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As the World's largest computer manufacturer, it is strange to me that HP would spend $1.2B to buy WebOS and Palm's patents and mobile hardware design talent, o
by WiseWeasel 15y ago
As the World's largest computer manufacturer, it is strange to me that HP would spend $1.2B to buy WebOS and Palm's patents and mobile hardware design talent, only to give out its sole marketable distinguishing characteristic to competitors. If any company is capable of exploiting WebOS's strengths with an array of skillfully designed and profitable hardware, it would seem that HP would be the one to do it.
If I was a potential OEM partner with HP, I would have to question their long-term commitment to the partnership; I would expect them to drop licensing and capture the hardware profits for themselves should the platform be successful and build a healthy software ecosystem.
- hnsmurf 15y agoI think that's the problem, no one company is capable of doing it on their own. I don't think what Apple has done can be replicated now, in fact I don't think even they could replicate it if they were starting over. A monoculture just can't compete at this point. I love WebOS, but I won't buy the phone. The apps aren't there like they are on Android, and as long as HP alone is selling it the platform won't be big enough to encourage that.
- yawgmoth 15y ago| If any company is capable of exploiting WebOS's strengths with an array of capably designed and profitable hardware, it would seem that HP would be the one to do it. I don't think HP agrees exactly. It appears that they think that there are many people capable of exploiting WebOS' strengths and perhaps are even counting on it. An excited developer culture around an OS tends to work out well for the hardware manufacturers.