In addition, if HP dropped the Compaq brands (Evo, Presario, iPaq, Proliant etc.) then existing Compaq customers would perceive this as a change in supplier. The danger here is those customers would probably see this as a good time to put their business out for tender once again and HP would risk the chance of losing to Dell or IBM.

HP did drop the Compaq name from anything outside the desktop and notebook market. Every new Proliant in our lab now says HP, the drivers say HP, the SmartStart CD says HP, and the top of the new iPaq 19xx and 5xxx series says HP. So far, it hasn't had a noticible drop in sales, and actually Proliant sales are up now as the old Netserver customers move over to the Proliant line. Even the new EV7 Alphas say HP.