News

Official: HP is “evaluating strategic alternatives for the Personal Systems Group”

By: David Baxter, 8/18/2011 4:19 pm | 39 comments

Man…Leo is on a roll today…gotta say, I am glad I don’t work for HP this afternoon.

Ok, so HP just issued the official announcement that the PSG is gonna be split off in some form or fashion. They don’t really say how, just that it will happen. What this means, from what we can tell at least, is that the Leo just turned HP into a software company with one swipe of a pen…well, probably a lot of swipes.

The PSG is the largest part of HP we believe:

PSG has a proud history of innovation and technological leadership as well as a strong operating track record and industry-leading profitability. PSG is the leading manufacturer of personal computers in the world and had annual revenues of approximately $41 billion in fiscal year 2010. PSG enjoys leading global market positions in consumer and commercial PCs.

I guess Leo wants to run a software company? Man this is so strange…

HP management, together with its financial and legal advisers, will explore strategic alternatives, including the exploration of the separation of its PC business into a separate company through a spin-off or other transaction that would likely be tax free to U.S. shareholders. HP expects that the process could be completed within approximately 12-18 months.

There can be no assurance that any transaction regarding PSG will be pursued or completed. The company does not intend to disclose developments with respect to the progress of its strategic alternatives review process until such time as the HP board of directors approves or completes a transaction or otherwise determines that further disclosure is appropriate.

Apotheker added, “As we explore alternatives for PSG, we will be focused on a path that not only enhances value for HP shareholders but also provides greater opportunities for our people, businesses, partners and customers. While this process is underway, we will remain focused on operating our businesses. The strength of PSG is a testament to our world-class team of employees and reflects their commitment to innovation and customers and partners.”

Such a strange day indeed…

Source: HP

About David Baxter

David is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of webOSroundup. When not toiling away at WOR he is usually with his family, at church, building a website of some kind or another, or playing a video game. @davidbbaxter

View all posts by David Baxter →

http://thesmartphoneappreview.com Simon Burns

God I hope this turns out right tonight

5thFret

When was the last time you heard of anyone buying an HP product? Shame to watch Palm go down like this to a poorly managed company like HP. Love my Palm Pre Plus.

Matt_99_hey

It’s all starting to make sense, the first bad sign being Rubenstein being moved to that group.

Apple is making waves, big ones. Where companies are scrambling and restructuring because its hard to turn a profit in old businesses.

I guess this will cultivate innovation, who knows…
Tonymac32

IBM anyone?

Malette

Exactly!
Malette

Exactly!

Tonymac32

IBM anyone?
Matt_99_hey

Hurd was spittin the truth about them not being in the smartphone business. My guess is that they will retain webos but only to printers and servers. They will be able to update the software for the interface via OTA.

This is not good news for the webos developers who shifted gears only to be shunned.
Bill

Bizarre, glad
Bill

Bizarre, glad
Jason

I guess the UK and Besbuy among many retailers will be returning their unused TP and pre3…=( ….
David Cooper

any1 think we might be seeing the need for PALM again?
Anonymous

I watched as DEC died, and Prime, and dozens of smaller companies. I was in Bell Labs when Lucent spun off… Anyone even remember Lucent? I was in ATT Labs when Bell South bought out AT&T, basically for the name… Which they then changed to at&t, the ultimate insult. I swore UNIX, vendor independence, portability, standards… was the future. But none of that worked out like it was suppose to. I couldn’t buy into “open systems” because with no one in charge, it as just a hobby, not a living. Retired now, I had just (again) begun to think that there was hope for a rational software industry built, this time, on HTML5 and webOS was going to prove it.

Recommendation: study biology, not CS. And make sure you NEVER trust the word of anyone in BIG anything, especially not big banks, government, industry, universities, or political parties. They are ALL populated by people who do not understand their own limitations. …meet you back at the cottage after the final crash.

Jason

Best comment yet!!!!!! So true.
Jason

Best comment yet!!!!!! So true.

Nortab

maybe palm and webOS can live again, but this is shocking news. HP really blew it as we all kind of worried they would. From awkward acquisition, to mismanaged marketing and a lackluster launch, I don’t think a company has killed a great idea faster. They clearly didn’t know what they were doing when they purchased palm and were in over their balding heads. Too big to fail? Nope. Too big to think different…

Jason

Best comment yet!!!!!! So true.

5thFret

NEW YORK, Aug 18, 2011 (AFP) – US computer giant Hewlett-Packard plans to spin off its personal computer business and buy British enterprise software firm Autonomy Corp. for about $10 billion, Bloomberg news agency said Thursday.
Malette

Sure wish someone else would have bought palm. I’d like to see webOS with Sony. Are you listening Sony? It’s a great OS and you are a great company with strong hardware. Please rescue us. I don’t want to lose webOS.
PalmOn

