Compaq Delivers a Barrage of Innovative Technologies for the Home

Business Wire, July 15, 1996

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 1996 -- Transforming useful technology for the home, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced -- at a press conference in New York City -- a complete family of Presario home PCs that combine premier technology and stunning intuitive design to revolutionize form and function in home computing.

As part of Compaq's series of summer announcements, the new Presario family delivers the best in sight, sound, motion and communications to meet the demands of the evolving home market. Compaq has incorporated more than 20 new technologies and creative features in the new Presario Series, offering distinct product solutions designed to meet the needs of specific consumer market segments: home and family, home office, multimedia enthusiasts, design conscious and mobile computing.

"Thanks to unique technology innovations, the new Compaq Presario 1000 to 8000 Series of multimedia PCs promises to change the way people think about home computing," said Mike Heil, senior vice president and Group General Manager, Consumer Products Group, Compaq. "In partnership with the greatest names in consumer entertainment products, as well as through our own commitment to listen and to respond to the needs and desires of our customers, we've built in a number of technologies that truly are bringing about a new age in home computing."

Some of the major technology breakthroughs available with the new family of Presario home PCs include: the addition of JBL Pro audio speakers, offering the industry's most advanced sound; PowerVR (TM) 3D graphics, providing arcade-quality 3D for the ultimate gaming experience; and the addition of videophone capability, which enables customers to talk on the phone and at the same time, be seen by one another.

A number of Presario units are available today at Compaq retail partners, additional models to follow this fall. Retail prices will range from $1,699 - $3,999. (a)

Advanced Audio System

JBL Pro Audio

Compaq has partnered with Harman International, the worldwide audio leader, to co-develop the exclusive new JBL Pro Audio speakers. This joint-development effort has achieved "Best-in-Class" PC audio and will offer users outstanding audio performance unmatched in the PC industry. JBL Pro Audio speakers deliver a no-compromise audio experience, offering exceptionally accurate sound, with extremely low distortion. Depending on the Presario model, the speakers easily attach to the Presario monitor or integrate with the computer chassis, or work as stand-alone satellite speakers. The JBL Pro speakers are available with Presario 3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Series.

Presario 8000 Series models come packaged with JBL Pro Audio premium powered speakers, a ported two-way speaker design (separate tweeter and full elliptical driver) to provide excellent dynamic range. An optional JBL Pro Sub- woofer, standard on some of the Presario 8000 Series models, offers even more dramatic bass response for all Presario products.

InterWave 32-Voice Wavetable Sound System

The InterWave 32-Voice Wavetable Sound System is the top-of-the-line sound system technology which outperforms every 16-bit sound technology on the market. This advanced technology provides high-quality hardware-accelerated wavetable synthesis, with 32 voice capabilities and produces superior musical performance, sound effects and clarity that rival high-end home stereo equipment. The sound system is available on all Presario 8000 Series models.

Presario 1000 Series Audio System

The advanced audio system on the Presario 1000 Series consumer notebooks, overcome a common weakness of multimedia notebook computers -- sound quality. The Presario 1000 Series contains clear and powerful stereo sound because it was designed specifically with the notebook's unique industrial design and end-user requirements in mind.

The complex acoustical design of the notebook's speaker enclosures incorporate a port for low frequency output. The ported speakers add a new dimension to portable sound by delivering outstanding bass and volume. Additionally, the shape of the speaker enclosures reduces the resonance, resulting in powerful, clear and undistorted sound. At the heart of the Presario 1000 Series audio system is a unique acoustic transducer, co-designed by Compaq to make the speakers outperform those found on any other notebook computer available today. Further, a powerful amplifier delivers twice the sound output of competitive notebook computers, providing a CD-quality listening environment and clear-sounding speakerphone.

Equalization enables the speakers to be designed for maximum efficiency and reliability at critical frequencies. A four-stage equalizer, designed for the Presario 1000 Series takes into consideration the user's physical proximity in relation to the notebook in typical home and office environments, resulting in a listening experience that is very close to home hi-fi system standards. In addition, the microphone was custom-designed into the Presario 1000 Series multimedia notebook to receive the user's voice clearly, without blocking background noise.