It's no surprise that Hewlett-Packard Co. finished another year at or near the top of a bevy of key categories in The Times 100, including sales, profit and market value. The Palo Alto-based dean of high-tech companies has consistently turned in strong performances in a variety of product lines, including printers, calculators and personal computers.
Last year HP laid the groundwork to boost its Internet-related business. Though it has little in common with a typical Generation X-style Silicon Valley start-up, HP is just as determined to make its mark in this increasingly important Internet business.
It has made a licensing deal with Netscape Communications, produced software to process applications for Sun Microsystem's Java platform, developed "smart card" technology to simplify online transactions and launched an Internet service called HP@home. The company has also announced plans for a printer for WebTV customers and for a NetPC that will sell for less than $1,000.
Hewlett-Packard's boldest move recently, however, was its agreement last month to buy VeriFone Inc., a company that makes credit-card-swiping devices used by retailers, for $1.2 billion.
