HP Enters Retail Notebook PC Marketplace With New HP Pavilion Notebook PC - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Oct 11, 1999

Hewlett-Packard Company Monday announced its entrance into the retail notebook PC marketplace with the introduction of the HP Pavilion notebook PC. Starting at $1,399, the new HP Pavilion notebook PC offers retail customers easy access to the Internet and a full complement of multimedia tools for versatile mobile computing.

"HP has combined its product-development expertise with its proven retail operational knowledge to introduce a compelling notebook PC that we think will quickly move HP to the top of the retail-notebook pack," said Hilary Glann, marketing manager for HP's Mobile Computing Division. "Customers looking for a robust and versatile product will find that the new Pavilion notebook PC delivers the features they want and the HP quality they expect at a competitive price."

Enhanced Multimedia, Designed for Convenience

The HP Pavilion notebook PC features a reliable, all-in-one design that incorporates a hard drive, floppy-disk drive and CD-ROM drive, eliminating the need to transport and swap additional components and ensuring low ownership and maintenance costs. A built-in 56Kbps modem provides easy Internet access, and pre-loaded AT&T, AOL and CompuServe software allow users to choose the Internet service that best suits their needs. Located in slightly flared acoustic chambers at the sides of the wrist pad, the notebook's dual speakers and 16-bit Sound Blaster-Pro compatible stereo sound offer advanced audio performance. The HP Pavilion notebook PC is an eye-catching midnight blue, accented by translucent blue buttons. It has the added benefit of external CD controls, allowing users to play music CDs without powering up the notebook.

Versatile Mobile Computing

HP has joined with the industry's software leaders to enable hassle-free Internet access, easy money management, increased personal productivity and streamlined PC maintenance. The HP Pavilion notebook PC comes pre-loaded with software to offer users an enhanced computing experience at work, on the road and at home, including the following titles:

-- AT&T, CompuServe and AOL Internet Service Provider software; -- Quicken Basic 99 and Microsoft Money 99; -- Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99; -- Microsoft Works; -- Efax.com; -- Rand McNally Route Planner; and -- Outlook Express.

The new HP Pavilion notebook PC is expected to sell for about $1,399(1) (estimated U.S. street price) and features an Intel Celeron 433MHz processor, 4GB hard drive, 32MB SDRAM, Silicon Motion Lynx Video Graphics Accelerator, 12.1-inch HPA display, 24X CD-ROM drive and a 56K v.90 worldwide-capable modem. A second configuration, expected to sell for $1,699(1) (estimated U.S. street price), features 64MB SDRAM and a 12.1-inch TFT display. HP Quality and Reliability

HP has made setup of the HP Pavilion notebook PC quick and easy with electronic registration and an easy-to-follow welcome-mat program that guides users through the features of the notebook. Customers will enjoy a comprehensive set of service and support programs, including technical phone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week; lifetime electronic support via the HP Customer Care Web site; and proactive notification about system updates. HP Pavilion notebook PC customers will also benefit from two to three business-day repair turnaround with free system pickup and return, as well as service-repair tracking and a rapid response time to technical support questions.

The HP Pavilion notebook PC is available at Best Buy and CompUSA.

Specific information about HP notebook PC products is available on the Web at http://www.hp.com/notebooks.> Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.

HP plans to launch Agilent Technologies as an independent company by mid-calendar 2000. Agilent consists of HP's test and measurement, semiconductor products, chemical analysis and healthcare solutions businesses, and has leading positions in multiple market segments.

HP has 123,500 employees worldwide and had total revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com. (1) Actual prices may vary.