December 21st, 2008 | 
Author: Hewlett Packard was founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in 1939. Classmates at Stanford University, the two started their business in a garage in Palo Alto.
HP developed an early focus on electronic testing and measurement devices. Their first product was an audio oscillator used by sound engineers that was both more stable and less expensive to produce than other oscillators of its time. Disney bought eight to use in development of a new sound system for the movie Fantasia.
In the 1960’s, they made their first foray into microcomputers. Their first attempts, the 2100 and 1000 microcomputer series, were sold commercially for over 20 years.
The company is widely acknowledged to have produced the first personal computer, the Hewlett Packard 3000, in 1968. In the 1980’s, Hewlett Packard developed its first inkjet and laser printers for the consumer market.
The company changed direction in the 1990’s to target individual consumers instead of business and industrial markets. They merged with Compaq, a personal computer developer, in 2002. The merger enabled Hewlett Packard to lay claim to a larger market share in the personal computing industry. The merger was spearheaded by HP CEO Carly Fiorina, one of the first women ever to be appointed CEO of a company listed in Dow Jones Industrial Average.
In the 1980’s, the basement where HP started was named a historical location. HP’s innovations changed the face of the computer and electronics industries, and they are now one of the largest companies in the industry. With their long history of success and influence on computing technology, it is likely that they will continue to innovate for many years to come.
P.Warrior is director of printer ink cartridge retailer http://www.inkandmedialtd.co.uk based in Witham Essex. For more information on HP ink cartridges visit http://www.inkandmedialtd.co.uk/acatalog/HP.html
Article Source: A Short History of Hewlett Packard
