PC maker consolidation: boom or bust for consumers

Kelly McNeill writes “Among the obligatory hoop-jumping disclosures and approvals required for a merger the size of Hewlett-Packard and Compaq, there will be antitrust investigations to determine how this new entity will be allowed to operate without “harming” consumers. So, while the perceived gains in efficiency may not materialize for another two to three years, the combined organization must now subject itself to the same scrutiny IBM faced many years ago. This scrutiny, coincidentally, led to the creation of several new technology leaders, such as Compaq, Dell and Microsoft.”