From its humble beginnings in a garage in 1935, William Hewlett and David Packard would go on to build HP into the largest technology company in the world. The small company was started with an initial investment of $538. In 2007, HP would report a revenue of $104 billion dollars marking the first time in history an IT company would break the $100 billion barrier. HP has also even surpassed its rival
Dell, the one-time PC king, as the largest seller of personal computers.
HP has a long and colorful history in the technology realm. Despite its current emphasis on PCs and consumer electronics, HP is known for a diverse array of products ranging from solid state components to medical equipment. The company introduced the world’s first handheld scientific calculator in 1972. Wired magazine cites the Hewlett-Packard 9100A as the world’s first personal computer(even though HP decided to call it a desktop calculator instead). In the 80s and 90s, HP became highly regarded for its laser and inkjet printer line which continues to this day as one of its more successful ventures. In 2002, HP merged with Compaq Computer making the company a major player in the desktop and server market.
