HP Brings TouchSmart PC Within Reach for the Masses

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced that the latest HP TouchSmart PCs – the only touch-enabled, all-in-one PCs in the marketplace – are now available through consumer electronics retailers nationwide.

Debuted at last month’s HP Connecting Your World (http://www.hp.com/personal) event in Berlin, the new TouchSmart family of PCs has earned accolades for its transformative effect on the way people engage with computers and their photos, music, movies and other digital content.

Consumers simply touch, tap or sweep a finger across the screen of the TouchSmart PC to access information, entertainment and social networks in a natural, intuitive way. Without using a keyboard or mouse, consumers can play music and create playlists; crop, edit and share photos; and easily check the weather or watch TV.⁽¹⁾

Reviewers have praised the new HP TouchSmart PC for its breakthrough touch-enabled software and the all-in-one design that allows the PC to fit wherever life happens. The PC’s piano-black finish and sleek design makes it an elegant addition to any room.

“The new TouchSmart PCs turn digital entertainment into a compelling, hands-on experience and can create a social media hub within a den, living room or home office,” said John Cook, vice president, Marketing, Worldwide Consumer PC Business, HP. “No other PC on the market offers this type of fun, engaging and simple touch experience or this level of interaction with digital media. The TouchSmart re-invents the personal computing experience for the home.”

Digital entertainment at your fingertips

Requiring only a power cord for set up, HP TouchSmart PCs combine a 22-inch diagonal, high-definition⁽²⁾ widescreen display with a powerful, energy-efficient Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor⁽³⁾ in a single, integrated design.

While providing all the capabilities of a traditional PC, select models also offer an array of entertainment features, including a TV tuner for watching and recording TV shows,⁽⁴⁾ a built-in DVD burner⁽⁵⁾ and integrated premium stereo speakers. A built-in webcam and microphone help users keep in touch with friends and family over the Internet through video chat and conference.⁽⁶⁾

A low-profile wireless keyboard, wireless mouse and integrated WLAN⁽⁷⁾ offer a truly clutter-free, wireless experience; and the PC’s adjustable screen tilts up and down for maximum viewing comfort. The HP Ambient Light lets people set mood lighting and see the keyboard in the dark.

“The HP All-in-One TouchSmart is set to revolutionize the desktop PC market,” said Jeff McCrea, vice president and general manager, Consumer PC Platform Group, Intel Corporation. “With its new touch screen capability, sleek design and the powerful, energy-efficient Intel Core 2 duo processor, your digital world is truly now at your fingertips.”

Environmentally responsible

HP works to reduce the environmental impact of its products by reducing the amount of materials used in both the products and packaging. HP TouchSmart PCs are ENERGY STAR® qualified and use a new all-cardboard packaging design that reduces the use of plastic-foam cushioning materials.⁽⁸⁾ The next-generation chassis design uses 55 percent less metal and 37 percent less plastic than standard PCs and monitors.⁽⁹⁾ HP also offers responsible and convenient reuse and recycling services globally.

Delivering energy efficiency with advanced power management features, HP technology can help users reduce PC energy use up to 45 percent by saving up to 86 kilowatt hours⁽¹⁰⁾ per year.

Unparalleled service and support

HP provides award-winning service and support for its products, available around the clock by phone or email and online. Every TouchSmart PC comes with toll-free telephone support at +1 866 408 5408, a number dedicated to premium products like the TouchSmart PC for quick access to support agents specifically trained on the product.

In addition, the TouchSmart PC offers a desktop icon with one-click access to troubleshooting tools, downloads and online technical support options such as email and real-time chat.

Pricing and availability

The HP TouchSmart IQ504 PC and the TV-tuner equipped HP TouchSmart IQ506 PC are available starting at $1,299 and $1,499, respectively.⁽¹¹⁾ Customers can shop for the new TouchSmart PCs by calling +1 800 230 5752, via chat, online or at retail outlets nationwide.

More information is available at www.hp.com/touchsmart.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $110.4 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2008. More information about HP is available at www.hp.com.

Note to editors: More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds, is available at www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/.

⁽¹⁾ Available on select models.

⁽²⁾ High-definition (HD) content required to view HD images.

⁽³⁾ Dual Core is a new technology designed to improve performance of multi-threaded software products and hardware-aware multitasking operating systems and may require appropriate operating system software for full benefit. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. 64-bit computing on Intel architecture requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers and applications enabled for Intel 64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel 64 architecture-enabled BIOS. Performance will vary depending on hardware and software configurations.

⁽⁴⁾ Availability of signals limited by the strength and accessibility of the originating TV signal, location and other factors. Performance issues may arise and do not constitute defects in the product.

⁽⁵⁾ Does not support single-layer DVD+R format. Don’t copy copyright-protected materials.

⁽⁶⁾ Internet access required; sold separately.

⁽⁷⁾ Wireless access point required and not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited.

Wireless Internet use requires separately purchased Internet service contract.

⁽⁸⁾ Paper-based cushioning materials are used for most standard palletized shipments; foam cushions are still used for some parcel shipments.

⁽⁹⁾ Percent reduction based on comparison to an HP Pavilion a6000 PC and HP w2207 monitor bundle.

⁽¹⁰⁾ Kilowatt hours (kWh) are most commonly used to express amounts of energy delivered by electric utilities.

⁽¹¹⁾ Estimated U.S. street price. Actual price may vary.

Intel and Intel Core are trademarks of Intel Corp. in the United States and other countries. ENERGY STAR is a U.S. registered mark of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

This news release 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 execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected results; and other risks that are described in HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2008 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

© 2008 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 warranty 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.