Hewlett-Packard's acquisition of Compaq, a historic moment for the PC industry, could cause Microsoft some short-term headaches. The deal doesn't just bring together two computing giants--it also attempts to join two companies that have very different relationships with Microsoft. Compaq is considered Microsoft's premier partner, the hardware company that has helped the software giant on a number of new technologies and initiatives. By contrast, HP typically has been a more independent agent. Microsoft and the new HP will undoubtedly work on a number of new projects, but the relationship, at least initially, may not be as cozy as it was with Compaq.
|