HP said to be considering making its own OS to counter Vista
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 12th 2008 2:17PM
posted Sep 12th 2008 2:17PM
HP unsurprisingly isn't ready to touch this one in any sort of official way just yet, but BusinessWeek is reporting that at least some folks at the company are "exploring the possibility of building a mass-market operating system," which would be positioned as an alternative to Vista. That OS, as you might have guessed, would be based on Linux, although BusinessWeek's sources say it "would be simpler and easier for mainstream users." By all indications, however, this so-called "skunk works team" within HP doesn't seem to have moved much beyond the brainstorming stage, and HP is sticking strictly to its official line that it is more interested in "innovating on top of Vista," with HP chief technology officer Phil McKinney even going so far as to say that the idea that it's funding a huge R&D team to go off and create an operating system "makes no sense."[Via Electronista]
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!
Are they serious!?
In other news, HP reports that the OS will immediately lockup upon install of iTunes 8 since every version of the OS will ship with drivers for ALL their USB printers installed.
Yeah man. The are just going to throw this into a box and charge $79.99 for it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP-UX
Count me in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0S5zS8jSE4
lol... NEXT!
I THINK ITS A BRILLIANT IDEA.
Once of the reasons APPLE has been so successful is that their machines and their software are tied together like a strand of DNA.
Their hardware and software work together in perfect unison. Across multiple platforms, the builds still remain the same from computer to computer, so , as they are using the same OS, it is simple to troubleshoot them, upgrade them and update them.
Microsoft makes an OS that can be used from the biggest desktop powerhouse on down to the average netbook. Hardware profiles are not the same, the building blocks of the computer vary from machine to machine. Therefore, Microsofts instability is a consequence of it having to be a "one size fits all" deal.
HP is the largest computer manufacturer. Therefore, if they implemented their own OS...like they've already hinted at with QUICKPLAY, they will have full control over their machines, their OS pricing and they will not have to give revenue to Microsoft since they won't have to license their OS. HP can make its printers, scanners, fax machines, desktops, notebooks and ipaqs work together in unison without having to continuously call MS for new licensing.
THIS IS A BRILLIANT MOVE FOR HP - cut out the middleman. Windows Operating systems probably add to HP's system failure rate due to OS lockups.
ITS A BAD MOVE FOR MICROSOFT - HP's laptops give Microsoft huge amounts of market penetration.
HP needs their own OS and their own WEB BROWSER. They've damn near got everything else.
Is this the first time a flashpoint comment was highly ranked?
I think they would be more successful making it based off Windows than Linux. I could just see it now, "Windows HP".
They will give you the OS for $9.99 and charge you $15 for your screen to turn back on after 30 minutes of use...
and one of the reasons Apple purchasers get royally reamed is because the hardware and software are tied like DNA. imagine if all computers came in only a few variations, couldn't be easily user-upgraded and it all came from one company...
Yeah, this would only push people away, towards a more mainstream, beloved OS: Mac OS.
HP needs to keep Vista, but maybe offer Linux and XP as an option.
HP should just partner with Ubuntu since Canonical has already taken the concept so far. All they need is to get native drivers written for all HP components and you'd be set...
They can use Linux .. but they need to improve the look and feel of Nautilus (make some realistic newer icons in a professional 3D modeler/renderer). They also need someone to improve the look of the window manager -- window frames, scroll bar, buttons, overall texture.
@ flashpoint
OSX crashes too...
Not to mention it will be filled with bloatware. Just like they do to their windows boxes.
I must admit: Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!
HP ist that crappy company that can't even port a printer-driver from 32bit to 64bit (mine is lj 1010), so how are they going to create an operating system?
@Johan S
If that's the case, why use GNOME at all? It seems to me that if they wanted something polished, integrated, and full of eye candy, they would use KDE as soon as 4.2 rolls out (to compete with Apple of course, and it doesn't hurt that it's compatible with Dashboard widgets). Really, there's no reason for them to stick with GNOME unless they're going for rock-hard stability over polish and innovation (and besides, HP's printer GUIs already use Qt).
