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
posted Jun 2nd 2008 11:28AM
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.
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.
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.
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.
HP does make their own operating system. It's called HP-UX.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Too bad Apple does not have a single rubberized device...
"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.
@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.
@Juice
The black MacBook (aka "BlackBook") is rubberized.
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.
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.
there ISN'T a way. this site has no persistent login. I don't see the need myself. Just find an earlier comment
Booooo.
sorry for the post if it bugs anyone, I know all you nerds are really defensive.
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*
see my point exactly, you don't get the joke.
there was a joke? its about as real as "the cake"
now THATS a joke.
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.
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.
Wow, chill out. Sometimes the anti-Apple movement is stronger than the fanboys around here. Crazy.
Some words that come to mind when I hear "HP":
printers, boring, vanilla, sauce, steak, mmmm
Steak...
So, good thoughts then?
I bet it's a new logo!
Maybe it's some kind of cake cutter.
I hope it's as sharp as the MBA.. mine's getting dull from all the food i've been cutting with it
"Lamborghini within Audi..."
Ha! It's more like when VW built the Audi Fox back in the 70s
ChuChu said it... "boring, vanilla"
Dude the 70's called they want their couch back, and coffee table... and weird greenish vasey things.
I think the vasey things are bongs. Thats where the decision to cut cake with an apple came from.
Those are Ethiopian douches. I saw them in a museum while in South Africa. The couches are just FOR douches.
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?
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.
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.
Wait, didn't you just say:
"I know all you nerds are really defensive."
Hmm.
yeah.. intelligent discussion...
[picks up beer and moves away]
1. Douchebaggery has 2 g's in it
2. Bye!
/signed Douchebag
wow... talk about an 'intelligent' discussion! :-)
irony to the fore here! ;-)
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.
Hooray, he's leaving!
Insert "I'm going to go listen to Linkin Park!" image here.
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...
\o/ We can throw you a leaving party if you want...you grab the cake, i'll bring the MB Air...
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.
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
Not another MacBook Air killer. Why bother if they keep saying the MBA is a thin piece of crap missing features that every other notebook in the world has. I guess the next thing HP will be going into is smartphones. Hell, it's simple, anyone can do it. The only problem is is whether anyone can do it well enough to change history.
Nerds are overly sensitive by nature so don't trample their feelings.
if it has more than one usb port, they win.
HP is in smartphones and has been for quite some time (read: a long time before apple).
Basically, I think HP has a lot of potential on the gadget front that never really materialized, and if they get their act together, I think they are in a very good position to go in the ring with apple on the iPhone front (something that other firms have not yet succeeded in doing).
Yea....so....anyway.....Could they have taken a better picture or was Mr. Blurrycam at the party too?
They are bringing back the Omnibook with it's pop-out mouse!
I see so many non-tech-oriented notebook users who carry MS/Logitech USB travel mice that I think it would make sense. Also, I root for it since I don't like touchpads and only Lenovo and a few HPs and Dells still have the option of using a pointint stick / nub. I'm rambling... it must be time for lunch.
*sigh* I guess this announcement he is going to make is going to be a "Macair killer" to go along with all the other "killers" such as the ipod killers, and iphone Killers. All these "Killers" aren't doing their job very well.
"*sigh* I guess this announcement he is going to make is going to be a "Macair killer" to go along with all the other "killers" such as the ipod killers, and iphone Killers. All these "Killers" aren't doing their job very well."
Well here's the thing, Gingerbread man. The MBA hasn't exactly been burning up the charts, so there is more than enough room for other companies to offer there own solution for a product of this type, and if HP does that, then good for them. What do you think, we should be angry at them for wanting to do better?
And as for the iPhone, other products have been doing very well against it, and more people are getting into the game too. Great for us consumers, but Im sure again you are likely PO'd at that happening as wel.
@fred... Yes "sigh".
While Apple is introducing new gadgets and technologies, many/most of the other tech firms are merely sitting on their haunches, waiting to see what Apple does next and, if successful, they come out with their "me too" products.
Whether it's the iPod, iPhone, MBAir... whatever. It seems Apple leads, the others are following with their "X-killer"s.
Why is it usually the Apple product that is the target (and model) for these so-called killers?
Do they not have an original, innovative bone in their collective bodies?
...
...It's funny that HP are using an apple to cut a cake.. especially as HP are so renowned for their 'cutting edge' notebook design, come on.. really... they are still putting ports on the rear edge of the machine f'christs sake, and hot venting on the underside..
If they'd beaten the apple air to market, then that's innovation, otherwise it's just another 'me too' product. Asus are innovating, so are google and apple. Hewlett, Microsoft & sony are just chasing rainbows.
"If they'd beaten the apple air to market, then that's innovation, otherwise it's just another 'me too' product. Asus are innovating, so are google and apple. Hewlett, Microsoft & sony are just chasing rainbows."
That's is a statement made from pure ignorance.
Do you even follow what any of these companies do past these blog sites?
News for you, these sites do a piss poor job of scratching the surface.
