|
the 90s
HP is one of the few companies in the world to successfully marry the technologies of measurement, computing and communication. The company makes new advances in portable computing, enters the home-computing market and continues to invent new printing and imaging solutions. For most of the decade, HP enjoys growth rates of 20 percent.
Early in the 90s, John Young retires and is replaced by Lew Platt, under whose leadership HP continues to grow. HP becomes recognized as a company whose policies on work-life balance, diversity and community involvement help attract and retain top employees.
At the end of the decade, HP spins off its measurement and components businesses to form a new company, Agilent Technologies. It also brings on board a new CEO, Carleton (Carly) Fiorina, who focuses the company on reinventing itself for growth and leadership in the 21st century.
Compaq's explosive growth is threatened in the early 90s by inexpensive "PC clones." Eckhard Pfeiffer replaces Rod Canion, becoming Compaq's second president and CEO. The aggressively priced ProLinea PC line is introduced. By mid-decade, Compaq is shipping more PCs than any company in the world.
Recognizing market shifts, Compaq sets its sights on high-performance and enterprise computing. Eckhard Pfeiffer announces the goal of Compaq being one of the world's three largest computing companies by 2000. The company achieves that goal with the purchase of Tandem Computers and Digital Equipment Corporation.
As the decade closes, however, Compaq faces some significant challenges. Eckhard Pfeiffer resigns. Only months after being named chief operating officer, Michael Capellas is chosen to lead Compaq into the millennium. The new president and CEO becomes a champion for innovation, faster decision-making and listening to customers.
1990
HP revenue: $13.2 billion. HP employees: 92,000.
Compaq's most powerful notebook, the SLT 386/20, is introduced.
Compaq has its first billion-dollar quarter. Compaq products are sold in 64 countries through 3,000 authorized dealers.
1991
|
 |
|
|
HP 95LX |
|
HP makes advances in lightweight portable computing with the introduction of the HP 95LX palmtop PC, HP's first palmtop personal computer. Weighing only 11 ounces, the HP 95 LX is roughly the size of a large pocket calculator but possesses as much computing power as a desktop personal computer system. It has a financial calculator, a telephone and address program, Lotus 1-2-3, a simple text editor and an infrared link for transferring data.
 |
|
|
|
DeskJet 500C |
|
HP introduces the color DeskJet 500C, which creates a revolution in color printing. Up to this point color printers have been expensive, specialized machines. But the DeskJet gives customers an inexpensive color-printing option and the model is a huge success.
HP revenue: $14.5 billion. HP employees: 89,000.
Eckhard Pfeiffer, who for years led Compaq's international operations, is named to replace Rod Canion as president and CEO. He outlines a strategy that includes sweeping changes in product development, pricing, customer support, distribution, product promotion and financial management.
Compaq introduces its first modular PC, the Compaq Deskpro/M family. Components previously included on one system board — the processor, EISA bus, I/O, video graphics controller and memory expansion — each has their own board, allowing easy upgrading. The company introduces its first color portable PC.
Compaq revenue: $3.3 billion.
1992
John Young retires; Lew Platt, an engineer and head of the Computer Systems Organization, is elected president and CEO and a member of the board of directors. Platt, an HP employee since 1966, wins kudos inside and outside the company for championing diversity in the workplace, establishing a balance between work and personal life for employees and directing HP to become a leader in community involvement.
|
 |
|
|
HP Corporate Business Systems |
|
HP introduces the HP Corporate Business Systems — nine HP 3000 and HP 9000 computing systems with mainframe performance at up to 90 percent lower cost.
HP revenue: $16.4 billion. HP employees: 92,600.
Compaq announces a series of new "clone-busting" products, redefining PC industry economics with its first low-cost family of PCs — ProLinea. It also introduces its first low-cost server, ProSignia, and its first server management and optimization tools.
Compaq's first printer product, the Compaq Pagemarq, makes its debut.
Compaq signs on its first official retail channels, including ComputerCity and CompUSA.
Compaq revenues rise 75 percent in less than a year.
1993
 |
|
|
|
HP OmniBook 300 |
|
HP introduces the 3-pound HP OmniBook 300, a "superportable" personal computer with enough battery power to last during a flight across the United States.
The company ships its 10 millionth HP LaserJet printer.
Dave Packard retires as chairman of the board of directors. Lew Platt is elected chairman of the board.
HP revenue: $20 billion. HP employees: 96,000.
Compaq introduces its first all-in-one Compaq PC, the Presario family.
Compaq announces Concerto, its first pen-based notebook PC, as well as its first mini-tower PC. The company discontinues its printer business.
Compaq joins the Fortune 100.
1994
HP produces the world's brightest LED (light-emitting diode). Combining bright output, reliability and low power consumption, LEDs replace incandescent lamps in many new applications. HP LEDs expand the range of LED applications in cars, traffic-control signals and moving-message panels.
HP begins collaboration with Intel to develop a common 64-bit microprocessor architecture for the computers of the 21st century. The work draws on years of research at HP Labs to create a replacement for PA-RISC processors. Known then as IA-64, the new processor (now called Itanium) debuts in 2001.
|
 |
|
|
HP OfficeJet printer-fax-copier |
|
HP introduces the HP OfficeJet personal printer-fax-copier, a space-saving product designed specifically for professional home-office users.