FhAILp.... if it is as reliable as their printers, we will be so lucky!
BAM - THAT JUST HAPPENED :D
Seriously... we hear this EVERYTIME a new or "in the spotlight" OS comes out.
Carmack, where's my gaming OS?
This is quite possibly the worst idea I've ever heard of. Seriously, why would you bother trying to package linux as your own OS? All of HP's users that want windows WON'T switch, and those that don't want windows would rather have a real Linux OS, not some bizarre HP version. And the support cost for HP would skyrocket with very little profitable gain.
This is a bad idea. End of story.
Apple did it with UNIX, and its their best selling OS yet.
I think it's a brilliant idea as long as you still have the option to use Vista.. but then you look at hp's business model which would require every little staples store and best buy to stock computers with vista or the hp os. HP needs to make a viable online store before they can sell this OS.
Really? Hahaaaa. As if Vista is a head turner.
Hey. Engadget. I have a rumor, too. I heard that Microsoft is planning to make printers. PUBLISH MY STORY NOW!
LOL at Hewlett-Packard having a skunk works.
I think this is a good idea. As proven by Apple, integrated hardware and software can work really well. If HP can get even a 1 percent marketshare with their OS, it will develop even more as developers will get interested. Also proven by the Mac OS, you can make money rebranding and throwing a better application architecture on top of free software.
It may work, but may utterly fail.
I heard that HP was also getting into the space race, except their rockets would be much easier for normal consumers to navigate, unlike the Columbia.
Now go spread _that_ rumor, BusinessWeek. Silly bastards.
Please God, No. I've always had some kind of trouble with HP software for printers and scanners. I've owned and worked with many HP products for printing and scanning throughout the years and there are always problems. Whether its "power errors", software crashes, bloatware, driver support, the idea of HP making an entire OS just makes me sick to my stomach.
HPOS.
Too easy.
Every Linux vendor says it's going to be a "User Friendly OS", but never delivers.
Why waist your time? It's only the interface over a very good core. how hard that can be!!
"Why waist your time?"
It's like the perfect tag line for a health drink.
Well, that's not really true. I think most Linux vendors like Red Hat, etc are more worried about having a full feature set than being user-friendly, since those distros are made for knowledgeable professionals who are trying to do complex IT work - they don't need user-friendlyness like a consumer would.
I am all for more people trying to make user-friendly linux. Of course, i still think this article is BS and i doubt HP is going to do this.
-Taylor
Well...... Actually, if you take a look at the HP Touchsmart PCs (the newer IQ504/506), HP Added a Layer on top of Vista for the Touch screen interface which is quite easy to use and quick. So.... who knows, maybe testing the waters with that?
I just bought a IQ506 and love it! It's the first time in 15 years I've not built my own. I needed to get a new system and had looked at the price on a of a Wacom graphics tablet with built in LCD. $1100 and this was in the $1400 range with 22 inch screen. At first I was going to just uninstall the touch interface but I figgured I'd give it a try for a few days. I like it for certain things and for other tasks I don't like it. If I'm going to be working in Word or Photoshop or 3D Max etc it's in the way and a nuescene. However if I just leave the system running durring the day and want to check email, glance at weather and other info as I walk by etc, or play a touch based game like the included chess it's great. Idealy I'd like to see them inegrate it into the screen saver and the webcam, and have minimize as soon as I start to use the keyboard or mouse. Let it stay in the forground when it only gets touch or video input that way it gets uses for it's ideal tasks and goes away when you don't need it. It would be interesting to see a Linux OS by HP with the TouchSmart interface as part of the user interface but I shure would not want it to be the entire interface. Sure it's great for browsing your music or videos or playing chess (I do love the touch interface for chess. It lets me concentrate on the game.) but it's not suitable for a lot of other tasks. It would be interesting to see a video editing app with onscreen touch jog dials though. If HP does create an OS for home/office users it's really going to have to support all Win based games and business apps or it just will not sell for the average user. Personaly I've use everything from Dos, Linux, Mac OS to the BeOS and they all seem easy enuf to use for me (and probably a lot of the posters here) but most users are just going to want to be able to buy a program at OfficeMax, Best Buy, or WalMart for that matter and be able to install and run no questions asked.
