop, whether from Apple or HP, and if you are traveling you don't have to deal with taking it in and out of a bag at the airport or other similar hassles. And it already has a multi-touch screen.
Sure, a laptop is nicer but it's also lots bigger and more complex to deal with, especially if it runs Windows (think anti-virus, anti-spyware/adware, registry/WGA issues, etc etc etc).
I have no idea how other people feel about this, but my iPhone has pretty much obviated my need for a personal laptop. Maybe that's why there's so little interest. Even the hype for the latest MacBooks seemed less than usual to me. The recession of course won't help drive sales/hype for laptops, but I wonder if smartphones will become the cheap alternative...
-Mike
HP is recently well-known for doing something different, but not necessarily better. Can you honestly say MediaSmart would make someone switch from iTunes, or that their multi-touch (which only works in some ways, with some apps) will really make someone switch?
The tx2 could be nice, but it's really just a tx2500 with some multi-touch features and a new skin -- it's not a platform revolution. The MacBooks don't have a touchscreen, but they're also better built, faster, and just more interesting.
HP may not have a "messiah" type leader in charge...But then they won't be hurting like Apple will if something should happen to Steve Jobs...
HP is reaping the rewards of improved customer service and a better product line up than they had a few years ago...The next computer i buy will have a touchscreen...and it will likely come from HP...They have not failed me yet...because they don't play hard to get if something goes wrong...
A friend of mine recently bought an HP laptop, and asked me to help her with some technical support for it. She is very non-computer-literate and was afraid to call HP's support. I really have to say- they are turning out some VERY nice laptops right now (I disagree with the earlier "fugly" post), and their technical support made Dell's look like absolute crap. They were very friendly and professional, acknowledged that I actually knew what I was talking about (they weren't just reading scripts), and actually listened to me describe what I had already done. I even believe they actually resided on this continent, somewhere in the Midwest USA to be exact.
In the end- it was a system board failure, which they replaced via FedEx delivery (at THEIR cost). They overnighted a special box just for the laptop. We shipped it pre-paid overnight to them. They fixed it the same day they got it, and overnighted it back. They even kept my friend updated of the status of her machine BY PHONE for the day they had it in their shop. I should note that this was a basic consumer laptop warranty repair. I realize some SOHO and large corporate get (and pay for) on-site service contracts.
I get a new Dell laptop every year though my employer, but if I ever buy one for myself- it will very likely be an HP.
Um, Kudos to HP for doing what Apple has been doing for nearly 15 years. This is a fairly common scenario with laptops.
Until the past several years, HP had that "interesting" trait in its DNA. Carly stripped that out and replaced it with a ruthless machine that turns out cheap, uninspiring products. Because HP can only add software onto Windows and refuses to leverage any kind of originality in the hardware space, they don't produce much of note.
I purchased an HP notebook last year with Windows Vista (TX1000 Tablet PC) and the battery life was abysmal and the unit ran hot. I sent it back to HP and it sat for a week until they lost it, so they offered to replace/upgrade it for free (as they should!). The replacement was a 15" Core 2 Duo dv6500t that had a beautiful screen and keyboard, but was succeptable to Windows Vista crashes. After the third BSOD, I called HP support and spent 30min on hold with someone overseas who finally determined it to be a problem with the unit itself. Therefore, they took the return of this unit (all pre-paid shipping) and sent me another dv6500t.
The replacement DV6500t worked fine for about a week of very light use (e-mail/web, and Office '07 only). After I got it, I installed all the Vista updates and thought I was in good shape....soon, Vista gave me another BSOD. I called HP (again) and they had me do a full restore, but for some reason it was in a perpetual loop of wiping/installing. They sent me another set of recovery discs, and the loop continued.... Finally, I returned the unit and received a full refund.
To HP's credit, their customer service was never anything short of professional. I was very sad to have to finally return the computer but I believe the vast majority of issues I was having were directly attributed to Windows Vista. In fact, my last HP was a DV1000 and it still runs great. The only problems I ever had w/ the DV1000 was the DVD drive started ejecting spontaneously and for no reason, so they overnighted me a replacement drive and it has been fine ever since. Before that, I've owned a Pavilion N5190 and a ZV6000--both excellent computers.
What did I buy after the HP? My fiance uses Macs so I decided to purchase a Macbook instead, and so far it's been fine. In fact, I really enjoy that their customer service people are located in North America and not in Bangalore, Inda; moreover, you can take it into one of their stores for service and actually "show" them an issue rather than explain it over the telephone.
I like HP, but I don't like Windows Vista. I never had a problem with Windows XP (even when it first came out), and so far no problems with Mac OS X Leopard.
In any event, HP sells more personal computers than any company in the world, and makes some great stuff.
My current HP computer has Just Worked perfectly since I bought it in 2002. This Christmas, I am going to replace it with a new HP computer.
Macs can be downgraded to mere Windows PCs -- but that's like turning off a Porsche,
and using it for a wheelbarrow.
Sunny Guy
- by hasanstrong November 20, 2008 11:10 PM PST
- dude i am from india and i own a hp laptop . hp hardware is bad , trust me many faliures , cheap components and horrible service along with recurring defects also in india apple is selling its product but trust me quality is top notch and even though they lack service hardly there are any faliures all my friends use mac and i have seen the reason why
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