HP Defends New Ultrabook Design Against Noted Similarities to Apple's MacBook Air

[Blomkvist]

Not even sure why HP felt to respond..

One laptop runs Mac OSX, the other laptop runs Windows. Completely different if you ask me.

Might as well have an article where Ford defends making a car similar to a car the GM makes.

In the end... who cares? Clearly we are in a holding pattern of news until Apple lets us know what their latest upgrades will be to the Macbook line.

Ugh!

I agree with "who cares?" But just wanted to point out that this was a press release to announce availability of the Spectre...it was a member of the press who asked the question about similarities with Macbook Air.

I think it certainly looks nice...but how well does it run/perform?

 

[Konrad9]

I downvoted you just for using the term "fanboy"

Using that word just demonstrates you have no other strong points to your argument.

And you totally ignored all the actual points I made, good job!

 

[topmounter]

This "looks like" stuff is absurd. Of course a computer, laptop, netbook, ultrabook or smart phone LOOKS LIKE other computers, laptops, netbooks, ultrabooks or smart phones. It's the same for products like cars, appliances, televisions and just about any competitive product category.

 

[SockRolid]

"I see a lot of differences as much as the similarities. I think anybody that's close enough to the business sees that there are differences in the design."

Wow. Maybe it's time this guy was promoted to HP's board.

Oh. Wait.

 

[haravikk]

Of course there are going to be similarities; the whole point of the "Ultrabook" form factor these days is to get a piece of the action that Apple's been getting with the MacBook Air.

They're trying to compete in a space popularised by a silver wedge with black keyboard; silver is very much in demand, and black is the best colour to go with it, and a wedge gives the laptop a more natural tilt compared to a flat case. There also isn't really a need for the machine to be uniform in size, and if it requires fans or other bulkier components then they would end up dictating the thickness of the entire machine, which would just be silly.

Instead of throwing accusations, people need to focus on what's different about this Ultrabook, as that's exactly what the market needs… competition against Apple. It is after all what causes Apple to continue innovating and making the MacBook Air better, it's the whole point of the competitive market.

If someone came out with a complete carbon-clone then by all means, destroy them, but this (and a number of others accused of similar things) is far from a direct copy.


That said, I'm far from convinced by the counter-arguments; a design that at least echoes the MacBook Air is always going to be advantageous, as it means people are happier to have one as a alternative. So regardless of why they considered the silver body, black keyboard etc., I don't believe for a second that anyone in the design team didn't think "yeah it looks a bit like an Air, but that's a good thing so we'll keep it".

 

[mkoesel]

Who was the first to put the keyboard up near the screen leaving room for a hand rest and trackball below? Was it Apple? I know their first Mac Portable did not do this, but it looks like they started with the PowerBook 100.

Wikipedia says that the PowerBook 100...


If the "unique" part is accurate, Apple was breaking new design ground even then.

I believe that is true, yes.

And yet, it is quite likely that even if HP had done something novel with the keyboard or pointer input device here, there'd still be controversy about copying.

 

[OllyW]

Sorry, but justifying using the same design as the MBA by saying it is "due to the way technologies developed" just doesn't cut it. I bet if it had not been for the Air, this HP machine and many other ultrabooks would not have a wedge shaped design.

Apple weren't the first to use a thin, wedge shaped design. This Sony Vaio was available 4 years before the first MacBook Air was released. Also note the chiclet keyboard.

 

[lightmyway]

My wife (who owns an Air) is not a tech person. When she saw an ad for an ultrabook in the airport a couple weeks ago, she was SHOCKED that they can get away with ripping Apple's designs off.

One can debate the specific similarities and differences of the designs, but to the average consumer, it is an obvious ripoff. Apple should take legal action.

 

[Sweetcheetah]

Well, one thing is for sure... It's Window Based.

For some reason, I don't look at equipments as anything. I'm one of those type that doesn't go all out on customizing the case itself that most PC are able to do like change the outer shell and have it look really unique with crazy paint scheme and cool design look, but all Window's based system have ONE thing in common. Windows. I've always felt that the infrastructures of windows operating system is waaaay too open and have a lot of wiggling room for window based viruses, malwares, etc of some sort and problems. Unlike apple's closed design both the software and Computers or hardware under the same roof, windows seems there's always some level of incompatibilities between the hardware computer and software communications. Apple at least have built equipments in such ways that it's always working 99% of the time without a hitch. I say 1% less because due to perhaps assembly quality mishaps or something, there are reports of apple products having problems. NO one is perfect. But I am most productive, even with my iPhone's and just anything apple related and I've never had any sort of problems setting me back on productivity. It's been smooth sailing for the decades I've used most of apple products and computers and upgrades. And handing my old equipment to someone who may use it for the first time. Knock on wood on my part. I see that my IT/business partner, who uses droid phone HTC and windows PC based computer and every other day, something glitchy happens and thank goodness he is technically incline that he can fend for himself when there's a problem mechanically or technically. But those are minutes that can mount to hours of trying to fix and use up productive minutes. I've a seasoned digital multimedia specialist specializing in videography, photography and graphic designs and I've always maintained productive at 99% operation. My computing has been always smooth sailing and very little down time on any issues. Granted, MS windows developers are developing near perfect systems but you have to get virus protection for the most part because those spam emails, oh boy watch out. They can wreck havoc.