And give the whole "I'm pissed off at HP for cutting a cake with a MBA" act a rest. Hell it wasnt your computer they were using.
do you know anything about HP or are you just blwing smoke out your ass????
you do know that HP holds 25,000 patents worldwide and in the pat few years
has been ranked in the top few companies for number of new patents....
sounds like INNOVATION to me..... rainbows or not
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/iplicensing/patents.html
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_17/b4081072888929.htm
Yes, HP will ridicule the MacBook Air before copying it and selling it like they were the first ones to come up with a thin laptop. Can't wait to see how "innovative" it is.
Making a laptop thin is no more "copying" than when Apple made a laptop with a folding lid or with a touch pad.
People have been making these things thinner for years, Apple included. Now when Apple makes one that thin, surprise, its fans now think that Apple has a patent on it.
And the MBA was ridiculed because of the lack of needed features and high price, not because it was thin.
thanks fred you took the words out of my mouth
Sure, Fred, with the specific exception in this case of a MacBook Air being used as an example by HP. That's kind of the point. Or did you not see the picture? Was it lack of features cutting the cake? Or was it the thin edge?
And please, high price? Have you not seen how much an X300 costs, and it's not even as thin as an Air? Not to mention it's slower, heavier, etc. But because it's not made by Apple I bet that seems like a great deal to you, doesn't it?
"Sure, Fred, with the specific exception in this case of a MacBook Air being used as an example by HP. That's kind of the point. Or did you not see the picture? Was it lack of features cutting the cake? Or was it the thin edge?"
I'm not exactly sure what you are tying to say...
"And please, high price? Have you not seen how much an X300 costs, and it's not even as thin as an Air? Not to mention it's slower, heavier, etc."
Here's the point, Zak. The MBA did cost a lot for what it didnt have, things like a CD drive, USB port((s))), and a removable battery. That other machine was thin (the difference between the two is minor to the point of it being silly to think it matters. And the same goes for the weight), and it had those things that people depend on much more than some Apple fans think they do. That is what made this so unappealing to people. Thin aint everything.
If HP does something similar, and makes up for the stuff lacking in the MBA, then score one for them.
"But because it's not made by Apple I bet that seems like a great deal to you, doesn't it?"
I think all of that stuff is overpriced. I dont care who made it. I'm not into feature war BS like people with wads of cash to blow.
Yes, naturally you're not sure what I'm trying to say. HP is poking fun at the MBA because it's so thin. So thin you can cut a cake with it right? And everybody has a good laugh. Now how much do you want to bet HP is going to come out with a thin laptop (wonder what gave them that idea) and market it as being innovative?
Note that Apple doesn't market the MBA as being "innovative", they market it as being "thin". Which it is.
As far as the MBA vs. the X300, of course you would say the difference in thickness doesn't matter, since Apple clearly wins that category. I guarantee you that if HP or Lenovo made a laptop that was thinner than the MBA, you would be rubbing it in our faces.
I like how you say you're not into feature war BS right after you get done explaining how the whole problem with the MBA is lack of features. How does that work again?
"Yes, naturally you're not sure what I'm trying to say. HP is poking fun at the MBA because it's so thin. So thin you can cut a cake with it right? And everybody has a good laugh. Now how much do you want to bet HP is going to come out with a thin laptop (wonder what gave them that idea) and market it as being innovative?"
No, you're post was poorly worded. I was trying to be polite by asking for clarification, not by calling you an idiot. Thanks for getting that.
An how are they making fun of it because it's thin? You do know there was a posting on various tech blogs about some guy in Germany who did the same thing with a MBA and some bread? For all you know, this was some guys doing their own version of the same gag.
"Note that Apple doesn't market the MBA as being "innovative", they market it as being "thin". Which it is."
"Thinovation". That what it says in the ad put out by them.
"I like how you say you're not into feature war BS right after you get done explaining how the whole problem with the MBA is lack of features. How does that work again?"
Here's what I said:
"I'm not into feature war BS"
"I'm" being the word that denotes my personal view.
Here what I said about the MBA:
"...and it had those things that people depend on much more than some Apple fans think they do."
"People" meaning others
Fred, I find it hard to believe you were trying to be polite, based solely on the "quality" of all the other anti-Apple posts I've seen from you here.
You ask how they're making fun of it, and then at the end of the same paragraph you say it's a gag. You still don't see how they're making fun of it? Really?
Your backpedaling on the "feature war bs" thing is not doing anything to help your point. The fact that you said "it had those things that people depend on" indicates that you agree with it. So obviously the features are important to you. If they weren't, you wouldn't have said anything close to that.
"Fred, I find it hard to believe you were trying to be polite, based solely on the "quality" of all the other anti-Apple posts I've seen from you here."
Anti-Apple?
How exactly am Im being anti-Apple? Because I admonish a lot of the propaganda and trolling of some of the Apple fanatics on this site? I dont tell people they should or shouldn't buy Apple gear, that's not my place. If these guys wouldn't say such stupid fanboyish stuff, people like me wouldn't be on there case for doing do. It has nothing to do with liking or not liking Apple.
I personally like there stuff as much as I like stuff from other companies, I just dont parrot the Apple line, that makes me "anti-Apple" I suppose.