Telecommuting policies are formalized, making HP one of the first companies to encourage telecommuting around the world. Employees can work at home or at remote HP offices. The result is rising job satisfaction, reduced commute time, increased flexibility to coordinate personal and work schedules, and lower levels of stress. HP benefits from reduced office-space requirements and improved employee retention.
HP revenue: $25 billion. HP employees: 98,400.
Compaq introduces its first sub-notebook, the Compaq Aero, and launches its first rack-mountable ProLiant server.
Compaq achieves the No. 1 worldwide PC market share position,
announces expansion of manufacturing operations in Houston, Scotland and Singapore, and opens a manufacturing facility in Brazil.
Compaq revenue: $10.9 billion. Compaq employees: 14,400.
1995
The HP Pavilion PC marks the company's highly successful introduction into the home-computing market.
Dave Packard publishes The HP Way, a book that chronicles the rise of HP and gives insight into the business practices, culture and management style that helped make it a success.
HP revenue: $31.5 billion. HP employees: 105,200.
Compaq announces a complete redesign of its popular Deskpro product line, adding new "Intelligent Manageability" features.
Compaq acquires Thomas-Conrad and NetWorth, extending the company's internetworking product offerings.
Compaq's sales of $14.8 billion make it the No. 5 computer company in the world.
1996
Co-founder Dave Packard dies on March 26.
HP revenue: $38.4 billion. HP employees: 112,000.
Compaq produces its one-millionth server.
Compaq introduces new products: the LS-120, the industry's first 120 MB floppy drive; the Armada family of value-priced, flexible notebooks; and the PC Companion, a handheld PC.
1997
HP wins an Emmy Award for contributions to the sophisticated MPEG compression technologies used for video data.
HP becomes one of the 30 stocks that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).
HP revenue: $43 billion. HP employees: 121,900.
Compaq establishes a finance company for customer leasing and other financial options.
New Compaq products include the company's first portable PC designed specifically for the education market, a sub-$1,000 home PC and a flat-panel monitor.
Compaq acquires Cupertino-based Tandem Computer Incorporated, known for its high-performance, fault-tolerant Himalaya servers and related software and services. Acquiring Tandem expands Compaq's influence deeper into high-end business computing and broadens its appeal beyond PCs and industry-standard servers.
Compaq revenue: $24.6 billion. The company is named Forbes magazine's Company of the Year.
1998
|
 |
|
|
Jornada 820 |
|
HP introduces its first Jornada PDA (personal digital assistant). The Jornada 820 Palmtop PC runs Windows CE as its operating system.
HP revenue: $47.1 billion. HP employees: 124,600.
Compaq acquires Digital Equipment Corporation for $9.6 billion-at the time the largest acquisition in computer industry history. BusinessWeek writes, "By acquiring Digital, Compaq is catapulted from the upstart, wild-and-woolly PC generation into the high-tech big leagues of companies that supply the world's most complex and critical information systems."
Compaq drives innovation with the industry's first space-saving, full-featured, high-performance rack server, the ProLiant 1850R.
Compaq announces a line of remote access servers based on Windows NT server solutions and launches color inkjet printers for retail.
1999
HP's board of directors announces its decision to spin off a new company from the existing HP organization. Agilent Technologies consists of HP's former measurement, components, chemical analysis and medical businesses. HP retains its computing, printing and imaging businesses. Agilent has its initial public offering of common stock on November 18, 1999. HP retains 84.1 percent of common stock. It is Silicon Valley's largest-ever IPO.
In July, Lew Platt retires, and HP names Carleton (Carly) S. Fiorina as President and CEO. Carly comes to HP after nearly 20 years at AT&T and Lucent Technologies. As CEO, she leads HP's reinvention as a company that makes the Internet work for businesses and consumers.
HP reveals a new strategy designed for the Internet age, based on Web services. Web services are electronic services available over the Net that complete tasks, solve problems or conduct transactions. They can be used by people, businesses and other services and accessed via a wide range of information appliances over infrastructure solutions. HP positions itself to deliver all three components: Web services, intelligent devices and the infrastructure (servers and software).
 |
|
|
|
Jornada 420 |
|
The first pocket-size Jornada, the 420, is introduced. This is the first CE pocket-size PC with a color screen.
In November, HP begins a new brand campaign based on a single concept: invent. Print and television ads focus on the company's history of invention and innovation. The company also introduces a new logo.
HP revenue: $42 billion. HP employees: 84,400.
Compaq introduces the iPAQ desktop PC — the first "legacy-free" Windows 2000 device designed for businesses moving to an Internet-based computing model.
Compaq forms a strategic partnership with CMGI, which acquires control of Compaq's AltaVista business and related properties.
In July, Compaq names Michael Capellas as CEO, making him the first former CIO to lead a major technology company. He focuses the company around global business units with end-to-end responsibility for meeting the needs of their customers. He rallies the company around a vision of driving "everything to the Internet" and a commitment to become advocates for Compaq's customers.
Actual company and product names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
|
1980s
