HP strategy getting clearer

HP's strategy under new CEO, Mark Hurd, is getting clearer. And it looks sensible and solid. Like their new operational, low key CEO, the post Fiorina HP looks likely to deliver rather than excite. That should be good enough for the share holders.

It looks like HP will focus on software acquisitions in the infrastructure arena a la IBM, driving the printer division to become the leader and innovator in commercial print systems ("the new Heidelberg"!!) and reducing the reliance on Intel chips (who isn't after Intell supply problems recently).

As far as 'HP considering making more acquisitions in the infrastructure software arena part' goes, these acquisitions could include security software companies, storage software makers and software companies that serve the blade server market. I.e. moving away from mainframes.

So the days of bold M&A moves may be behind them. And it looks like they're trying to compete more and more with IBM. HP as a strong 2nd to IBM makes solid sense. But they'll need to bulk up in the services arena to really pull it off. And there seems no mention of that.

And for HP to really compete with IBM they'll need to be great at both the operational excellence part as well as the visionery stuff. I wish I could see a little more of the latter.