HP Introduces New Consumer PCs for the Home; HP Pavilion Multimedia PC Line Sports Sleek Industrial Design and Microsoft Windows 95 at Competitive Prices

Business Wire, August 14, 1995

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 1995-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced a new family of personal computers designed expressly for today's home-computing environments -- the HP Pavilion PC.

Among the first PC lines to be immediately available to consumers with Microsoft's(R) Windows 95 operating system preinstalled, the HP Pavilion PC is a multimedia PC that includes such consumer-friendly features as personalized user interfaces; and sleek, modern desktop and minitower designs.

"We're delighted that HP has one of the first new lines of single-operating-system consumer PCs built from the ground up to optimize the ease-of-use benefits in Windows 95," said Brad Chase, general manager in the Personal Systems Division at Microsoft. "Windows 95's ease of use combined with the HP Pavilion PC design is sure to be a winner with customers."

Entry priced at $1,499 (U.S.), the new HP PCs are available later this month at leading U.S. retailers, including Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Computer City, Incredible Universe, Micro Center, Office Depot, OfficeMax and Staples.

Designed for home users, the look of HP's new consumer PCs was created by Lunar Design, Inc., a design firm recognized in the industry. A balance of form and function was accomplished with styling and space-saving footprints, easy-to-find front panel volume/mute controls and power switches, and removable speakers with retractable power cords.

The HP Pavilion PC family includes eight high-performance models based on the Intel Pentium(tm) 75, 90 and 100MHz processors, as well as an AMD DX4 100MHz processor. The Intel Pentium 120 and 133MHz models will be available in the Fall. HP Pavilion PC hard drives range from 635MB to 1.6GB and RAM ranges from 8MB to 16MB.

DESIGNED WITH HOME COMPUTING ENTHUSIASTS IN MIND

Designed to simplify and demystify home computing for novice and experienced users alike, the HP Pavilion PC provides color- and icon-coded cables, an easy-to-follow "welcome mat" guide and on-line tutorials to make setting up the PC simple and quick.

HP Pavilion PCs also offer consumers an easy way to organize files and applications with the HP Personal Page shell. Each family member has a choice of three user-interface styles, including a colorful comic-book interface, so that each person has their own personalized interface when using the HP Pavilion PC. A "kid-mode" security feature allows users to "child-proof" the system and protect important files.

"Not only will users find all the latest features and software in the HP Pavilion PC, but they'll own a system backed by the quality and reliability consumers expect in HP products," said Harry W. (Webb) McKinney, general manager of HP's Home Products Division.

TRUE PLUG-AND-PLAY MULTIMEDIA

A gateway to the world of multimedia and on-line services, the HP Pavilion PC family is among the first new lines of PCs to take advantage of the Microsoft Windows 95 operating systems powerful functionality and plug-and-play multimedia capabilities. The new PC series offers a full range of high-quality sound and telephony features, including Altec Lansing stereo speakers, built-in microphone and sound system, voicemail and full-duplex speakerphone capabilities, as well as 14.4Kbps and 28.8Kbps fax/data modems. Direct access to all the major on-line services (America Online, CompuServe, PRODIGY, Microsoft Network) offers Pavilion PC users choice in selecting the best on-line service for their needs.

COMPLETE SOFTWARE, CD-ROM TITLE BUNDLE

HP Pavilion PCs come with an extensive software bundle, including leading reference, education, entertainment, communication, productivity and personal finance titles such as Microsoft Works for Windows 95, Microsoft Encarta 95, Microsoft Bookshelf 95, EasyPhoto, Memphis Math and Quicken SE.

WARRANTY AND SUPPORT SERVICES

The HP Pavilion PCs have a one-year limited on-site warranty for hardware. All HP Pavilion PC buyers can access to a toll-free hotline (1-800-PCHOME1) for assistance 24 hours-a-day, 365 days a year. The HP Pavilion PC also provides on-line assistance through HP's Support Forum via America Online, CompuServe, HP's BBS (208-344-1691) and the Internet.

HP CONSUMER AND RETAIL FOCUS

HP Pavilion multimedia PCs are being distributed exclusively through the retail channel. The PCs are developed and marketed by HP's Home Products Division. HP distributes a host of market-leading products through U.S. retail outlets, including HP LaserJet and DeskJet printers, HP ScanJet scanners, HP OmniBook notebook PCs, HP 200LX palmtop PCs and HP calculators, and tape backup products.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 98,600 employees and had revenue of $25 billion in its 1994 fiscal year. -0-

Note to Editors: Pentium is a U.S. trademark of Intel Corp. Intel is a U.S. trademark of Intel Corp. Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.