WebProNews

HP Buys 3Com for $2.7 Billion

HP announced today that it is acquiring 3Com, makers of network switching, routing, and security solutions, for $2.7 billion in cash (at 7.90 per share). Both boards have already approved the transaction. HP says the combination of these two companies will transform the networking industry and "underscore HP's next-generation data center strategy." The company believes this will help customers simplify networks and improve IT service delivery capabilities.

Lost Toolbar Deals May Sap Yahoo's Market Share

Last year, both Hewlett-Packard and Acer stopped making Yahoo the default search option on their computers.  Unfortunately for Yahoo, those decisions don't seem ready to stay in the past, as one source indicates the company might gradually lose three percentage points of market share as a result. 

Microsoft Aims to Make Up for Black Friday Rip Offs

On Black Friday, Microsoft Live Search along with HP promised a 40% refund on items purchased in HP's online store. The only problem was that the site for what was called Microsoft Live Search Cashback experienced an outage and then started delivering 3% refunds instead of 40%. Obviously, there were some unhappy campers as a result.

Do You Want to Want to Convert Feeds to PDFs?

Hewlett-Packard has an interesting new service that allows users to turn RSS feeds into deliverable, printable PDFs. The service is called Tablloid and works basically like other feed readers.

HP Cracks Down On Ink Refills

You might want to think twice before refilling an ink cartridge; according to Hewlett-Packard, that act may be a patent violation. The company is going after retailers Walgreens and Office Max for the "offense." Epson and Lexmark have taken similar actions in the past.