On a side note. I've set up prebuilt systems for other people before and always noticed tons of bloatware installed. Supprisingly this HP Touch Smart IQ506 only had the Touch Smart interface, MS Works, Norton Security Suite, and HP Solution Center. There were 'links' to other software that was on the backup system image partition but they were not installed. Having that stuff as an option is much better then installing it. After backing up the image partition I wiped that out and put the space to better use. I din't have to uninstall anything. I hope this trend continues with all of HP's desktops.
I just bought a IQ506 and love it! It's the first time in 15 years I've not built my own. I needed to get a new system and had looked at the price on a of a Wacom graphics tablet with built in LCD. $1100 and this was in the $1400 range with 22 inch screen. At first I was going to just uninstall the touch interface but I figgured I'd give it a try for a few days. I like it for certain things and for other tasks I don't like it. If I'm going to be working in Word or Photoshop or 3D Max etc it's in the way and a nuescene. However if I just leave the system running durring the day and want to check email, glance at weather and other info as I walk by etc, or play a touch based game like the included chess it's great. Idealy I'd like to see them inegrate it into the screen saver and the webcam, and have minimize as soon as I start to use the keyboard or mouse. Let it stay in the forground when it only gets touch or video input that way it gets uses for it's ideal tasks and goes away when you don't need it. It would be interesting to see a Linux OS by HP with the TouchSmart interface as part of the user interface but I shure would not want it to be the entire interface. Sure it's great for browsing your music or videos or playing chess (I do love the touch interface for chess. It lets me concentrate on the game.) but it's not suitable for a lot of other tasks. It would be interesting to see a video editing app with onscreen touch jog dials though. If HP does create an OS for home/office users it's really going to have to support all Win based games and business apps or it just will not sell for the average user. Personaly I've use everything from Dos, Linux, Mac OS to the BeOS and they all seem easy enuf to use for me (and probably a lot of the posters here) but most users are just going to want to be able to buy a program at OfficeMax, Best Buy, or WalMart for that matter and be able to install and run no questions asked.
On a side note. I've set up prebuilt systems for other people before and always noticed tons of bloatware installed. Supprisingly this HP Touch Smart IQ506 only had the Touch Smart interface, MS Works, Norton Security Suite, and HP Solution Center. There were 'links' to other software that was on the backup system image partition but they were not installed. Having that stuff as an option is much better then installing it. After backing up the image partition I wiped that out and put the space to better use. I din't have to uninstall anything. I hope this trend continues with all of HP's desktops.
God I hate this comment system. Some times it doesn't reply correctly, sometimes it doesn't post at all, other times it posts twice and sometimes it doesn't show up for days. I've never seen another comment system this bad. What gives Engadget?????
@Caleb
Engadget is owned by AOL (I think that speaks for itself).
Oh noes, they're bringing back HP-UX!!!!11!
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP-UX)
Oh! They can buy Palm and put them out of their misery!
Anyone high up at HP recently from Palm?
Am I the only one who's extremely excited about this!?
The OS will
Like the rest of you all I can say is WHAT THE F*CK!?
Seriously though I don't know just how realistic it is for them to expect to succeed. I mean I can barely stand OS X and I've only heard about Ubuntu and Linux in the last few months.
I just don't think this is gonna work. Especially given HP's tendency to put a lot of bloatware on their computers and notebooks.
Still though they're more than welcome to try. I'd give it a look in a store and if they made a decent attempt I might dive in.
