Hewlett-Packard is focusing more on small business these days. But Apple is too. Here's a brief overview of

what the two U.S. computer giants uggs on sale offer for businesses that may have dozens rather than thousands of

employees.
The HP EliteBook 2560p is a rugged 4-pound, 12.5-inch laptop that sports Intel Sandy Bridge processors.

(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)
Needless to say, the choice begins with the eternal quandary, PC or Mac? But putting this bigger religious

question aside for a second, it is necessary to recognize one seismic shift that has occurred (and is

occurring). Apple is bigger, more cash-rich than ever and its stores--which support small business--are

everywhere. With that in mind, let's consider what HP is trying to accomplish in the small-business market.

And then look at Apple's increasing focus on this segment.

Hewlett-Packard is America's premier supplier of computers to midsize and big business. That didn't happen

overnight of course. It happened by getting christian louboutin outlet expertise via acquisitions of Compaq and Electronic Data

Systems (EDS), among other companies, and by handling IT for giant accounts like Proctor & Gamble.

And now HP is trying to bring some of that big account goodness to small business, according to Curtis

Hutcheson, U.S. Commercial Country manager, HP Personal Systems Group. For example, HP's Elite series of

products--to date targeted primarily at large corporate customers--are now being pitched aggressively to

small business, which Hutcheson describes as an unmanaged IT environment with less than 500 seats.
Part of that pitch is convincing small businesses to buy HP's EliteBook laptops, such as the rugged, 4-

pound EliteBook 2560p that is equipped with Intel's latest high-performance Sandy Bridge Core i5 and Core

i7 processors. The 2560p is designed to cheap moncler meet rigorous military standards (MIL-STD-810G) for vibration,

dust, humidity, altitude, and high temperature.

But good hardware is just a start. EliteBooks also offer a three-year warranty--not the standard one year-

-with U.S.-based support manned by certified technicians, according to Hutcheson.

"We've changed our Elite support. The U.S. call center...will be complete by the end of the year and we're

ripping out the IVR (interactive voice response) and putting certified reps in who can talk about our elite

products," he said. And when HP partners sell an Elite product they will get an incentive to provide HP

partner services with the product, said Hutcheson.

Because security can be neglected at small businesses, HP will also offer free encryption, so "they can

lock down that product," according to Hutcheson.

Overall, the "Elite experience" is centered on installation, support, and management of that PC, which is

done via HP's premium support offering or partner services.

Customers can speak to an Apple Genius over the phone (which typically isn't possible). Geniuses are there,

of course, to help solve computer problems. Apple will also run system diagnostics, update software, and

loan out computers when a computer is sent in for repairs.

Another point to consider: Apple is wholesale abercrombie and fitch clothing vertically integrated, so there's the convenience of a one-stop-shop

for everything. That said, HP has a long history of supporting business and has accumulated valuable know-

how over the years.

But when all is said and done, for small businesses it can often be a matter of which platform. offers the

best software applications or simply which platform. is more familiar.

So, which is it, PC or Mac?