HP decks high end R&D work

WHILE THE ALPHA chip duck is now a crispy aromatic duck, what future for other high end R&D projects at Hewlett Packard?

The answer, according to an article published earlier this week in the Wall Street Journal, is not much.

Entitled Invent Wisely is New Mantra at Sober HP, it doesn't really get that interesting until it gets to the bit about chief technology officer Shane Robison.

According to the article, the Office of Strategy and Technology at HP is creating a "central pipeline" to develop clever stuff from third party companies.

There's also a hotline so employees can ring Shane if they've got a whizz of an idea.

But don't bother calling if it doesn't help HP's business, Shane told the WSJ.

Because HP has, according to the article, "terminated" research into components, got rid of many basic research experts and hired some software specialists.

Shane, continues the article, has to plan "innovation". However, even though HP poured megabucks into the Itanic project, customers have moved to "competing products".

In fact, Shane R is interested in cooperating with companies like Starbucks with those supping coffee able to burn CDs with music they like.

Exactly which high end R&D projects have now been binned is a bit of a riddle wrapped in an enigma. µ

L'INQ
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See Also
HP's Rich Marcello - the INQUIRER is "bullsh*t"