> do...you think HP will quickly change
> hats and become primarily a software company?  And if so, and
> I ask this of
> the entire list, is this a solid, long term business plan?

No, and no. The best margins (also the greatest risks) are certainly on the
software, but in non-monopoly markets it's also important to enhance the
customer's loyalty to your particular brand of software (blades) by selling
them a box (razor) that
 1) keeps your name in front of their faces all the time and
 2) ensures that your name appears in any sentence answering any question of
the form "what xxx are you running?"

Unless your market percentage is a two-digit figure starting with an 8 or a
9, brand awareness matters.

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