VoodooDNA Spliced Completely Into HP

When it comes to high-end gaming rigs, few companies have been able to achieve the stellar reputation that VoodooPC had with its enthusiast desktops and laptops. VoodooPC had a penchant for building speedy systems with the latest high-quality components, and packaging it all together in sexy looking designs. It's no wonder that HP acquired VoodooPC in 2006 and began integrating VoodooPC's innovations and approach to system design with its own HP-branded enthusiast systems--culminating in the popular HP Blackbird 002 gaming rig--utilizing what HP calls "VoodooDNA."

Rahul Sood, the vocal founder of VoodooPC, announced yesterday in his blog the end of VoodooPC as we know it:

"It's been announced internally that the Voodoo products are no longer going to be stand-alone entities, but rather they have been welcomed into the greater HP catalogue.

PC World was able to get some additional information on this move from HP spokesperson, Ann Finnie:

"Voodoo's laptops and desktops will now be sold alongside HP's consumer Compaq Presario and Pavilion PC lines, said Ann Finnie, an HP spokeswoman. "It is just the next step of integration into the business units that deliver Compaq Presario and [HP] Pavilion," she said."


"HP will likely retain Voodoo as a brand name, but hasn't reached a decision about that yet, Finnie said."

In his blog, Sood positioned the merging of VoodooPC fully into HP as a boon to those looking to get their hands on VoodooPC-branded and Voodoo-inspired products:

"Ultimately it means that Voodoo and Voodoo-influenced products will be easier to buy, faster to get, they will feature local service, and they will have the full power of HP’s marketing and sales channel behind them. The bottom line is we have ignited the brand and sparked big excitement; so we are now integrating our organizations to fuel our growth."

Recently, VoodooPC revamped its lineup, consolidating down to a single desktop model (the Omen) and laptop (the Envy). Neither of the new redesigned models are shipping yet.

This move on HP is also likely at least partially motivated by a desire to streamline its operations somewhat in anticipation of an decrease in profits in the second half of this year as a result of global economic downturn. It will be interesting to see if Dell does something similar with its Alienware gaming brand.