HP's Meg Whitman Says 3D Printers on the Way From Hewlett Package

We all remember Hewlett Packard's domination in the 2d printing market in the early 2000's. Well it appears that HP is planning on jumping into the 3D print market sooner rather then later. Today during HP's earnings call for the third quarter, Whitman stated the following:

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“What we are focusing on is what is value proposition by market segment,” Whitman said. “We have some very interesting things coming. Stay tuned” for something in 2014.

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Seems like they may have some tricks up their sleeves. Should be interesting to see what they come out with. My Guess is that it will be an affordable printer which is as easy to use as a regular 2d printer.

Perhaps an all in one? 2D Printer / 2D Scanner / 3D Printer / 3D Scanner / Fax Machine / Scan to Upload / Print from USB (file) ?

And there is an update:
http://3dprint.com/4292/meg-whitman-...ss-3d-printing

Whitman has announced plans to only be focusing on business 3d printing for now.

Not surprising at all. I expect all along that they would remain targeting business users. That's where all the money is for a big corporation like HP

Interesting little bit of news here. Looks like HP is trying to hired based around glass 3D printing onto already made objects. Any guesses what this could be?

More details here: http://3dprint.com/13362/hewlett-pac...lass-3d-print/

The time is here, after many many months of waiting for the stated plans of HP to split into two. HP is now HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, or HPE. As two separate, non-competing entities, the companies each have a new lease on life in the world of high-tech and corporate challenges. As HP Inc. focuses on their PC and printer business, as well as entering the world of 3D printing with a splash, the other new entity known as HPE will focus on workplace infrastructures, working to help today’s businesses compete, upping their game as they learn to navigate new business infrastructure for success. Check out more details at 3DPrint.com: http://3dprint.com/103372/hp-split-now-as-hpe-hp-inc/
http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload.../HP-Split1.png

Hmm, well still no actual physical evidence of a hewlett packard printer.

they had a bunch of colourful prints at the tct show - but no indication of how they'd been produced.

Glass printing - could be interesting.

They've been excellent at producing hot air, though, as might be expected considering the political ambitions of their CEO Meg Whitman (who ran unsuccesfully for governor of California) and ex-CEO Carly Fiorina (currently running for president of the USA). "Stay tuned for something in 2014" - or is that 2016?

Personally I have always felt that innovation and competitiveness comes from smaller companies trying to edge in on a market. Whenever a large established company ventures into 3D printing the result is often poor. Think 3D Systems Cube, Makerbot 5th Gen, etc. Large companies also tend to make everything proprietry, again at the expense of the consumer. Not holding my breath with HPs offering...

im with you there FInke... for sure... I work for a young company in IT SAN storage and innovation DEFINITELY comes from young companies who can afford to take a risk...WE have the fastest growing product on the market by a WIDE margin and we have a very innovative storage platform :)

With that said... It is important to not under estimate the 800 lb. Gorillas. They can cut deals and get other big players to do things they need that the little companies can only hope for.

Thats certainly true.. I never underestimate them.. They cant win on good technology so they slash prices and try to buy the business. The 800lb gorillas of storage are dying though.. Netapp, Dell and IBM all slid left and down on the latest gartner quadrant, meaning they are executing worse, and innovating less.
As was back when the dinosaurs died and made way for small creatures.
Same happening here... It wont happen without a fight tho :)

given that hp have been saying they've got a printer for a couple of years and nobody has ever seen it.

It's going to be a while before anything comes anywhere near a market.

What the big companies tend to do is wait for a small company with a really saleable product and then just buy that company.
People then usually slag the small company's founders as sellouts.
Well yeah, someone offeres you millions of dollars - what's wrong wth selling out ?

So I reckon hp are just stalling till they see someone with the requisite technology they need and can just buy the company :-)

At the tct show hp just had a bunch of coloured models that looked like they'd come from a projet. No sign of an actual printer.

So maybe they've bought a full coloured projet - painted a hp on the side ans said - this is now a hp printer :-)

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Originally Posted by curious aardvark

What the big companies tend to do is wait for a small company with a really saleable product and then just buy that company.
People then usually slag the small company's founders as sellouts.
Well yeah, someone offeres you millions of dollars - what's wrong wth selling out ?

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:D Nailed it!