"You ask how they're making fun of it, and then at the end of the same paragraph you say it's a gag. You still don't see how they're making fun of it? Really?"
Cutting a cake with a computer is a gag, a stunt. That does not mean they are making fun of it. If he said "Oh this POS is stupid because it's thin. Oooh, Im going to cut a cake with it to show you why it's dumb because it's thin" then you would have a point.
"Your backpedaling on the "feature war bs" thing is not doing anything to help your point. The fact that you said "it had those things that people depend on" indicates that you agree with it."
It does? That what people have been saying here as to why they didnt want one. Take it up with them if you dont like it.
I dont buy new stuff so I dont care what these do or dont have.
Hey guys, are you married?
Its gonna be a new kind of bong. See the prototypes sitting there on the table?
Prototype bong?
Yeaaaaaaahhhh maaaan.
Once again, HP shows they really have no clue when it comes to how to use a real computer. :-P
My Scottish heritage really shows in my reaction. It wasn't disrespect for Apple that bothered me. If I respected HP's opinion, maybe it would. What bothers me is the potential damage to a perfectly good computer that someone with half a brain would be able to put to good use.
Why does everyone assume it's now broken? I've seen no mention of it not working anywhere.
And if it was a half decent laptop (which it isn't) it should be able to survive cutting cake, laptops aren't exactly water tight but if you wipe the cake off afterward you should still have a perfectly functioning machine, and I doubt much if any cake actually even got onto the screen.
replace 'cutting cake' with 'getting splooged' and have a good laugh... i know i did! :3
That cake looks somewhat similar to the one from Portal.
'Can you hear me now?'
THE CAKE IS A LIE!
the cake cutter is a lie.
PC version of MGS4
"Fred, I find it hard to believe you were trying to be polite, based solely on the "quality" of all the other anti-Apple posts I've seen from you here."
Anti-Apple?
How exactly am Im being anti-Apple? Because I admonish a lot of the propaganda and trolling of some of the Apple fanatics on this site? I dont tell people they should or shouldn't buy Apple gear, that's not my place. If these guys wouldn't say such stupid fanboyish stuff, people like me wouldn't be on there case for doing do. It has nothing to do with liking or not liking Apple.
I personally like there stuff as much as I like stuff from other companies, I just dont parrot the Apple line, that makes me "anti-Apple" I suppose.
"You ask how they're making fun of it, and then at the end of the same paragraph you say it's a gag. You still don't see how they're making fun of it? Really?"
Cutting a cake with a computer is a gag, a stunt. That does not mean they are making fun of it. If he said "Oh this POS is stupid because it's thin. Oooh, Im going to cut a cake with it to show you why it's dumb because it's thin" then you would have a point.
"Your backpedaling on the "feature war bs" thing is not doing anything to help your point. The fact that you said "it had those things that people depend on" indicates that you agree with it."
It does? That what people have been saying here as to why they didnt want one. Take it up with them if you dont like it.
I dont buy new stuff so I dont care what these do or dont have.
Oops, that was meant to go up higher.
So I guess the MBA takes the cake?
Even HP uses the only subbook that can cut it, the MBA.
So, you can have your MBA and eat with it too.
Things you can't do with an HP laptop.
Wow, it really is thin.
this upcoming "Air-killer" could be the reason Rahul was apparently using an "Air" last week. May have just been the HP variant mistaken for an Air???
Vanilla= Good
Sauce= Good
Steak= Good
HP seems to be doing pretty good in your mind.
even HP uses this laptop as a knife than that means they admit macbook air is a razor slim laptop. And I like slim laptops as most people do.
PS: this also shows they have no matching laptop to use as a knife as this slim :)
It will be an All-in-One computer like the iMac, Dell and Gateway One.
It's the only thing HP hasn't really done yet. And it's the form factor that non-enthusiasts seem to prefer other than a notebook. Leave the big bulky, jet exhaust sounding boxes to the watt sucking gamer rigs.
All these people on here thinking that HP is going to release a new "thin" notebook because of the use of the MBA.
I think it is more likely that what they announce on the 10th will be the antithesis of the MBA. I'd bet that the cutting of the cake was a commentary on the usefulness of the MBA compared to more full featured laptops.
Look at the players. We're talking about HP's Blackbird and Voo Doo teams. This is going to be a first class gaming notebook. Maybe even a series of notebooks (15" and 17"?) under the Blackbird name. They are going to build capable laptops that have real functions and features. And given the look of the current Blackbird desktops, I would bet that the notebooks will be quite attractive. Even with all of that extra burden of un-necessary functionality.
I'm just hoping they have something more "entry level" than even the base notebooks from Voo Doo. And offer them with at least 8700M GT or 9650M GS gpus.
Thank god someone else figured it out. Everyone's so hyped up about using a MBA to cut a cake that they forgot what department is making the announcement. Voodoo is the gaming line from HP. I don't think they are going to push out any "ultra-portable" computers anytime soon. The current hardware for high-end gaming that Voodoo markets towards runs too hot to be that small. It'll be a bit too expensive most likely, I don't get the high premium on Voodoo/Alienware/XPS machines. I can build something comparable myself and spend half as much.