RUMOR: HP getting out of the PC business?

[justinkw1]

Huh??? BBC said it's confirmed ....

BBC News - Hewlett-Packard to exit computing and buy Autonomy

I'm confused

This title is misleading. Read the rest of the article and it clearly shows that HP is only considering the idea of selling / spinning off the business.

If HP does spin off / sell the business, I'm pretty sure they won't just let existing warranties go to waste...

[kingp1ng]

I blame inception. Gahh

[mimitran]

Is it safe to buy a Probook right now? Or should I just go with a Dell just to be safe?

[Indrek]

Huh??? BBC said it's confirmed ....

BBC News - Hewlett-Packard to exit computing and buy Autonomy

I'm confused

Nothing's confirmed until HP themselves say so. Right now the only thing they've confirmed is that they're exploring different options, one of which may or may not be selling off the PC division.

From the HP press release I linked to earlier:

There can be no assurance that any transaction regarding PSG will be pursued or completed.

Is it safe to buy a Probook right now? Or should I just go with a Dell just to be safe?

What do you mean by "safe"? If you're referring to warranty, then as said, there's no indication that HP or, if they do sell their PC business, the buyer will not honour the warranties.

Also, don't ProBooks have just 1 year warranty? HP themselves don't expect the deal (if any deal will be made at all) to be completed before 12-18 months, so ProBooks bought now should be covered regardless.

[vsherry]

This is a grievous revelation. HP's competitive blend of specs and affordability has kept me in its corner for every laptop purchase I have made. I have made three. My previous two desktops were Compaqs, which actually worked much better than my only PC that has not been from the HP family, an overhyped IBM Aptiva. I love my HP Envy 17. It's the first high-end laptop I've ever owned, and it performs splendidly. I hope they retain the PC business. I can't believe I've become brand-loyal. It was by accident, I swear.

[Mitlov]

This is a grievous revelation. HP's competitive blend of specs and affordability has kept me in its corner for every laptop purchase I have made. I have made three. My previous two desktops were Compaqs, which actually worked much better than my only PC that has not been from the HP family, an overhyped IBM Aptiva. I love my HP Envy 17. It's the first high-end laptop I've ever owned, and it performs splendidly. I hope they retain the PC business. I can't believe I've become brand-loyal. It was by accident, I swear.

The spinoff doesn't mean you can't be brand-loyal anymore. They could pull a Volvo. Volvo spun off Volvo cars long ago, leaving Volvo trucks and Volvo cars as two separate and unrelated companies (Volvo trucks used the capital to buy Scania trucks). That wasn't the death of Volvo cars though...the company actually made some of its best models after the spin-off, when it joined up with Ford. S60R? XC70? C30? All post-spinoff models.

There's a very good chance HP computers could still exist after the spinoff, just as a separate company from HP printers/servers, and likely affiliated with some other company that's got some capital to invest in R&D but who needs name recognition in North American markets.

[vorlon]

HP To End Tablet, Phone Businesses, May Sell PC Arm

Report: HP to sell PC business, move toward software and the cloud

HP to ?Reinvent? Company With Return to Roots - Bloomberg

HP to cut tablets, phones and spin off PC business. Should Microsoft buy? | The Microsoft Blog - seattlepi.com[/QUOTE]

[mimitran]

What do you mean by "safe"? If you're referring to warranty, then as said, there's no indication that HP or, if they do sell their PC business, the buyer will not honour the warranties.

Also, don't ProBooks have just 1 year warranty? HP themselves don't expect the deal (if any deal will be made at all) to be completed before 12-18 months, so ProBooks bought now should be covered regardless.

I'm either thinking about getting a Probook 4430s (1366x768) from TD or a Dell Latitude E6420 (1600x900) from the dell outlet with a coupon. Probook comes out to $650 + $8 shipping with one year warranty while the Dell comes out to $663.20 + free shipping and a three year warranty. Both have around the same specs.

The dell is appealing to me more because of the warranty and HP's "rumored" spin off. I start college on the 23rd so I'm buying one today (6/19/11). But I'm still a little hesitant of which to buy. I like the Probook because of the design. I'm not really sure how the Dell Latitude is about heat issues and I think HP has fixed their's or so I've read.

Your opinion?

[davepermen]

they should spin it off and call it "compaq".

[Indrek]

I'm either thinking about getting a Probook 4430s (1366x768) from TD or a Dell Latitude E6420 (1600x900) from the dell outlet with a coupon. Probook comes out to $650 + $8 shipping with one year warranty while the Dell comes out to $663.20 + free shipping and a three year warranty. Both have around the same specs.

The dell is appealing to me more because of the warranty and HP's "rumored" spin off. I start college on the 23rd so I'm buying one today (6/19/11). But I'm still a little hesitant of which to buy. I like the Probook because of the design. I'm not really sure how the Dell Latitude is about heat issues and I think HP has fixed their's or so I've read.

Your opinion?

Ah yes, I think I saw your topic in the "Which Notebook" subforum.

Anyway, the Dell has much better resolution. Personally I wouldn't consider anything with less than 900 vertical pixels, but if you think the HP's resolution is sufficient for your needs, then that's a moot point.

The Dell also has higher build quality. The E6xxx line is Dell's premium business-class line, equivalent to HP's EliteBooks and ThinkPad T-series, whereas the ProBook is an entry-level business-class machine (like Dell's Vostro line). I have not been impressed with the build quality of previous ProBooks, although the Sandy Bridge era versions are supposed to have been improved in that aspect, with more metal used in the construction.

As for heat issues with the E6420, I'm not aware of any significant ones, though I haven't been following that subject very closely either. You might want to try checking the NBR Dell subforum, there should be an owner's lounge thread for that model where you can get more information.

With regards to this topic and HP's warranties, as I said, I wouldn't be worried about it. My older-gen EliteBook still has over a year of warranty left, and I trust HP to honour it fully. If you find the ProBook appealing and the specs satisfactory, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.