New desktop PCs provide businesses stronger security and easier management

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 18th November 2006 - Demonstrating its commitment to providing business customers with the tools and services their employees need to improve the way they conduct business, HP Middle East today unveiled three new desktop PCs and services at this years Gitex that bring increased security, manageability and productivity to businesses of all sizes.

From mainstream feature sets to the most advanced technology and performance requirements, the new additions to HP's successful 5000 and 7000 series business desktop PCs provide business customers a consistently reliable platform from a trusted vendor that are designed to be the computing foundation of any business. 

"Our goal with business customers, plain and simply, is to provide them with the most reliable and highest quality computing solutions to more effectively run their businesses, without having to spend additional time and effort managing their IT infrastructure or worrying about the security of their information," said Sameh El Deeb, Business Desktops Product Manager, PSG, HP Middle East. "The desktop products and services announced today reflect this goal by delivering the right combinations of value and features, such as embedded security chips across the line, for a wide variety of business environments."

These new desktops feature HP ProtectTools security software and a standard Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 embedded security chip, providing enhanced protection for critical business information. A wide selection of manageability tools also help maximise productivity in managed IT environment by allowing more efficient planning, deployment and transition of PCs.  All are Microsoft Windows Vista compatible3 for future investment protection.

The HP Compaq dc7700 - Advanced technology, manageability and security features for the most demanding business needs.

With an enhanced suite of security resources, a choice of manageability tools and the latest Intel technology, the new HP Compaq dc7700 desktop PC is designed for the most demanding business environments. The dc7700 offers maximum stability, manageability and security, allowing users to focus on their business rather than managing their PCs.

Available with Intel vProTM technology as an option across all three form factors, the dc7700 helps simplify PC management while driving down lifecycle costs through premium manageability and security.  For example, leveraging the Intel Advanced Management Technology features of Intel vPro technology, users will be able to remotely check, inventory and repair PCs in a secure environment, whether or not the system and operating system are powered up, allowing their business to save on costly desk-side diagnostic and repair.  HP will also make it radically simpler and more affordable for IT departments to deploy the highly anticipated Intel vPro technology to their user base with the vPro Set-up and Configuration Service from HP Factory Express. With this service, HP will ship dc7700 systems with the optimum configuration for customers to take advantage of the Intel vPro technology benefits right out of the box, when used with a supporting management console.

Additionally, the increased performance of the dc7700 and along with enhanced audio support allows voice over IP (VoIP) calls to be made while the user is running other critical applications on the PC, without impacting performance.  Calls are automatically routed to the appropriate speaker even if other applications are using sound.  The dc7700 features the HP ProtectTools security software suite with Credential Manager, providing access to multilayered protection for users' IT infrastructure through a single console, making security simple and easy to deploy.

Additional key features include:

  • Intel Core 2 DuoTM processor delivers dual-core performance and improved processor energy efficiency

  • Intel Q965 Express performance chipset with DDR-2 667 memory for maximum speed and performance with enhanced thermal specs

  • RAID support for real-time local backup solution

  • SMART III hard drives

  • Enhanced audio experience for VoIP -- High-definition, multi-streaming 4-channel audio and noise reduction make it unnecessary to mute music or other audio in order to take an incoming VoIP call

  • Maximise local recovery with real time data backup (RAID 1) configurations and HP Backup and Recovery Manager

  • 15+ months lifecycle

  • Three form factor options: ultra-slim desktop, small form factor, convertible minitower

The HP Compaq dc5700 - Mainstream features and flexibility for a wide range of business needs.

The HP Compaq dc5700 Business PC delivers a reliable desktop system with mainstream features and proven technology to meet a wide range of business demands, while helping provide a stable foundation for users' managed IT environment.  Featuring the latest processor offerings from Intel - Intel Core 2 Duo or Pentium D Dual Core processors - and the Intel Q963 chipset, the dc5700 offers higher speeds and increased efficiency and headroom to accommodate future technology expansion. 

The dc5700 also includes several features designed to increase productivity, including support for dual independent displays and a new chassis design with optimised thermals and acoustics.  Access to HP's Client Manager software is available on the dc5700, which offers a suite of client management tools for client hardware and software lifecycle management from a single integrated console to help make IT staffs more efficient and productive.  Providing a secure computing environment, the HP ProtectTools security software suite will soon be available with the dc5700, giving businesses the critical data protection they demand. 