In case no one heard me before, let me say it again: I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO–I told you HP CANNOT BE TRUSTED, and guess what? I WAS RIGHT. DAVID from WEBOSROUNDUP and countless others that post on this sight said DON’T WORRY, HP SAID THEY WOULD BE DELIVERING NEW WEBOS PHONES AND THEY WILL. JUST BE PATIENT. JUST WAIT. I said from the start that “IN THE COMING MONTHS” was a load of CRAP. And before that I said that they lied about giving us Adobe Flash as an OTA update, so WHY SHOULD THEY BE TRUSTED? I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO. This makes me SO, SO glad that I used my upgrade a couple of months ago on the HTC EVO 3D, which, by the way, blows any webos phone away by a mile. It is FAST, FAST, FAST, and makes me wonder why it took me so long to get it. Webos is a joke. This web site, which promotes rumors, is a joke. Its writers are a joke. They told me to just wait, the new webos phones are coming. WELL, WEBOS STAFF (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE), WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELVES NOW? Oh, and one more time, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO–HP (AND PALM) CANNOT BE TRUSTED!!!!!!

Dutch

Again, therapy dude. It is pretty disturbing that you need to exclaim ‘I told you so’ when people are feeling low. Get over yourself.

PalmOn

I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO! I HAVE.SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES, AND I WILL SAY IT A THOUSAND TIMES MORE. I TOLD YOU SO–HP (AND PALM) CANNOT BE TRUSTED!
PalmOn

I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO! I HAVE.SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES, AND I WILL SAY IT A THOUSAND TIMES MORE. I TOLD YOU SO–HP (AND PALM) CANNOT BE TRUSTED!

Dutch

No one is saying you are wrong anymore. Good for you. You are clearly a very smart guy. You must feel so vindicated. But the ALL-CAPS and self-centeredness? Overcompensation.

PalmOn

ah yes. thank you.
Malette

Well that’s just the difference between you and a diehard webOS fan. There’s nothing wrong with having hopes and dreams. If everyone doubted everything nothing would be created or accomplished. Though at the moment it seems you are correct that HP couldn’t be trusted I feel bad for you. We may not have any new phones at the moment, but you have no heart or passion or dreams obviously. Besides probably no life since you now have droid and still come around here just to talk sh*t. I’m glad you like your evo, but I’m certain no android phone compares to a webOS device in many ways. Though we suffer with less apps we get many other advantages. Then to go and disrespect the writers of WOR. That’s just low and disrespectful. If you dislike them so much don’t read their articles. The guys here do an awesome job and I love their insight and dedication. They are more mature and better than you in many ways which is perhaps why they are not buying into your antics. I stopped replying to your antagonizing comments a while ago, but felt this one needed something. Besides rumors usually have some truth to them and many turn out completely true. If that’s what they had then that’s what they had. At least they gave this community something. Please overall grow up, learn some respect, and get a life and some dreams. Life is better that way.
PalmOn

Blah, blah, blah. At least HP knows when to cut and run–which is less than I can say for you and a heck of a lot of folks who frequent this web site. It’s time to stop crying, and move on–to Android or whatever suits your fancy.

PalmOn

I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO! I HAVE.SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES, AND I WILL SAY IT A THOUSAND TIMES MORE. I TOLD YOU SO–HP (AND PALM) CANNOT BE TRUSTED!
PalmOn

I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO! I HAVE.SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES, AND I WILL SAY IT A THOUSAND TIMES MORE. I TOLD YOU SO–HP (AND PALM) CANNOT BE TRUSTED!
PalmOn

AND I STILL HAVE GOTTEN NO REPLY FROM DAVID WHO KEPT TELLING ME TO JUST BE PARIENT, THAT THE NEW WEBOS PHONES ARE COMING. HE KEPT SAYING TO CHILL AND THAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HP AND PALM STATED. AND NOW, I STILL HAVE NO REPLY FROM DAVID ON MY POSTS SINCE HP MAKE THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY KILL WEBOS. COME ON DAVID. NOTHING TO SAY?

Dutch

Again, therapy dude. It is pretty disturbing that you need to exclaim ‘I told you so’ when people are feeling low. Get over yourself.
Dutch

Again, therapy dude. It is pretty disturbing that you need to exclaim ‘I told you so’ when people are feeling low. Get over yourself.
Dutch

Again, therapy dude. It is pretty disturbing that you need to exclaim ‘I told you so’ when people are feeling low. Get over yourself.
Dutch

Again, therapy dude. It is pretty disturbing that you need to exclaim ‘I told you so’ when people are feeling low. Get over yourself.
Dutch

Again, therapy dude. It is pretty disturbing that you need to exclaim ‘I told you so’ when people are feeling low. Get over yourself.
Prebob

Ugh. Enjoy life in 3D. I hear it is almost like real.

Guest

Oh Leo Leo, don’t bring your fail experience in SAP to HP..

Why don’t you make your own software company ? j
Cobhatch

I feel completely let down. I bought a Touchpad at a staff discount and love it. I should have seen the writing on the wall. HP just moved staff from Ipaqs to PRE2′s. I wonder what we move to next.
Pingback: HP Decides to Hold Onto Personal Systems Group (PSG) | News, webOS | Group, hp, not, off, Personal, PSG, Selling, Systems | mobileRoundup

Official: HP is “evaluating strategic alternatives for the Personal Systems Group”

About David Baxter

Popular Posts