That’s true — HP’s *old* culture was more like Sun’s. Now, I’m not so sure.
There should be a rule etched in stone somewhere: NEVER allow a liberal arts graduate to become the CEO of a company started by engineers. It has wrecked every single one of the instances where it has been tried. HP is one, Digital (DEC) is another example.
Robert Palmer at DEC. Hp was great then wrecked by Carly and a improved a little but it is not Dave or Bill’s HP.
I think McNeeley, Von Bechtolsheim and Bill Joy tried to emulate the good HP stuff.
The German guy and Joy are incredibly bright engineers like Bill and Dave.