HP Computer

The Hewlett-Packard Co. is largely credited with developing the world's first personal computer, the Hewlett-Packard 9100 A, which first went to market in 1968. HP marketed its new device as a personal calculator, since most people at the time associated the term "computer" with IBM. The HP Computer Company brought the focus of IT development to California's Silicon Valley.

During the 1980s, Hewlett-Packard focused on personal computer accessories, such as printers and ink cartridges. The company competed with Dell, Brother, and Lexmark for control of the lucrative printer / scanner market, and it won international renown for its innovations with respect to networking technology.

Starting in the 1990s, Hewlett-Packard Computer began to acquire other smaller competitors. This move was initially intended as a limited means of reaching student and business customers. However, the acquisition enterprise quickly put HP Computer on the map. In 1989, it bought up Apollo Computer. Six years later, it swallowed up Convex Computer, and, in 2002, it acquired Compaq Computer to briefly become the largest single PC seller in the United States. (Dell regained the lead in 2003.)

The merger of HP Computer and Compaq Computer has produced great results for the company, but customers sometimes get confused between the brands. Compaqs are, after all, still called "Compaqs." One of the most distinguished HP computers is the HP Pavilion dv1000 entertainment notebook, which has won acclaim from DVD movie enthusiasts and audiophiles alike.