HP's Voodoo team prepping something "beautiful" for June 10

Our stubborn pocket books and loved ones continue to chime in with a resounding "no" every time we start considering one of those fancy HP Blackbird 002 units, but that doesn't mean HP isn't on to something when it comes to fancy aesthetics and even fancier tech specs -- all courtesy of that VoodooPC buy a while back. Now it appears HP has a big unveil set for June 10 that "could begin to establish the company as a provider of beautiful technology gear" according to a Fortune article on HP. Voodoo founder Rahul Sood likens Voodoo's role as akin to Lamborghini within Audi, and has promised a "huge announcement" on his own blog. He even hinted at a laptop in a birthday post depicting him cutting his cake with a MacBook Air (pictured): "Ahh well, I wouldn't be needing this notebook for long anyways... :) Stay tuned for more..." The subnotebook fanboy within us hopes that means HP has a X300 / MacBook Air killer in the works, but whatever it is we certainly hope it warrants the modicum of buzz HP and Rahul are building for it.

[Thanks, William M.]

Read - HP reaches for the cool factor
Read - Rahul on Audi and Lambo
Read - Rahul and the Cake Knife

[jim @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:34AM]

HP if you start making your own operating system then I will look at you. Until then I don't care how cool your laptops look.

[konshuss @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:39AM]

why would you want a hardware manufacturer to make an operating system, rather than leaving that up to the software pros? that would cause issues such as running into problems trying to use it on any other hardware platform, incompatibility issues with existing software and create a bigger workload for programmers having an additional OS to write for. in other words, you want another OSX.

[Chrisvanren @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:43AM]

the amount of apple hate is amazing here. you do see the irony in the fact that you are probably using windows, right? if we all rally thought like that we'd all be making our own hardware & then participating in making linux distributions better.

[EricR @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:46AM]

Honestly-- I have owned two HP laptops and several HP peripherals and every software utility they distribute is crap as far as I can tell.

I love their computers but I wouldn't want them touching the OS.

[keenan9 @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:52AM]

HP does make their own operating system. It's called HP-UX.

[konshuss @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:51AM]

not sure how you misconstrue the simple reporting of facts as 'hate' toward any company, but i'm calling into the question the logic behind not caring about a company's laptops simply because they don't write their own operating system... which leads me to believe that if apple simply made shiny hardware instead of their own OS, this guy wouldn't care much for them either... and i can't quite figure out why, aside from maybe a dislike for windows.

[jim @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:13PM]

My statement was a dis towards Windows. Life is too short to waste on it. All I was saying is that I will NEVER buy an HP laptop as long as it runs windows.

[WS @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:11PM]

You have hit the nail on the head Jim. It doesn't matter who you buy, HP, Dell, Asus, MSI, Acer, etc. They all run Windows. You interface with the hardware through software. And the integral functioning of any component is done through the operating system. That is the heartbeat of your PC. So the real choice is Windows vs. Mac OS X (I'll leave out Linux because while it's a terrific operating system, it simply has not 3rd party support behind that can rival the two).

Your notebook may be gilded and studded with diamonds, but the operating system is what any user should consider. The negligible differences between hardware components often engross potential buyers, but at the end of the day, the software is key.

I liken it to buying a dog. You can buy the most beautiful specimen, but if it's behaviour atrocious, well, that is what you are going to have to put up with for the next 15 years. So you can choose looks over temperament, but you will suffer in the long run as that is what will show and at the end of the day, that is what you will interact with (unless you plan to submerge it in Lucite and put in on display).

[fred @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:20PM]

Well fine, WS. If Windows dosn't work well for you, that's great.

The problem is that some people that hate Windows, extrapolate that hate out to encompass the whole of the computing world as if we all hate it like you.

Realize that you are not all of us, and most of us use Windows without problems on a daily basis.

[WS @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:01PM]

Fred, this has nothing to do with hating Apple or Microsoft. It has nothing to do with which one is better. It has nothing to do with which one works or doesn't work.

It has everything to do with making wise choices as a consumer. Of what to consider and how to weigh your decisions. Focus on what matters... that is the point of my reply.

[Kent Pribbernow @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:35AM]

The PC industry's definition of "beautiful" is typically gaudy blingware coated in cheap glossy plastic and chrome trim. On June 10, HP will change the way you think about lipstick on pigs...with more gloss...more plastic...more spinner rims. Yawn.

[Juice @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:51AM]

True true. I really only want my gadgets rubberized from now on. Could care less how shiny, no edges or blinged they are. Just give me grip control.

[Juice @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:52AM]

Too bad Apple does not have a single rubberized device...

[fred @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:13PM]

"The PC industry's definition of "beautiful" is typically gaudy blingware coated in cheap glossy plastic and chrome trim. On June 10, HP will change the way you think about lipstick on pigs...with more gloss...more plastic...more spinner rims. Yawn."

So just let them show what they are up to and lets see then, ok?

Pretty stupid to judge a product before you've seen it.

[kidcanuck @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:53PM]

@Juice- those mockups that engadget keeps showing of the 3G iPhone would be cool with a rubberized back. It would be occasionally nice to have a rubberized laptop, although once it gets hot I am sure that it would only exacerbate the discomfort. Pertaining to this post, I guess I'm saying if this is small, rubberize it, but it there is even the -slightest- chance of me sweating on it, please please don't.

[Kent Pribbernow @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:54PM]

@Juice

The black MacBook (aka "BlackBook") is rubberized.

