Hewlett-Packard

Two men started a big company.

They worked in a small garage. They made tools for sound.

One tool helped make a Disney movie. The company grew very large. They made many new things.

They made computers and printers. They also made small tools for math. People use these things at home and at work. It is a very famous company.

Two men started a famous company in a small garage.

Bill Hewlett and David Packard began their work in 1939. They worked in Palo Alto, California. Their first big success was a tool for sound.

This tool helped make the Disney movie Fantasia. The company grew very large over many years. They made many different kinds of tools. They made machines to measure things and check signals. Later, they made many computers and printers.

In 1968, they made a device called the 9100A.

Some people call this the first personal computer. HP also made many small tools for math. These were called calculators. They made the first handheld scientific calculator in 1972. At its peak, the company had 350,000 workers. In 2015, the company split into two parts. One part is called HP Inc. This part makes printers and computers. The other part is called Hewlett Packard Enterprise. It focuses on tools for large businesses.

Hewlett-Packard, often called HP, is a famous American technology company.

It started in a small one-car garage in Palo Alto, California. Two friends named Bill Hewlett and David Packard founded it in 1939. They wanted to build tools that helped people measure things. This company became a huge part of Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is a place known for many high-tech businesses. HP grew to be a global leader in many different areas. They helped small businesses and large government groups too.

In the beginning, the company made electronic tools for testing.

Their first big success was the HP 200A. This was a precision audio oscillator used for sound. It worked by using a small light bulb to keep things steady. This tool helped Walt Disney make the movie Fantasia in 1940.

Later, the company moved into making computers and printers. They made machines for storing data and connecting networks. They even made handheld calculators for scientists to use. They also built large servers for big companies to use.

Bill Hewlett and David Packard studied at Stanford University.

They graduated with engineering degrees in 1935. They learned a lot from their teacher, Frederick Terman. In 1938, they began working part-time in a rented garage. They even tossed a coin to pick their company name. They chose Hewlett-Packard instead of Packard-Hewlett. By 1942, they built their very first real building. During World War II, they made tools for the military. This included technology for radar and artillery shells.

HP has a long history of making new things.

In 1968, they released the 9100A desktop device. Some people call this the first personal computer. HP called it a calculator so people would buy it. In 1972, they made the first handheld scientific calculator. They also made many types of printers and imaging tools.

At its biggest point in 2011, HP had 350,000 employees. They even had a major merger with a company called Compaq in 2002. These big changes helped the company grow even larger.

Today, the original company is split into two parts.

This happened on November 1, 2015. One part is called HP Inc. This company makes things like printers and computers.

The other part is called Hewlett Packard Enterprise. This part focuses on services for big businesses. You might see HP products in your own home. You might use an HP printer for school work. You might even use an HP computer for games. Their tools are still used all over the world.

Hewlett-Packard, commonly known as HP, is a major American multinational information technology company.

It is widely recognized as a symbolic founder of Silicon Valley. This region in California is a global hub for high-tech innovation. The company has provided a massive range of hardware, software, and services. These products serve individual consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations. HP even provides technology to various government sectors. The company's influence on the modern computing landscape is profound and lasting.

The company began with a focus on electronic test and measurement equipment.

Their first major financial success was the HP 200A, a precision audio oscillator. This device used a small incandescent light bulb as a temperature-dependent resistor. It also utilized a negative feedback loop to stabilize the output sinusoidal waveform. This engineering allowed the device to remain stable and reliable. Because of this stability, HP could sell it for $55. At that time, competitors were selling less stable versions for over $100. This technical advantage helped the company establish itself early on.

HP's history is tied to several distinct stages of technological evolution. Initially, they focused on specialized scientific instruments and oscillators. In the 1960s, they moved into semiconductor devices through their HP Associates division. This led to the creation of advanced instruments and electronic calculators. By 1966, the company entered the computer market with the HP 2100 and HP 1000 series of minicomputers. These machines used an accumulator-based design with specific registers for data. Later, the company expanded into personal computing, data storage, and networking hardware. This diversification allowed them to reach many different types of users.

The origins of the company are quite humble.

Bill Hewlett and David Packard graduated from Stanford University in 1935. They studied electrical engineering and were mentored by Professor Frederick Terman. In 1938, they began working part-time in a rented garage in Palo Alto. They formally established the Hewlett-Packard Company on July 2, 1939. To decide on a name, the founders actually tossed a coin. They chose Hewlett-Packard over Packard-Hewlett. Their first big contract came in 1938 for the HP 200B. This product was used by Walt Disney Studios for the film Fantasia.

HP achieved massive scale through various business maneuvers and growth periods. At its peak in 2011, the company employed 350,000 people globally. In 2002, HP completed a major merger with the company Compaq. The company also engaged in several large acquisitions to expand its reach. In 2008, they acquired Electronic Data Systems. This deal resulted in combined revenues of $118.4 billion that year. By 2009, HP reached a Fortune 500 ranking of 9. They also acquired companies like 3Com, Palm, Inc., and 3PAR in 2010.

Many surprising facts define the company's legacy in computing.

In 1968, HP released the 9100A, which some call the first personal computer. However, HP marketed it as a "desktop calculator." Bill Hewlett explained that they used this name to avoid rejection by computer experts. The 9100A featured a CRT display and magnetic-card storage. Interestingly, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak once worked at HP. He offered his Apple I design to the company five times. HP declined the offer because they wanted to focus on industrial markets.

In 2015, the original Hewlett-Packard Company underwent a major structural split.

This split happened on November 1, 2015, to separate different business interests. The enterprise products and services business became a new company called Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The personal computer and printer businesses became HP Inc. HP Inc. kept the original stock-price history and the old NYSE ticker symbol. Hewlett Packard Enterprise now trades under its own symbol, HPE. This division allows each company to focus on its specific market needs.