Why HP Doesn't Need The Microsoft Tablet

Without fireworks and hype, Microsoft and HP launched their tablet PCs at CES 2010. Microsoft is not used to creating hype for its products in the '2.0' manner. They still do things traditionally. So there was no surprise that the tablet was launched without much 'wow' factor.

But Microsoft supposedly doesn't count much on tablet PCs. This is not a new segment for the giant. Windows already runs on tablet PCs. I failed to understand why the media was creating so much hype around the Microsoft tablet.   It's not Microsoft's tablet; it's HP's tablet.

I believe there is little that Microsoft has done in the development of the whole tablet experience -- especially the hardware. The case of Apple is different as they control the whole stack -- hardware, software and applications. There is much more to talk about a tablet by Steve of Apple, than Steve of Microsoft.

Either way, the tablet is not a mass market. Microsoft is supposedly more interested in the mass market slipping out of their hands.

On the other hand what options does HP have to compete with Apple? It is surprising that HP is keeping itself away from GNU Linux. Considering the amount of R&D, expertise, and talent that HP has, it makes more sense for HP to create their own customized version of GNU Linux.

Debian based Ubuntu would be a good start. Software is not a big issue any more. Most of the Free and Open Source software is more popular that 'bounded' or 'locked' software. Look at Firefox, Thunderbird, Chrome, OpenOffice, GIMP, VLC and many more.

Major players like Adobe have started taking interest in Free and Open Source software. Of course they don't release all of their software under GNU GLP or give out the code. But they do release some of their software for the GNU Linux platform. Considering this paradigm shift, it may not be hard for HP to convince other players to start releasing software for GNU Linux platform.

Debian (and thus Ubuntu) today has more than 22,000 software packages available for free download. This is some of the best and the most secure software. HP should take advantage of this.

Microsoft may not let HP do that on the desktop front. And HP wouldn't want to risk a market through that move; fearing people might not like GNU Linux.

That is not that difficult. The eco-system must begin building. There are products from Adobe and Corel for the Mac platform, similarly there could be high-end products for the GNU Linux platform. If HP does it well, users will have equal reasons to go to HP than to Dell. Most people now prefer Dell as they have better support for both Windows and GNU/Linux platforms.

HP, are you listening?