On Shelves Now: HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC, First to Run Windows CE Handheld PC Professional Edition Software

Business Wire, Nov 16, 1998

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1998--

HP Slashes Prices on 600 Series Palmtop PCs, Offers Handheld PC

Loaded with Exclusive Add-on and Partner Solutions Geared for

Mobile Professionals

Hewlett-Packard Company today announced that its HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC, the first handheld PC to run Microsoft Windows CE, Handheld PC Professional Edition software, is on retailer shelves now.

This first product in HP's new family of handhelds weighs only 2.5 pounds and offers a touch-typeable keyboard with value-added solutions that every mobile professional needs to thrive in today's fast-paced society. Busy mobile professionals now have the one product that meets key needs: access to e-mail, corporate data and the Internet; note taking; faxing; color printing; and schedule planning.

"HP has again proven itself a leader in the industry and in this category by being the first to ship a handheld computer with Windows CE, Handheld PC Professional Edition software," said Dennis Hamann, worldwide marketing manager of HP's Asia Pacific PC Division. "Our shipping this comprehensive product, complete with our value-added solutions and those from partners, will make the mobile professional's life easier, more productive and more efficient."

Outside In from Inso Corporation allows WYSIWYG viewing of 35 file formats, including Lotus(R) 1-2-3(R) and AmiPro; Microsoft(R) Word and Excel. Planned upgrade for viewing presentation and graphics files will be available from HP's Web site. Also, every Jornada 820 is SPRYNET-ready, allowing easy access to the Internet and e-mail from anywhere when users sign up with SPRYNET.

Other HP-only solutions included in the ROM are BSQUARE Corporation's bFax Pro, for sending and receiving faxes and customizing cover sheets, and bFind for locating strings, words or files on the HP Jornada 820; and OmniSolve, a financial and scientific-calculation tool by Landware, Inc. Available on CD-ROM is TrueSync CE from Starfish Software, Inc., which remains an HP-exclusive application and now supports both the REX Classic and REX Pro cards from Franklin Electronic Publishers. TrueSync CE supports two-way synchronization of PIM and textual information from an HP palmtop and handheld PC, allowing users to maintain consistent data across all working platforms. Additionally, HP has included a color-printing application, JETCET Print Lite, from WESTTEK L.L.C. for printing color documents directly to supported HP PCL printers while users are travelling.

Citrix's ICA Windows CE Client from Citrix, Inc., will be available the end of November 1998 for free download from HP's handheld Web site for the HP Jornada 820. The product gives users access to Windows server-based applications over both local and remote connections, effectively turning the HP Jornada 820 into a mobile, lightweight thin-client.

When coupled with RangeLAN2 wireless LAN PC card from Proxim, Inc., which is plug-and-play optimized for the HP Jornada 820, the product is fully equipped with the essential tools to keep users informed and connected wherever they may be.

All of these features are available with a 10-hour battery -- up to 15 hours with the optional battery pack. This long battery life offers the advantage of a full day's use without recharging.

U.S. Availability, Pricing and Support

The HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC is $999 and is available now in North America at CompUSA, Fry's, J&R, and Micro Center or by mail order from CDW, and Microwarehouse. The HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC is backed by a one-year limited warranty. HP also has reduced the price of the HP 620LX and 660LX palmtop PCs to $749 and $899, respectively.

Information about the HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC can be found at http://www.hp.com/jornada.> About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and Intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 127,200 employees and had revenue of $42.9 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

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