The birth of the Hewlett Packard company began in 1939 by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in Palo Alto. The history of Hewlett Packard is actually very interesting. They were two Stanford University graduates that started the company using only $538. When they first started, they worked in Packard's backyard in just a shed and after a year, they made their first product.
Their first product was a machine that tested sound equipment using a negative feedback technology. This was called the HP200A which Disney then purchased to make the sound in the Disney movie "Fantasia." Disney actually bought nine of these machines. This was just the beginning of this company's success.
Their company really took off in the 1940s when they made technology for World War II. This is when they moved into their first office building, leaving their shed behind for good. They then hired over one hundred employees that helped with their research and production. In 1947, they incorporated. A year later, they made their first million dollars.
In 1957, the corporation went public and they grew even more. Then a catalog was developed to interest future buyers. They had even more products and by 1959, they made their first computer that cost about $25,000. This allowed them to begin research on even better computers that cost less money.
One item that really helped Hewlett Packard make it was their portable calculator. These were really the first personal computers. All they could do is compute numbers but at the time, this was amazing and very helpful. Most college students were buying them at this time.
In the 1970s, the business computer server was developed. This gave companies much more efficiency and increased their production. This server was used until most recently when it was replaced by a newer model. The newer model is used in most big companies all over the world.
In the 1990s, computers were beginning to come down in price and the average person could afford to buy a personal computer. HP not only made computers, but also made computer accessories. Chief amongst which are their flagship printers which set the standard that other companies can only aspire to.
In 2002, they merged with Compaq computers. This was a crucial move which gave them a broader market and made the personal computer a reality for most households. They were able to use Compaq's prestigious reputation along with their own reputation to convince the world that they deserved their own computer. They also achieved this for less money and with better quality.
Hewlett Packard is a great company that has been around for a long period of time. This company was built with the talent of just two men and now it is a multi-million dollar company. This just shows how two people can change an entire industry and make a lot of jobs. Hewlett Packard has shown resilience not usually seen in most long term companies. They really have stood the test of time and helped to bring the personal computer into the average household.
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