So, um, because you are uninformed and have no idea what's going on in the world - that makes what HP (might be) doing a bad idea? I don't see how those two are related. And your opinion of Mac OS X has nothing to do with this story either. No one said HP's Linux based OS would be like Mac OS X other than a hardware company would be making its own OS.
The HP flavored Linux seems like a better idea to me. I could not believe how bad Vista was when I was helping a friend with their laptop. Almost everything you do requires clicks off to stop all of the warning messages, and only an Admin can fully uninstall a program, even when the computer is set up for a single user. Nice UI, but otherwise it's a clunky, annoying, bloat hog.
you do realize the probs that you just mentioned can be easily turned off by stopping the UAC?
The optional features you describe can (and should) be disabled in a matter of seconds.
Annoying that you have to spend 10 seconds of your life changing that option upon a fresh install, but hardly a reason to switch operating systems and re-purchase all your software.
I think administrative access should be required for modifying a system's programs. How would you like it if your child decided, hay, what's Add/Remove programs?! I can click them and they go away!
Fun little day for you, no?
Is Carly still calling the shots at HP? I thought she got fired. Next thing we know, Micheal Dell is going to announce the same nonsense. I welcome all competition, but I don't see how HP expects to compete with Windows and OS-X. Oh well, it's their money I guess.
If Windows wasn't preinstalled on all new PCs, Windows adoption would be hurt in a big way. I'm not saying that HP's operating system would be any good, because I don't believe it would be, but HP stands as one of the few companies in the world capable of putting a sizable dent in the Windows Empire.
we already have an amazing OS to counter it.
leopard FTW!!
Snow leopard for future win!!
:)
I love that chart in your icon. Do you find it at all ironic that Zune's marketshare is roughly the same as OSX's?
...really? Why did Apple make their system compatible with Windows. Apple is a deleted partition away from being Window's hardware bitch.
Amazing in what? Not being compatible with tens of thousands of pieces of software?
@Ignatius
With all due respect, that's not much of a problem. If there was no software available for the Mac, or what was available was of poor quality, then that would be a problem. But it's not. Not only does the Mac have access to the applications that most people need, it is also served by a very talented developer community. I would seriously argue that the situation is worse for Windows. Windows may have thousands of applications but how many of them are actually good? Quantity does not equal quality and that old argument holds less water each day.
If it lives up to its advertising then Snow Leopard could be very impressive.
You cannot run it on a HP pc
Given that HP can typically turn a 5Mb printer driver into 500Mb of bloatware that destabilises almost every aspect of the machine it's installed onto, heaven only knows what they would do with a whole OS, even a Linux based one. There is hardly a hard driver large enough available on the market that could hold it.
Not for me thanks...
Looks like someone failed Software Install 101, I've installed HP products in both Windows and Linux systems and they've always worked perfectly from day 1
I currently have a wireless HP printer setup on 3 Windows and 1 Linux PC at my house and they all run perfectly, even the one the kids use
Perhaps when they say 'counter vista' they mean 'make something even worse'
Although I dont believe this article one bit (altho it does say that its a rumor), if HP used the OS as a Tool to support Vista, that wouldn't be a bad thing.
Now if they tried to REPLACE Vista....BAD IDEA. As much as people "hate" Vista, they'll learn in about a year or two (3 years in is plenty time for adjustment from XP), how much they actually like/need Vista. Then come Windows 7...they'll love Vista (and they'll hate 7). That's just how people are, they hate new, love the old. Always being stubborn to change until the current change is seen as the norm...
And I say this being an HP Employee.
we already have an amazing OS to counter it.
leopard FTW!!
Snow leopard for future win!!
:)
Not going to work HP (and Dell) with you guys are still going to install bloat crap into your system.
