Tech companies

[HueyNRolf]

Huey, there's not much profit in PC (besides HP's top-class workstations), so the only chance to survive in this market is to race to the bottom and get sales quantities.
If they went into more profit per unit, they'd get into the MAc price segment. Have you ever seen how cheesy HP's MBP clone, the Envy, looks and feels? If I wanted to buy a laptop in that price segment, I'd rather go with the original instead of a silver plastic copy. Especially with HP's customer support track record. ..... and the Envy's trackpad sucks.

Of course, because there's no innovation, they can compete only on price. That means cutting corners at production (after sales for sure) and gaining revenues by filling the product full of crapware, plastering the product with advertising stickers etc.

It's really too bad that HP become a packager and not an innovator in the market. The consumer benefits form choice and there's far too little.

[cgbier]

The thing is how will you be innovative in the PC market? It would be the same discussion as with PC vs. Mac: "My 500 dollar BestBuy PC has the same power as your 2000 dollar iMac".
How would they be able to stand out n the market? Fancy box design ala Alienware? Could they monetize purely on design? Alienware didn't have their niche too long either, and if you want to buy a computer with a nice design, then you also can buy a Mac. At least you get a nice OS with it.

I think the only good idea HP had in years was to get out of the consumer PC market and concentrate on workstations and servers with their taste of UNIX. However, in these niches, they have the same issue as Apple with the Pro: Sales are down, and they can't get new models out, as they still have to wait for Intel to come up with the new CPUs.

[HueyNRolf]

Windows Phone smokes Android, iPhone, but no one wants it

"Despite critical acclaim, cheap phones, and a novel take on the Pepsi Challenge, few people in the U.S. want a Windows Phones and its market share may be slipping faster than its predecessor, Windows Mobile."

http://www.itworld.com/276094/window...o-one-wants-it

[Gillvane]

I'm wondering about Windows 8. Supposedly it's moving away from teh "windows" and going to a touch screen approach, although you can still use it with a mouse.

I've looked at some screens but can't tell if this looks user friendly or not.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

[HueyNRolf]

I'm wondering about Windows 8. Supposedly it's moving away from teh "windows" and going to a touch screen approach, although you can still use it with a mouse.

I've looked at some screens but can't tell if this looks user friendly or not.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

A common OS takes windows to a new level of fragmentation. Unlike a desktop or laptop, a mobile device needs to work out of the box. It is, of course, doable. But it's a huge stretch of faith (on Ballmer's part) to think that the consumer would want this, especially given the competition.

[HueyNRolf]

Nokia becomes riskier partner for Microsoft
Software giant’s mobile partner is sinking, posing a challenge

“Microsoft needs Nokia to stay afloat,” Restivo said. “It needs Nokia to gain incremental share in the smartphone field. ... Worst-case is if Nokia continues to bleed cash and market share. Microsoft can’t afford to have that happen.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nok...MW_latest_news

Gravity ?

[Janke]

Nokia just yesterday told that they'll reduce workforce by 40% (about 10,000 people, worldwide, of them, 3,700 in Finland.) In one single town here in Finland, 1,500 will get the boot...

[cgbier]

So cheating on EU subsidies and the rumored 250 bucks Microsoft pays for every phone didn't keep them afloat?

Bad business model it seems.

[HueyNRolf]

There's speculation of a MS buyout or bailout. Who knows what Balmer might do now? But of course it would be just throwing more money on the fire. Futile!

[Dr. Benway]

Nokia just yesterday told that they'll reduce workforce by 40% (about 10,000 people, worldwide, of them, 3,700 in Finland.) In one single town here in Finland, 1,500 will get the boot...

Aren't some mildly overweight Chinese suits standing by with open chequebooks?

[Janke]

Well, they bought SAAB, so why not...

[Dr. Benway]

Well, they bought SAAB, so why not...

Exactly. I imagine with such a strong brand the offers have been coming thick and fast.

[HueyNRolf]

Aren't some mildly overweight Chinese suits standing by with open chequebooks?

Well of course, an undervalued company can be had for a bargain-basement price. But then you need a plan to turn it around. Clearly partnering with MS and going with a windows OS was the wrong idea. That leaves going with Android, which means you'd have to compete in the cut-throat-fragmented market and take on the mighty Samsung et al. Or adopt an end-to-end integrated design. But that means getting the apps and content in place as well as an OS. It's far too late in the game for that.

I can see those chequebooks staying closed.

[Dr. Benway]

Clearly partnering with MS and going with a windows OS was the wrong idea.

Good point.

[Gillvane]

Vizio launches all in one PC.


Also laptops.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/computers/vizio-officially-launches-first-desktops-laptops-starting-at-89999/8306



It's an interesting move when other PC companies are struggling.

[cgbier]

Well, Nokia's factories in Romania, paid for by the EU taxpayers, are still worth the one or the other dime.

[1]

... a mobile device needs to work out of the box...... it's a huge stretch of faith (on Ballmer's part) to think that the consumer would want this

It's also a stretch to imagine that it WILL work right-out-of-the box!!!

I like Win 2000, XP 64, and 7 Ultimate: BUT all those took some pampering to get to where I was/am happy.

[1]

and a novel take on the Pepsi Challenge,

" During the challenge, your smartphone would participate in a head-to-head race against a Windows Phone to complete a basic task such as uploading a photo to Facebook, searching for movie times, or checking weather forecasts."

Odd. I mainly use MY phone to make phone calls...

[cgbier]

You know how to throw a salesman off track when they start their smartphone sell spiel? Just innocently ask them if you can call someone with that machine.

I did that several times already. It hasn't failed me so far.

[cgbier]

Btw the iPad is my main email machine since I got it four weeks ago. I'd rather cut off my fingers than cannibalize my emails' language. It isn't polite, and puts in a bad light "so that dude send me a message, but doesn't even bother to get the wording right? He must think I'm not worthy to be adressed with real language"

[1]

It hasn't failed me so far.

lol

[HueyNRolf]

Microsoft Manufacturing Tablet to Rival Apple iPad, Says Insider (Exclusive)

"Rumors have surfaced that Microsoft's new tablet will run on Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 that uses an ARM microprocessor."

http://www.thewrap.com/media/article...-insider-44271

Next please.

[cgbier]

Good luck, Microsoft.

[HueyNRolf]

Good luck, Microsoft.

We'll know soon if the rumor is true, but, last I heard, windows 8 isn't due out until Feb 2013. As for windows RT, it's anyone's guess.

Of course, Microsoft last attempted to drum up buzz for Windows-powered tablets in early 2010, when CEO Steve Ballmer took the stage at the Consumer Electronics Show to unveil the HP Slate. The announcement came as rumors of an Apple tablet were at a fever pitch, just weeks before the first iPad would be officially unveiled.

But the HP Slate was a complete failure, with a total of just 9,000 units sold by the end of 2010. HP later tried again with its own webOS-powered TouchPad, rather than Microsoft's Windows, but that product was quickly discontinued last year after it failed to compete with the iPad.

[Playing]

Slightly off topic: I recall how offended I was after spending a fortune on an HP Scientific Pocket Calculator. Someone published 101 uses for it. The best was: If you turn it over and take out the battery you can use it as an ashtray.