HP ponders Windows 8 tablets

By on Jun 30, 2011 at 11:30 PM
Software June 30, 2011

On Friday, HP’s brand new webOS-powered TouchPad tablet will make its debut in the United States. Even though HP purchased Palm for $1.2 billion last year so that it could stray away from the Windows-powered tablet market by owning webOS, the company may soon build tablets running Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system. In a recent interview with Fast Company, HP’s president and chief technology officer Phil McKinney suggested that Windows 8 tablets could be in the pipeline. “I’m limited to what I can talk about with Windows 8,” McKinney says. “We’re working very closely with [Microsoft], and I’m going to leave it at that or I’m going to start getting myself into trouble.” We could take McKinney’s statement two ways. First, HP is already a Microsoft partner on Windows 7 powered devices, so to deny Microsoft support for Windows 8 could be a blow to the Redmond-based company. Or second, HP does have a Windows 8 powered tablet in the works, but doesn’t want to start spreading rumors, especially during the launch of the company’s new flagship TouchPad device. We’ll have to wait and see what HP decides to do, but it seems like a confusing move — at least from the customer perspective — for HP to offer both operating systems on its tablet devices.

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  • http://policydiary.com/ John S. Wilson

    What’s the point of them using two different operating systems? Do they plan on supporting Windows on their phones? Doubt it. Seems like a fragmentation problem brewing.

    • Cameron

      Some people want a WebOS tablet. Some want a Windows 8 tablet. Each tablet would fit into it’s respective ecosystem. I don’t see the fragmentation. If the company has the resources, then why not?

    • serpentor

      They’re not like Apple. They have a big enterprise biz.

      It’s kinda like Samsung, who makes it’s own line of phones, but at the same time sells parts to other companies that will directly compete with their own products.
      I’m ok with it.

    • Anonymous

      HTC seems to be doing very well supporting two operating systems.

  • Cameron

    Confusing only to iFans. My HP computer runs Windows and Ubuntu. And it even does it on the same machine!!!!! O no, maybe I am confused, how could that be possible? I also seem to remember that I ran Linux and Windows simultaneously – one within the other. Now that can’t be possible, so I must be so confused that I’m making things up. O no!!!!!!!!!

    • http://policydiary.com/ John S. Wilson

      Actually Cameron, aside from the fact the majority of consumers don’t dual boot their desktop computers as you do, HP has to deal with the fact they’ll be competing against themselves. Two tablets, two different app stores – yes that could confuse the mainstream consumer. Additionally, if it’s such a great idea why is no other company currently doing it in the tablet market? Or is it just so ingenious that other companies haven’t caught up yet? 

      Sure, companies are doing it in the phone market but that’s mostly because they’re so frightened of pissing off Microsoft. In HTC’s case they would prob love to drop Winmo. 

      • http://identi.ca/LauRoman LaurenÈ›iu Roman

        So by that logic GM should scrap all their automobile brands except for GMC that overlap slightly with it.

      • http://policydiary.com/ John S. Wilson

        Oh man, that was so witty. No, not really. As I said before, show me another tablet manufacturer that’s running around selling you the same tablet with two different OSs. Don’t worry, I’ll wait. 

        Funniest thing about your “analogy,” if you can call it that, is that GM (and most car manufacturers) just rebadge vehicles from one brand to another. Or did you not figure out a Chevrolet Tahoe is the same as a GMC Yukon? So that bolsters my argument, not tears it down. 

        HP has a vision, and it’s to use WebOS everywhere, hence their touch to share technology in the Palm Pre, Palm Veer, and in their tablets.

      • http://profiles.google.com/djblois Daniel Blois

        John,

        You are wrong on many points.  First GMC re-brands some but it does not
        do it with all its cars – many are distinct.  Second, the reason no
        other Tablet Manufacturer is doing it currently is only ONE tablet OS is
        available for license.  Apple and RIM will not license another OS, as
        that has never been part of their business model.  Third, HP built its
        business on Windows (for the most part) and will continue to make
        Windows Desktops and Laptops, so it is a natural extension to use it on
        Tablets as well.  Fourth, I highly doubt they will make the same exact
        tablet using two different OSs.  They will most likely differentiate
        between the two.  Like maybe Windows for Enterprise and WebOS for
        Consumer.

        Finally, if it makes no sense for companies to compete against
        themselves then tell that to Home Depot who has its own brand and sells
        other brands as well and tell it to Lowes and almost every other retail
        chain on the market.

      • serpentor

        @JohnSWilson:disqus I get it. You’re saying GM really should scrap the rebadging thing.

        But I’d say yes I’d can call it an analogy (without using air quotes).  