I think MS should just screw all computer makers and make their own machine. Rather than make an OS compatible with thousands and thousands of configurations, make it solid for just a few configuration. Solid from day one...none of this rely on third-party drivers and shit like that.
they already did, it's called the xbox ;)
I just think Microsoft should get in closer with their 3rd party hardware vendors. Design computers together so that Windows could come with better software to match the computer's peripherals. Like pushing the hardware makers to include more useful features, ports, displays, etc. in ALL their computers would make Windows much more better to work with. Instead of just letting your hardware vendors toss Windows onto every computer and install stupid crapware, with ugly specs. That's the only way Windows would have a great experience for everyone.
I'm hoping HP means that they'll customize Windows Vista up and include more useful stuff, rather than replacing it, because it isn't bad at all as you think. I know a lot of people that like it.
I'm not going to believe this until I see Mark Hurd doing the robot like Bill Gates did in that ad LOL
this is pretty stupid, even people that don't like Windows still need it to run most programs. It's better if they just sell Linux as is, as they currently are doing with some computers
"even people that don't like Windows still need it to run most programs"
*Most*? Really? Like what? I've been using Linux full-time for almost two years, and there isn't a single application that I miss (okay, maybe Norton, for nostalgic purposes ;-)). (And please, don't say Photoshop, because for Average Joe, Gimp is just as good. (Or games, because Average Joe doesn't play computer games aside from Minesweeper and Solitaire (and even then there are plenty of games that run in Linux, either natively or through Wine/Crossover/Cedega).))
"It's better if they just sell Linux as is, as they currently are doing with some computers"
Are you implying that other OEMs sold computers with only kernels? I'm actually curious to know which OEMs have been able to pull that off, as I'd have a hard time believing that very many people would buy a computer with just the kernel on the hard drive. I mean, some people might buy them just to install their own OSes, but why waste resources copying kernel images over to the hard drives when they can just sell the computers with the blank hard drives?
Why not do what Microsoft should have done with Vista?... Buy BeOS! LOL!
In all seriousness, instead of redeveloping a whole new operative system, why not take an existing distro, take on making it easier and better for "non-tech-savvy" computer users and deploy it for free... They could charge for technical support.
HP tries to be Apple! (As in ties OS to HPPC's) LOL
> ...Buy BeOS...
They would have to buy Access's Palmsource then, right?
Hey!
Access has ALP!
Now I'm no FOSS rump-swap, but I don't know why you're all being negative nancies about this. A linux flavor wouldn't be too hard for them to put together. I think the biggest barrier for them will be the lack of itunes, but that might be something they could overcome.
That said, all the HP software i've ever used is TERRIBLE. Some of the printer suites don't even install without crashing.
The printer people are getting kind of cocky there.
"Would you like your loaptop with a the proven Windows Vista operating system, that works seamlessly with your windows servers, your windows domain, and your windows mobile device?" "Or would you like it to run our brand spanking new HP operating system which work seamlessly with any HP printer?"
Me: "I'll take Vista please"
Hey, but competition is always good for the consumer right.
What good comes from having every major PC maker (except Apple) tied to Microsoft's operating system? I think it would be great for me, as a consumer, to have a bevy of OS choices. Plus if PC makers invested more in Linux, I wouldn't have to spend so much time configuring Ubuntu to run on my hardware.
How about if HP just concentrates on making all their own drivers and crapware stable first?
HP has had their own OS for many many years now... called HPUX. They have years of experience building solid, large scale UNIX environments and also have Linux support on many of their systems.
It would be great if they brought that experience to the desktop. More competitors is always a good thing.
Waaaaaay tooooo late in the game HP, Apple, M$ and Ubuntu will drown you out so fast it won't even be funny...
I think this may be a really dumb idea - or a pretty good idea depending on how it is handled. Here's what I mean.
It's a really bad idea if they are going to try to directly compete with Vista by making (or claiming to make) a full-powered operating system with all the bells and whistles of Windows or Mac OS X. The fact is, the operating system mess less today than ever before. Most people use their computers as dumb terminals for the Internet.
