“The ecosystem that Microsoft has built up around its Windows operating system is showing signs of strain. In one of several recent moves by partners that sell or support the company’s software, Hewlett-Packard, the world’s No. 1 PC maker, has quietly assembled a group of engineers to develop software that will let customers bypass certain features of Vista, the latest version of Windows. Employees on a separate skunk works team are even angling to replace Windows with an HP-assembled operating system, say three sources close to the company,” Aaron Ricadela reports for BusinessWeek.
“‘Our customers are looking for insanely simple technology where they don’t have to fight with the technology to get the task done,’ says Phil McKinney, chief technology officer in HP’s PC division,” Ricadela reports. “McKinney says any discussions about building an operating system to rival Windows are happening below senior-management levels. He doesn’t deny some employees may have had such conversations, but he says HP isn’t devoting substantial resources to such projects. ‘Is HP funding a huge R&D team to go off and create an operating system? [That] makes no sense,’ he says. ‘For us it’s about innovating on top of Vista.'”
“Still, the sources say employees in HP’s PC division are exploring the possibility of building a mass-market operating system. HP’s software would be based on Linux, the open-source operating system that is already widely available, but it would be simpler and easier for mainstream users, the sources say. The goal may be to make HP less dependent on Windows and to strengthen HP’s hand against Apple, which has gained market share in recent years by offering easy-to-use computers with its own operating system,” Ricadela reports.
“One person who has advised HP executives on strategy says they are concerned that Apple could develop a notebook computer that would sell for less than $1,000. That’s a fast-growing market HP depends on for sales where Apple has yet to compete. “Apple is a huge motivating factor,” says the source,” Ricadela reports.
Full article here.
Rigid churros, indeed.
The HP OS code modules will have a built-in self-depleting feature.
They will run dry every two weeks forcing you to buy replacement code cartridge refills.
@curious
that’s fine, but I believe Apple can compete in that space. Google isn’t going to supplant Apple or Microsoft in your lifetime.
I can’t speak to Android because I don’t own one but I will say that the iPod/iPhone and the App Store already has a seven-year head start.
Leave Sarah Palin aloooone!
How disrespectful.
@nick
good one lol
The tight Conquistadors are pinching the Hardware Vendors backsides and It would be good to see them to get a backbone and start biting back.
The reason HP is doing this is to put pressure on MS to make a better version of Windows.
“Apple is a huge motivating factor,” says the source,”
Good. Everybody benefits when there is competition based on innovation.
But Leo LaPorte swears that Vista is all better now….
Fragmenting up the OS Market into say 5 to 20 different OS choices based on hardware Vendor would be good for everyone in the end. Except the software Vendors that are so Windows Centric it would be impossible for them to move to cross-platform support.
IBM should resurrect OS2 Warp for Lennovo.
Or create a desktop version of AIX for Sony
Sun should release a desktop version of Solaris.
HP should do a desktop version HPUX for it’s PCs
Who ever owns the BeOS code should get a wiggle on and release an OEM it to a Hardware maker. Dell would most likely stay with Windows.
“The reason HP is doing this is to put pressure on MS to make a better version of Windows.”
That’s like telling an alligator to slow down and chew his food first.
Considering office suites and many applications are moving toward web apps written in Java or Javascript, HP or other PC manufactures could come out with a Linux or BSD based operating system, which is very good at running Firefox or Google Chrome, but nothing else. Back to old computer business model, where Operating Systems were background software no one really cared about.
exactly. and if there is enough of a market within that OS platform. independent software creators can sell their apps etc.
i see this is a great thing in the future.
ps. bring back the amiga
Bill and Jerry will need more lube on those churros.
I’m surprised nobody has tried this before. Way to go is copy Apple’s strategy but with a well thought out OS based on Linux and a bundled suite of apps that does everything most people want to do.
Apply some design to the box, sell it at the right price and it should fly.
MS days of bullying are numbered.
Sub $1000 Apple Notebook? It’s called the iPhone/iPod touch. Good luck w/ that innovation HP. Seriously. If you can figure out how to innovate on top of Vista, that’s worth some kind of recognition.
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Did you use “lipstick” and “pig” in a sentance? That can only mean you are insulting Sarah Palin! How dare you! I am offended.
“MS days of bullying are numbered.”
And its number is Six hundred threescore and six?
HP is no stranger to Unix. HP-UX, their proprietary Unix OS, has been in commercial release since 1983. The current version, 11i v3, scales to the following specs:
* 128 processors
* 2 TB main memory
* 32 TB maximum file system
* 16 TB maximum file size
* 100 million ZB storage
“For us [HP] it’s about innovating on top of Vista.”
Talk about building a house on quicksand!!! It is not unfair to say that Windows Vista—especially when you consider the big build-up preceding its long-overdue release—has been the most spectacular disaster in the history of computer software. That’s not an easy thing to accomplish. Microsoft should be proud!
Oh, yeah, here’s the link to HP-UX:
http://h20338.www2.hp.com/hpux11i/cache/324545-0-0-0-121.html?jumpid=go/hpux
Seriously, it sounds like many of you only know of HP as a consumer printer and PC company. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Their presence in large enterprise is… well, large.
If HP decide to get serious about building an alternative operating system to Windows, I would say they’re one of the few companies that have the engineering background to pull it off.
HP could come out with a dual boot machine, one that does Vista for people that have MS stuff, and then, reboot in to HP-OS and have a basic, simple, easy to use and reliable box for web surfing, writing letters, photography, video….. hmmmm sort of like iLife but without Windows.
They could offer the dual boot system with and without Windows installed. For people like my mom who just want to do the simple stuff, who needs Windows? The Window-less version could be a little cheaper and have an option to add windows later.
Frankly, I’ve wondered for years why HP did not do this.
Snow Leopard for the “Intel World”
If any of these box makers – Dell, HP – have to guts to devote a substantial resource in R&D;to create an easy Linux with customer fit into their own $500 notebooks without fear of MS retribution, it could own the future PC market, not to mention actually “innovate” BECAUSE they don’t have to fit into Windows and actually have stuff comparable to Apple. Fortunately none of these guys are smart enough or daring enough.
Did you use “lipstick” and “pig” in a sentance? That can only mean you are insulting Sarah Palin! How dare you! I am offended.
Nice try. Obama’s intentions were very clear, however he tries to spin it.
And if it WAS accidental, it shows a glaring lack of statesmanship skills. What happens when he insults, say, Russia or North Korea in a similar manner?
As for HP? It’s gotta suck to rely so heavily on MS.
And eMachines is gonna come back with their own re-branded OS, based on BeOS.
eMachines BeOTCH!
…or not.