[Metkis @ Jun 2nd 2008 6:00PM]

While I agree, HP isn't that bad when it comes to style, some of their stuff IS sexy. I have no doubt their upcoming lappy will share in such aesthetics. HP isn't afraid to make something that isn't simple and aluminum. Not that Apple's stuff looks bad at all.

[Chrisvanren @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:35AM]

I need to know how the hell I can
log into my profile without posting a damn comment & clicking on my
name. WTF? Am I blind I can't find a link anywhere on the site.

[Phoenix @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:48AM]

there ISN'T a way. this site has no persistent login. I don't see the need myself. Just find an earlier comment

[Warren @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:58AM]

Booooo.

[Chrisvanren @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:36AM]

sorry for the post if it bugs anyone, I know all you nerds are really defensive.

[Dr Zoidberg @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:50AM]

Well of course us "nerds" will get defensive, especially when we are being called nerds.
But please tell me, how are we such nerds and you not when:
we comment on the same site as you.
AND
you dont know any of us personally.

can I have the answer please?

*bitch mode off*

[Chrisvanren @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:00PM]

see my point exactly, you don't get the joke.

[riggs @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:24PM]

there was a joke? its about as real as "the cake"



now THATS a joke.

[Jason G. @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:36AM]

June 10th seems like a bad day to launch a product to compete with Apple's designs. The buzz from WWDC announcements could drown them out.

[fred @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:37PM]

not really. If these tech sites do their jobs and cover tech news then people will hear about it.

If however you are assuming that these sites will just drop everything just to wallpaper Apple pronouncements all over the internet, and pretend that no one else exist because they need to make sure Apple can been seen without interruption, and make sure their products get free maximum exposure, then you would be right.

I can see that with Gizmodo. Engadget has shown to be better than that lately.

[Jason G. @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:44PM]

Wow, chill out. Sometimes the anti-Apple movement is stronger than the fanboys around here. Crazy.

[ChuChu @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:36AM]

Some words that come to mind when I hear "HP":


printers, boring, vanilla, sauce, steak, mmmm

[Chris @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:48PM]

Steak...

So, good thoughts then?

[Mam00th @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:37AM]

I bet it's a new logo!

[farfisa @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:40AM]

Maybe it's some kind of cake cutter.

[whowhatme @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:55PM]

I hope it's as sharp as the MBA.. mine's getting dull from all the food i've been cutting with it

[Philster @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:42AM]

"Lamborghini within Audi..."

Ha! It's more like when VW built the Audi Fox back in the 70s

ChuChu said it... "boring, vanilla"

[JohnnyGTO @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:51AM]

Dude the 70's called they want their couch back, and coffee table... and weird greenish vasey things.

[Phil @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:49PM]

I think the vasey things are bongs. Thats where the decision to cut cake with an apple came from.

[mrpoo @ Jun 2nd 2008 4:21PM]

Those are Ethiopian douches. I saw them in a museum while in South Africa. The couches are just FOR douches.

[jason @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:59AM]

wtf...

look at that guys furniture. looks like it is from the 80's. shouldnt he have some nice stuff since he makes like 40x what i do?

[Low Ranked @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:55PM]

What you guys failed to realize was that this picture was taken in 1983.

The sheer fact that in '83 he was using a Macbook Air to cut his cakes is the exact reason he makes 40 times the salary that we do.

[Chrisvanren @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:00PM]

This is my last post on this lame fucking site. Your all a bunch of ignorant, flaming homo, scrotes, full of douchebagery. There is no info here that is not stolen from another site or the AP (and usually days after I've seen the original article) . You all hate Apple or Microsoft, yet are using either of those companies products as I'm typing this. No one posts anything intelligent & when someone actually does, you all flame the hell out of em cause you don't get the joke. I hope everyone of you trolls (which is 99% of you) dies a slow, painful, lonely death clutching whichever "gadget" that you can't stop defending, even when it blows. All of you take your heads out of your asses and learn to have an intelligent discussion.

[eggothewaffle @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:12PM]

Wait, didn't you just say:

"I know all you nerds are really defensive."

Hmm.

[tugger @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:22PM]

yeah.. intelligent discussion...

[picks up beer and moves away]

[ChuChu @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:24PM]

1. Douchebaggery has 2 g's in it

2. Bye!

/signed Douchebag

[Tejas @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:28PM]

wow... talk about an 'intelligent' discussion! :-)

irony to the fore here! ;-)

[Deed @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:36PM]

It's a fucking tech blog. You know, the entire point is that it's a portal to useful (or otherwise) information on the tech world.

Also there's a difference between cracking jokes and being a fucking nard.

Asshat.

[Vic the One @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:47PM]

Hooray, he's leaving!

[Howard @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:09PM]

Insert "I'm going to go listen to Linkin Park!" image here.

[Kizorblade @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:26PM]

Hey Engadget, could you post his email address so that when his mother finds out that she does have indeed have a son in her cellar and checks his mail, she'll find err... questionable stuff... that's the word...

[MiLK @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:58PM]

\o/ We can throw you a leaving party if you want...you grab the cake, i'll bring the MB Air...

[sockatume @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:01PM]

They already have a sexy new laptop product. It's the Mini-Note. They buried it on their Small & Home Business website and didn't promote it to the general public at all. I'm not convinced they know what they're doing right now over in HP Towers.

[taylor g @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:23PM]

the mini-note is hot .........
but they have to test it..........

why do you think they buried it in small Biss

maybe cause they have something better coming for consum-aholics ....

cause you know the specs on the mini-note just wont stand up to the one next to it in best buy........

they obviously wanted to sell the hell out of the biss version
before cutting the price on it

and bringing out the HOME version
thats basic supply and demand