 

[Nunyabinez]

There is a big difference between a novel design and a patentable innovation. The MBA was a very novel design, but nothing that could be considered proprietary.

If a car manufacturer makes a car with a wedge shape that sells very well and the next year a bunch of other manufacturers have similar designs, then they are just being smart and following the preferences shown by consumers.

If a company invented a hovering car and the next year everyone came out with hovering cars, there would be a case for infringement because it was an innovative concept and patentable.

I love Apple as much or more than the next guy, but the shape of the MBA and chicklet keys set in the frame are not really innovations. It is a nice design, but to berate someone for following what consumers have shown a preference for is silly.

 

[JHankwitz]

If it looks just like a MBA, it must be just as good.

 

[Dr McKay]

And you totally ignored all the actual points I made, good job!

If you avoid using insults like "Fanboy" or "Troll" in your post, people will only have the content within to focus on.

Same reasons I try not to reason with people who spell Microsoft as "Micro$haft, Micro$oft, Microsuck" or any other variation, as this will indicate they are probably:

A. A Child
B. The intelligence level of a child

Arguing with them will be like playing chess with a Pidgeon, even if I'm winning, the Pidgeon will still knock over the pieces, **** all over the board and strut around like it's victorious.

I imagine some people will feel a similar way when presented with a post calling them fanboys etc.

 

[Eidorian]

Trinity cannot come soon enough.

 

[Rot'nApple]

"In life there are a lot of similarities." As there are with HP products!

HP thinks their 'Silver' will bring them 'Gold', but it's still a PC which is synonymous with 'Bronze'!... As in 'Bronze Age'.
/
/
/

 

[Macboy Pro]

*Scoff*... Ultrabook. Who cares! Apple has been doing the "ultrabook" for years now!

And... The technology in the Air is years old. In the non-IOS world, Apple is falling behind, and showing signs of going back to it's proprietary ways of non- upgradeable systems... Not good!

 

[ftaok]

Apple weren't the first to use a thin, wedge shaped design. This Sony Vaio was available 4 years before the first MacBook Air was released. Also note the chiclet keyboard.

Image

Nice find Olly. That keyboard sure does look like the one in the Macbook. I wonder if they're the same underneath?

 

[bawbac]

One laptop runs Mac OSX, the other laptop runs Windows. Completely different if you ask me.

HP may be capable to be made in to a good or even better Hackintosh.
This would take sales away from Apple directly.

 

[bsolar]

If Steve Jobs taught us anything, it's that the future belongs to the innovators. Whether HP deliberately "copied" anything isn't the issue; their design doesn't bring much innovation to the table.

That's why there should be a better balance between patents (especially in software patents in the USA) and innovation. It's obvious there should be some protection for innovators, but it should be very short term to protect the launch of a new product and a few years at best of market. Then I want the whole world being able to blatantly copy, so that either you innovate or you become irrelevant.

 

[Stella]

Really? Who really cares. People should realize and face the facts that every company copies / gains inspiration from others, and in many cases, while improving upon the original idea. And of course, there are totally new designs / ideas.

 

[lowbatteries]

A great response to "there are only so many solutions to a given design problem" would have been to ask "then why are Apple's designs always unlike anything that came before them?"

Once an amazingly great design solution is found, by Apple or any other company, it would be folly to stick with the status quo instead of adopt the new solution.

Where Apple differs, is they are much better at finding those new solutions instead of just using the old ones. They lead, others follow.

 

[QCassidy352]

Look, we all know what they're trying to do here. You can cite all the differences you want, but it doesn't pass the duck test (if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...). This interview is hoping people will miss the forest for the trees.

 

[Konrad9]

If you avoid using insults like "Fanboy" or "Troll" in your post, people will only have the content within to focus on.

Same reasons I try not to reason with people who spell Microsoft as "Micro$haft, Micro$oft, Microsuck" or any other variation, as this will indicate they are probably:

A. A Child
B. The intelligence level of a child

Arguing with them will be like playing chess with a Pidgeon, even if I'm winning, the Pidgeon will still knock over the pieces, **** all over the board and strut around like it's victorious.

I imagine some people will feel a similar way when presented with a post calling them fanboys etc.

I posted an amusing, nonsense thing about how it's absurd to say HP is copying and was immediately downvoted, because I'm not a fanboy.

If people on this forum stop acting like fanboys, I'll stop calling them fanboys.

 

[mbh]

"Ultrabook" seems to be shorthand for "Copy the MacBook Air; Intel said it was okay." I wonder how Apple feels about that.

Could it be part of a deal where Intel designed the smaller chipsets with Apple's input, giving them a head start to market, but with Intel reserving the right to market the form factor later to any and all? Sort of similar to ThunderBolt?

 

[orfeas0]

That doesn't even look like a macbook air...

THIS does http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/kirf-macbook-air-is-the-prettiest-netbook-weve-seen-today/

 

[convergent]

They would have been better served to create their own unique and compelling stand out design. Anyone that sees this will know its meant to be a knock off of an Air. So having one automatically means you bought the second class version instead of the real thing. I think by looking similar to the Air it will actually hurt their sales. Having one you'd constantly be dealing with someone saying, "Oh, is that a Air.... oh........... never mind.".

And as far as I'm concerned it could be a mirror copy of the Air but is still a FAIL because it is running Windoze.