Trying to, in 2008, (actually at least 2009 before this comes out), launch a "new OS" is a pretty stupid move. It would be like coming out with a better set of rabbit ear antennas on February 20, 2009. Or a faster coal-powered steam engine any time in the last 100 years. There's really no point or market for it.
Also, coming out with Linux Distro #483 and calling it a "New Operating System!" is ridiculous.
Now, if they are going to do something like Asus's SplashTop Instant On operating system (which is just another distro of Linux) then that would be just fine. Something that would allow the computer to power up, get online and play media files, maybe some basic office stuff. Something that "just works" and works fast. That would be a wise move. Heck, I wish all computers - Apples, Dells, whatever - had an option like that.
I'm sure PC manufacturers would like more control over the OS. It lets them time software and hardware releases together, and shape the OS' hardware requirements to the hardware that they want to sell.
Also, HP used to be in the UNIX workstation business. Developing an OS would not be something new for HP, it would really be resurrecting a side of their business that has been dormant for the past decade.
The latest stable release of HP-UX was in September 2007, hardly a decade; otherwise, I agree with you.
LOLWUT
Why doesn't HP just hang it up. The OS wars are over MS killed XP, Apple Wins!!
Everyone else is an also ran...
It makes a lot of sense for years they had HP-UX in the server market. I would say no to linux and have them base it on an amalgamation of QNX and FreeBSD.
this is gonna rule so much!!!! i smell a another bitter "war of the os's"
knoHPix ??
Seriously? HP can't even write decent drivers and now they're making an OS...
They should just make a deal with Apple to license OS X...
They, and Dell, have been begging for a while now...
SJ won't let it happen...
Marketshare in the PC market doesn't mean shit anyway.. margins on those commodity boxes sucks.
Apple owning the Mobile entertainment and Smartphone markets? Now there's some bank.
Great. This sucks badly for MS, because the last thing they want is for users to have a choice.
Though if you have a Mac, you can put OS you want on it. Neat huh?
That would be so funny if all hardware makers had the option to come with Visa, XP, and their own proprietary thing.
Just to fuck with Redmond.
You can put whatever operating system you want on PC. What are you talking about?!
An apple is way more locked down than a PC. I like Macs but come on get real!
A story like this is music to my ears. Seriously, how could you go wrong with bringing a whole new OS into the game/punching Microsoft in the face/doing anything with Linux? It is a triple threat. I would love to see something like this materialize.
Note to HP: making a new theme for Gnome or KDE does not mean you created a new OS.
Yes HP, I expect nothing crappier than that from you.
You know the mere fact that there are other viable operating systems out there like Ubuntu , OS X, Linux and of course Windows means that there are some people dissatisfied with one operating system or the other. I welcome HP into the fray. It will only increase the competition and in the long run consumers will have more options as well as the quality of the OS will gradually improve. Its a win win for the consumers no matter what compatibility issues arise.
HP lets see what you got.
"there are other viable operating systems out there like Ubuntu , OS X, Linux and of course Windows"
Linux isn't an operating system. Ubuntu, which you mentioned, is one of many operating systems based on the Linux kernel, but Linux is in no way an operating system. It facilitates communication between the hardware and the userland, as well as some other low level stuff; that's it.
Why not just re-design HP-UX?
'HP chief technology officer Phil McKinney even going so far as to say that the idea that it's funding a huge R&D team to go off and create an operating system "makes no sense."'
I guess the "invent" in their name is just a marketing gimmick, then?
That's good. We need more operating systems.
HP, how about to comply some better scanner programs for your scanner and printer all in one first?
I'm up for anything that eliminates being required to use Vista or the upcoming Windows 7, which I'm sure will also be a turd..
GO FOR IT!
Good luck to them. Years of experience with HP-UX ought to serve them well. If the software will be available then anything can happen. However, that is the trick, assuming that HP is aiming for the markets as Windows.
they should start with something that is compatible with Windows applications first....
http://www.reactos.org