H-P shells out big time for EDS, but the stakes in the struggle with IBM are too high to do anything less

H-P has no choice but to strive for competitive advantage over IBM and now, with the the EDS sales force in the H-P fold, the Palo Alto institution has more than a fighting chance. CEO Mark Hurd of H-P is a man with plan. His predecessor, Carly Fiorina, got props for strategy, but Hurd’s guy who can think strategically and act tactically. This $14B acquisition is another piece of evidence. Should pay off. Perot, and even Walter Hewlett, must be smiling.







