“We should announce our decision in the next two weeks. This is not an easy decision, because we have a team of 600 people which is in limbo.”-Meg Whitman, CEO Hewlett Packard
French media interviewed Hewlett Packard’s latest CEO, Meg Whitman. She says what they decide to do with their WebOS system will affect at least 600 HP employees.
Other media reports confirmed that 525 layoffs, made back in September, were the result of ending WebOS hardware production. Since August the system has been up for sale, no takers so far.
It’s strange because as recently as July, Stephen DeWitt, head of the WebOS business unit, claimed that WebOS was so versatile that it could be used in a “universe of devices”.
What happened? Executives at HP have decided to use Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system. In explaining the embracing of Windows 8 Whitman also explained why they canceled their number two selling tablet, the TouchPad: “Internet tablets are mainly used to consume media and e-mails. If you want to use productivity software such as Microsoft, you can not…This is an important area in which we want to go.” “We stopped using the products that use the operating system WebOS. We will return in 2012. We will have an internet tablet that will use Microsoft Windows 8.”
The new HP tablet that runs on Window 8 is called Slate 2.
Whitman also talked about the high turnover of HP CEOs, and her plans with the company: “HP has had three CEOs in less than two years. I’m here to stay. Even if my friend Mitt Romney becomes the next president of the United States, I will not join him in Washington.” “We must invest more in storage, networks and servers to align ourselves with our competitors like EMC and Cisco. Our last server, which uses an ARM processor is more efficient in terms of energy consumption. We need these major innovations to differentiate ourselves.”
In November unnamed sources at HP’s, Boise, Idaho operations leaked word of more layoffs. Between 3,000 and 4,000 people work at HP’s Boise facilities. Could the demise of WebOS have anything to do with it? According to the French newspaper, Le Figaro, Whitman said the world will find out in two weeks.