Jennings_Richard/pinewood_lab_hpopd@hpopd.pwd.hp.com (05/03/91)
HP AND LOTUS DELIVER PC POWER
IN 11-OUNCE PALMTOP COMPUTER
HP 95LX Palmtop PC is First With Built-in
Lotus* 1-2-3*
NEW YORK, April 23, 1991--Hewlett-Packard Company and Lotus
Development Corp. today introduced the HP 95LX palmtop PC, the first
hand-held computer to combine personal-computer power with the
capabilities of Lotus 1-2-3, built into a device the size of a business
calculator. The HP 95LX is designed to work as a companion to desktop
and laptop PCs.
Jointly developed by HP and Lotus, the HP 95LX will be manufactured
and marketed by HP. The suggested U.S. list price is $699.
In addition to Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2 and MS-DOS* 3.22, the 11-oz.
HP 95LX palmtop PC features one-key access to all applications, a suite
of built-in organizer tools, support for third-party applications and
extensive communications capabilities.
"The HP 95LX palmtop PC answers users' needs for a high-performance,
hand-held computer that lets them perform business applications
anywhere, "said Daniel Terpack, general manager of HP's Corvallis (Ore.)
Division. "This is the first palmtop computer that provides the right
combination of functionality, portability and economical price. We are
convinced that the HP 95LX is the hand-held solution against which all
other palmtop PCs will be measured."
14 Million Potential Users Immediately
The initial target market for the HP 95LX is the worldwide installed
base of more than 14 million users of Lotus 1-2-3, the world's most
popular financial analysis software program. Lotus 1-2-3 is the
software program often credited with the success and acceptance of the
IBM PC standard in the 1980s.
According to market research conducted by both companies, many of
these users want a portable computing platform that lets them take their
Lotus 1-2-3 worksheets, including graphics and macros, to places they
couldn't take other computer systems.
"The close working relationship between Lotus and HP enabled us to
bring this exciting product to market with unprecedented speed," said
Leon Navickas, Lotus general manager of research and development.
"The HP 95LX represents Lotus' first venture into delivering
software that is such an integral part of the personal computer. We
view the HP 95LX as an important complement to our other spreadsheets,
providing the functionality Lotus 1-2-3 users have come to expect from
our desktop products in the most portable, accessible form, "said
Navickas.
"The HP 95LX is so portable and convenient that I can carry my
critical information to places I never could before, including internal
meetings, "said beta tester Bob Martin, manager of Executive Support
Systems for Eaton Corp., Cleveland, Ohio. "You really can stretch your
imagination thinking of all the applications for this product. I
believe the HP 95LX will become an integral part of the professional's
working environment."
Extension of Desktop PC
With its broad communications capabilities, the HP 95LX palmtop PC
is an ideal companion to desktop and laptop personal computers. The
optional HP F1001A connectivity pack permits users to share Lotus 1-2-3
worksheets and other data files created on their PCs with the HP 95LX,
and then transport and analyze this data anywhere.
The HP 95LX also lets users track appointments and assignments, edit
letters and reports, handle complex calculations, access
computer-information services and company electronic mail, and organize
phone numbers and addresses. Users can print data from HP 95LX
applications to HP LaserJet, IBM Proprinter, Epson FX-80 and compatible
printers.
With all the built-in software, including Lotus 1-2-3 and MS-DOS*
executable from ROM, most of the computer's 512K of random-access memory
(RAM) is reserved for file creation and storage.
In addition, several independent software vendors are expected to
release HP 95LX versions of their products on plug-in ROM cards.
Announced today are ACT! contact-management software from Contact
Software International; Andrew Tobias' Managing Your Money from MECA
Software, Inc.; DERIVE, A Mathematical Assistant, from Soft Warehouse,
Inc. of Honolulu, HI; Express for MCI mail from PalmTree Products; and
the Globalink Translation System foreign-language phrase translator from
Globalink, Inc. PalmTree also is announcing the SolidState Data Drive,
a device that lets desktop PCs read and write HP 95LX ROM cards.
Developed by Industry Leaders
The HP 95LX is based on industry standards and is the result of
unprecedented contributions from the leaders in the PC industry.
HP engineers from Corvallis contributed their expertise in hand-held
technology, and business and financial calculation, to determine overall
product specifications and design.
Lotus, the world's leading supplier of business-analysis PC
software, provided Lotus 1-2-3, the personal-organizer tools, and data
communication built-into the system's ROM. They also developed system
software that has opened the HP 95LX to additional applications designed
by ISVs. All built-in applications feature a user interface consistent
with Lotus 1-2-3.
One-key access to all applications and a clipboard facilitate
integration across applications. For example, this makes it possible
for the user to cut and paste data from a Lotus spreadsheet and a name
and address from the phone-book application into the same memo.
Industry Firsts
The HP 95LX also features technical firsts from the companies that
have helped define PC standards. It includes Intel Corp.'s most highly
integrated DOS solution to date, reducing the standard PC/XT chip set
from five integrated circuits to two. Advanced electronic-design
integration allows most of the PC hardware functionality (excluding the
microprocessor) to be housed on a single application-specific integrated
circuit (ASIC).
The HP 95LX is the smallest palmtop PC to include Microsoft Corp.'s
MS-DOS ROM (Version 3.22) operating system that is executed from ROM.
In addition, the system's plug-in memory card slot supports the
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA 1.0) and
Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA 4.0)
international standards, enabling extensive applications development by
ISVs on the widely available cards.
Availability
The HP 95LX palmtop PC is expected to be available in the second
quarter of 1991 through selected consumer-electronics and
PC/peripherals distribution channels. Initially, it will be available
in U.S. and international-English versions. Fully translated versions
in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese are expected to be
shipped in the third quarter of 1991.
U.S. List Prices
Product Part Number Price
HP 95LX palmtop PC F1000A $699.00
HP 95LX connectivity pack F1001A $99.95
128-Kbyte RAM card F1002A $199.95
512-Kbyte RAM card F1003A $399.95
Lotus Development Corp., founded in 1982, develops, markets and
supports business software and CD-ROM databases that help users access,
analyze, communicate and share information. The company's first
product, Lotus 1-2-3, is the most popular personal-computer software
program in the world with more than 14 million users.
Hewlett-Packard Company is an international manufacturer of
measurement and computation products and systems recognized for
excellence in quality and support. The company's products and services
are used in industry, business, engineering, science, medicine and
education in approximately 100 countries. HP has 91,000 employees and
had revenue of $13.2 billion in its 1990 fiscal year.
# # #
Lotus and 1-2-3 are U.S. registered trademarks of Lotus Development
Corp.
MS-DOS is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.
Sales information may be obtained in the U.S.A. by calling
(800) 443-1254 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Information in this release applies specifically to products available
in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary
in non-U.S. markets.
Inquiries should be addressed to:
INQUIRIES MANAGER,
Hewlett-Packard Company
1000 N.E. Circle Boulevard
Corvallis, OR. 97330
U.S.A.
Richard Jennings, Software Development Engineer
Pinewood Information Systems Division, the home of HP's Advanced
----------------------------------------- Image Management System (HP AIMS),
AdvanceLink, OpenMail and Multi-media communications
Hewlett-Packard --------------------------------------
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