Additional key features include:

  • Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 graphics - a third-generation Intel graphics engine that supports widescreen LCD displays

  • Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DMVT) optimises system memory for graphics up to 224 MB

  • DDR-2 memory offers higher memory speeds and consumes less power than DDR-1

  • 80-250 GB Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s hard drives with SMART III technology, which helps alert users to predictable failures and provides warnings to backup data prior to drive failure

  • 12+ month platform stability to help maintain a consistent work environment and minimize support costs

  • Supports Intel Fundamental Stable Image Platform Program (Intel SIPP) 

The HP Compaq dc5750 - High performance matched with power efficiency

The HP Compaq dc5750 is a highly power efficient business desktop PC with no-compromises performance, manageability and security features at a competitive price to help business users achieve the best results.  The dc5750 features Cool 'n' Quiet AMD technology, which allows on-demand processor frequency and voltage switching to help decrease power and fan speed, contributing to a cooler PC, lower power consumption, and a more quiet work environment.  Productivity is increased through standard dual monitor and real time data backup capability (RAID) support, while robust graphics are supported by the ATI Radeon X300 integrated chipset. 

Manageability and security features, such as available HP Client Manager software and upcoming availability of the HP ProtectTools security suite, make this fourth-generation AMD desktop product an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes that require stability, manageability and consistent features without compromising performance, productivity or value. 

Additional key features include:

  • Range of high-performance AMD Athlon 64 X2, Athlon 64 and Sempron processors

  • ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 Professional chipset

  • 64-bit processors and standard DVI-D port provide easy upgrade path to next-generation software and hardware

  • Support for 64-bit applications (with Athlon 64 processors), dual-channel DDR1 400 MHz memory, HyperTransport system bus speeds up to 2,000 MHz (Athlon 64) and 1,600 MHz (Sempron)

  • AMD Enhanced Virus Protection technology that when used with Windows XP SP2 can help prevent certain viruses from executing

Enhanced protection and manageability solutions for business

Also pre-loaded on selected models of the new dc7700, dc5700 and dc5750 is HP's Smart Desktop Management Service, designed to increase business productivity and reduce unwanted downtime.  This robust solution provides best-in-class security protection with integrated anti-virus, firewall, spyware detection and removal, worm and Trojan prevention, MS OS patch updates, plus proactive vulnerability assessments of the PC.  The tool also includes proactive health and diagnostic checks to detect PC vulnerabilities before a series threat has occurred, as well as automatic remote backup and disaster recovery capabilities via secure offsite storage.

Included with the three desktops unveiled today, HP's Backup and Recovery Manager is now offered as a single, integrated tool that addresses the full spectrum of backup and recovery needs.  New features include the ability to create factory software recovery CDs or DVDs and the ability to backup to and recover from secondary drives such as a second hard drive, CD-R, DVD-R, flash or network drive.  This added flexibility helps reduce downtime and help desk calls.

In addition to the new desktop PCs, HP is announcing enhancements to its popular pre-loaded solutions that help improve business customers' return on their IT investment by reducing the total cost of ownership. Co-developed with Altiris in 2001, the new HP Client Manager 6.1 SP2 improves the tool's ease of use by automatically discovering which systems have HP's ProtectTools embedded TPM security chip, then performing the initial set-up steps so all that is left for the end user to do is enter their password to begin experiencing the higher level of security.  HP's embedded security chip makes passwords extremely secure from hackers and also can be used to verify that a PC is authorised for network access.  

-Ends-

About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2006, HP revenue totaled $91.7 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

About HP Middle East
HP is the largest technology and solutions provider in the Middle East with 670 employees and subsidiaries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Cairo,  Ramallah and Oman servicing the GCC, Egypt and the Levant. HP has been present in the Middle East since 1968 and opened its first regional office in 1994. HP Middle East is the market leader for enterprise, small and medium business and consumer technology products and offers a large portfolio of solutions and services in various business domains.

More information about HP in the Middle East is available at www.hp.com/me

Note to editors: HP news releases are available via RSS feed at www.hp.com/hpinfo/rss.html.

1 Prices may vary by country

This news advisory contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the achievement of expected results and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the risks described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2006, and other reports filed after HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2005. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express w9arranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

© Press Release 2006