HP and Compaq: The five best quotes yet

How could they say that...?

"It is hard to find a successful example of one PC company buying another." Webb McKinney, VP of HP's personal computing group, speaking in an interview in April. "I know this comes as a big surprise. In fact, surprise is probably an understatement." Mike Capellas, 4 September 2001, in an internal memo to Compaq staff. "It appears to us, based on industry results and company actions, that the probability of PC industry consolidation is increasing." Andrew Neff, analyst at Bear, Stearns, coming close to calling such a deal in a May report. "The PC industry is already shrinking. It's just not happening by merger and acquisition." Michael Dell in a recent interview. "You made the comment that Compaq is becoming a services company. Look, all Compaq has done so far is follow our strategy... to the letter." Carly Fiorina speaks to Information Week in June.