Hewlett-Packard
Evolving into HP
Hewlett-Packard or more fondly known as HP is a home and office by-word that refers to various computing and printing devices. But it’s more than that. It has evolved over the years to become the largest technology-based corporation in the world operating in just about every country on earth.
A Bit of History
HP’s name comes form the two men who founded the company in 1939. William Hewlett and David Packard were electrical engineering graduates of Stanford University who, with an initial capitalization of $538, established the HP Co. in Packard’s garage.
From its early days up until the 90s, HP has focused on high precision electronic test equipment and instrumentation. Its oscilloscopes were highly sought after for their accurate measurements and have made a name for the company. It’s interesting to note that among HP’s earliest customers was The Walt Disney Company which acquired oscillators used to certify the fantasound surround systems it installed in theaters for the Fantasia movie.
Its focus made them an industry pillar for electronic test equipments as well as medical appliances and instrumentation used for various chemical processes which were spun off under the Agilent Technologies company back in 1999.
It was in 1966 that HP decided to enter the computer making business when it made a decision to build its own rather than get a Digital Equipment minicomputer for its instrumentation requirements. The very first computers came out under the HP 2100 line which were in the market for roughly 20 years. HP’s computing focus was on business, science research and industrial markets that it failed to recognize an employee named Steve Wozniack who presented to its management the Apple designs in the late 70s.
The rest is history, as they say. HP went on to produce some of the best laser printers that have become standard company printers in time. After an acquisition binge in the 90s that included rival Compaq, HP has grown to be the largest PC maker in the world with the 1 and 2 slot alternating with Dell Computers.
