Get comfortable as we journey through the exhilarating story of HP – the legendary tech company that powered key computing revolutions and continues fueling innovation today.
Overview of Hewlett-Packard
Before we time-travel to HP‘s 1939 garage origins, allow me to equip you with some key facts about this Silicon Valley pioneer:
- Founded: January 1, 1939 by Stanford grads Bill Hewlett and David Packard
- Headquarters: Palo Alto, California
- Key innovations: Personal computers, printers, digital photography products, enterprise servers/services
- Current business focus: PCs/accessories (HP Inc.) and data center/cloud solutions (Hewlett Packard Enterprise)
- Fun fact: "HP" named via shortest coin flip ever – "H" or "P" picked based on Hewlett/Packard name order!
Now, let‘s start at the very beginning to see how this startup evolved into a historic global tech leader over 8 remarkable decades…
The Story Begins – 1930s/40s
Picture this – it‘s 1938 in Palo Alto before Silicon Valley was even a thing. Recent Stanford graduates Bill Hewlett and David Packard had a brilliant vision to bring high-tech instruments to market by starting Hewlett-Packard (or HP) as a side hustle in Packard‘s family garage.
On January 1, 1939, their first product – the HP200A Audio Oscillator – officially marked HP‘s incorporation with just $538 in initial funding. Let‘s call it an auspicious start!
…[details on their early audio/electronics products, innovations for Walt Disney‘s Fantasia, defense electronics during WWII, and growing the product portfolio through the 40s/50s]
Rapid Growth Phase – The 1960s
Riding high on its early wins, the 1960s saw HP accelerating on all fronts:
- Foray into semiconductors via partnerships (no anti-trust for them!)
- 1966: Built their first computer, the HP 2116A
- 1968: Released their first scientific desktop calculator, the HP 9100A, putting them firmly into the digital computing age
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1961 | Went public, listed on NYSE |
| 1962 | Entered the elite Fortune 500 club |
"With instruments revenue hitting $100 million by 1964, HP was definitively a high-tech leader inventing the future," notes tech historian John Markoff. I‘d say their factory formally became the Innovation Garage!
Personal Computing Pioneers – 1970s/80s
While the 70s saw HP continuing its calculator and measurement device success, the 80s would thrust HP into mainstream fame with individual consumers.
Because in January 1980, my friend, HP changed the world by unveiling their first ever personal computer – the HP-85!
Let‘s geek out over some sweet specs:
- Built-in 5" monitor + integrated tape drive for data
- Attached full-stroke keyboard – no separately plugging that in!
- BASIC language environment to code your heart out
- $3,250 price tag – expensive but irresistible for electronics buffs!
I don‘t know about you, but I‘d have sold a limb to code on that shiny innovative beast back in the 80s glory days!
…[details on the iconic HP-35 scientific calculator, programmable models, expanding into portable laptops and high-performance workstations]
But wait, the game-changer products don‘t stop there! HP ushered in a printing revolution in 1984 with the world‘s first mass-marketed laser printer – the HP LaserJet.
| Year | Innovation |
|---|---|
| 1984 | LaserJet printer |
| 1985 | First laptop introduced |
With over a billion LaserJets sold till date, HP undoubtedly dominated the global printed pages market for decades. We owe our crisp printing experiences to these engineering geniuses!
Non-Stop Growth Engine – The Swinging 90s!
My oh my, the "Internet boom" 1990s were utterly wild for our poor friends at HP! They were firing on all rocket cylinders, harnessing digital mania into explosive growth.
- PC and printer sales skyrocketing thanks to color printing and the Web
- Massive $30 billion spin-off named Agilent Technologies in 1999
- Appointed Carly Fiorina as first female CEO in history
- And acquired competitor Compaq for $25 billion! Talk about bold moves!
You know what else was bold? Crossing the $45 billion revenue mark in the 90s while employing a whopping 128,000 people! Our HP garage boys had well and truly built an empire by then.
Surviving the Stormy 2000s
But the 2000s brought serious storms that would test the mettle of our tech titan…
While riding high off the Compaq acquisition and mass PC production, HP struggled as Asian manufacturers began dominating hardware and even Dell ate into their market share.
There were mistakes galore by management along with some ethics scandals that shamed the HP brand. Revenue growth started dipping in the latter 2000s as they frantically reorganized and made questionable acquisitions trying to keep pace with changing tech tides.
It was clear as crystal that HP had lost its mojo. As markets collapsed in 2008, our pioneer stood at crossroads, desperately needing to reclaim its innovative DNA. And that brings us to…
Split and Renewal – The Drama-filled 2010s!
The early 2010s saw HP dabble unsuccessfully with mobile devices and consumer gadgets after acquiring Palm Inc in 2010.
As losses mounted, management analyzed the struggling behemoth and decided the only way forward was to split HP into two separate Fortune 100 entities in late 2014:
- HP Inc would carry on the legendary PC/printer legacy
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) would deliver servers, networking and services for business customers.
This watershed move aimed to let the new HPs optimize for their core specialties rather than flounder across consumer and commercial sectors.
Fortunately, the surgery worked beautifully! Both HP Inc and HPE found their mojo back driving focused product and service innovation until ending 2019 on a combined revenue run rate exceeding $120 billion.
HP Today – Still Rocking It!
With over 80 years since Bill and Dave started tinkering in their garage, HP has shown astonishing longevity and influence shaping not just Silicon Valley but global tech advancements.
While the scale of yesteryears is history, HP continues punching above its weight class:
- HP Inc delivers market-leading computers, printers and 3D technology
- HPE powers critical data infrastructure, analytics and cloud solutions
So don‘t count these innovation evangelists out just yet! In fact, analysts consider both companies solid long term bets thanks to robust financials and targeted high-tech visions.
And if the next big tech revolution emerges from AI, automation or 6G networks, rest assured the HP logo will proudly be riding that wave too. Some startups just refuse to stop reinventing!
And there you have it, friend! What an exhilarating 80-year rollercoaster for Silicon Valley‘s greatest garage story. I don‘t know about you, but learning about HP‘s journey has rekindled my passion for technology‘s awe-inspiring potential to improve our world when crafted properly.
If you enjoyed our little time travel stint, let me know what you‘d like us to explore next! The past holds so many untold stories waiting to inspire future trailblazers…like you and me!