      • http://policydiary.com/ John S. Wilson

        Daniel, I didn’t say it never made sense to compete against yourself. Apple does it all the time (a la iPod Touch putting the iPod out of business). My point is there is no compelling reason to do it. And you brought up the point I’ve already made: HP is doing it bc of pressure from Microsoft. That’s not a compelling reason for them to do it or for the consumer to want it. 

        I doubt the tablets will be all that different. I don’t think Microsoft would want to do a pure enterprise tablet. They will both go to the consumer market and consumers will rightfully ask: Ok, which is better? They’re both made by HP. And we can quit with the car analogy because, guess what? Many of those rebranded lines were folded because consumers can tell it’s the same crap with a new name. Yes, some are distinct, but GM rebranded prob 30% of vehicles.

        Home Depot sells generic versions of goods because it makes them MORE money. Not because they just want to compete against manufacturers. Wal-Mart does the same thing. There is a higher margin on Home Depot labeled products and typically they are cheaper than name brand ones. So your analogy doesn’t work. Not unless HP plans on building two tablets then undercutting themselves. Um, how is that even possible?

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6HpRLyzMY Walter Sobchak

        Wow! You sir are an idiot!
        How old is the tablet space?
        By your specious reasoning no one should try anything new in an market which is in its infancy because no one’s done it?
        Wow! You sir are an idiot!

      • http://policydiary.com/ John S. Wilson

        By your specious reasoning, you make no sense. Calling me an idiot twice doesn’t help your argument. The tablet space is over a year old and there are about 10 tablets on the market and as many more coming in the next few months. I’ve seen none – either already here or planned – using the dual OS approach. As I said before, HP is beholden to Microsoft.

      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6HpRLyzMY Walter Sobchak

        Look at the phone space, which way after 1 year found manufacturers using android and wp7.
        You’re an idiot

      • serpentor

        Winmo? Did you mean WP7 or are you really talking about winmo? Because I think MS’s already dropped winmo.

      • serpentor

        Having two app stores doesn’t confuse anyone. If I’m using webOS I have no idea what’s going on with Windows app store and wouldn’t care.

        But I think Apple has found the one person to bolster their suit who would confuse Amazon’s app store with the iOS app store.

      • serpentor

        Duel boot confusing?

        Apple doesn’t seem to think so since they tout (or use to anyway) the ability to use bootcamp for people iffy about switching from Windows.

  • Linda Wanahbui

    hello my name is linda! i live in germany! bonjour bitchezz!

  • Anonymous

    It’s ok HP, come on back home. 

  • Cramleir

    Flamers be flaming, I’ve thought that they should implement webos as an additional runtime for windows a la colinux. Though, with the talk of writing windows apps with HTML and JavaScript, that may be unnecessary.

  • Anonymous

    hp is one of the biggest pc sellers in the us for to make a windows 8 tablet would be…stupid

    • http://profiles.google.com/djblois Daniel Blois

      Why would it be stupid?

      • Anonymous

        my bad man my comment was lacking some words

  • http://ocentertainment.net ocentertainment

    If HP is really going to consider a Windows 8 tablet, one has to wonder why they’re even going to bother with the TouchPad at all. Sure, the Palm devotees love WebOS, but the reason Palm had to be bought out in the first place was because they simply didn’t have the market power to push a vertically-integrated mobile platform that could compete with the likes of iOS, Android, or heck even Windows Mobile. If WebOS is going to succeed, it needs to be the focal point of HP’s attention. Mobile platforms need developer attention, they need a critical mass of users. This is not going to work if HP undermines their own $1.2b investment by going in with a platform that, at the moment, has better branding, more worldwide reach, and far more growth potential than their own.

    They need to keep in mind, Windows 8 isn’t just a new update for Windows, it’s an integration of Microsoft’s entire future software strategy. A strategy Apple and Google are also pursuing with their platforms: complete and total synergy and sync between all devices. Phones, tablets, and desktops/laptops. These are the three platforms to beat. And unless HP thinks they can give half their attention to developing their competitor and still maintain focus on their own underdog system, they’re going to blow it. It’s like David giving Goliath some of his best guns before their showdown.

    Granted, I personally don’t think WebOS has much of a shot. I think HP is too unfocused and I think that WebOS, despite its many talents, is developed too slowly and is simply not ubiquitous enough to materialize as a major platform contender. But then, my job isn’t to sell that platform. HP’s is.

    • http://policydiary.com/ John S. Wilson

      Excellent post and reasoning. Couldn’t have said it better myself. No serious manufacturer is trying to do two platforms. Some folks mentioned Apple’s Bootcamp – that’s not analogous. Apple markets Bootcamp as a way for PC devotees to be able to have one foot in and one foot out. It’s not a strategy they use if PCs didn’t have 80+ percent marketshare.

      Additionally, one could tell HP wanted WebOS to be everywhere – tablets, phones, and all things mobile. To alter that because of Microsoft’s whims would be a poor idea indeed.

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