Although it has yet to prove it can offer the one-stop shop for technology and services that the aristocrats of the computing business have made their own, Compaq could not have signalled its intentions more clearly.

ECONOMIST: Compaq goes after Big Blue

The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems.

ENGADGET: HP's new all-in-one printer adds more to that 'all', turns into a WiFi hotspot

By the same token, the initial advantages of cloud computing have now been superseded by the scope, power and flexibility of services offered by this technology.

FORBES: Rethinking the Cloud