HP has launched an array of new desktop PC products for both its Pavilion and Presario ranges, asserting its commitment to retain dual HP and Compaq consumer PC brands.
At the product launch in Sydney on Tuesday, HP consumer business manager' Vikram Bedi' said HP had designed the latest Pavilion 500 and Presario S desktop PC series to represent different consumer segments.
The latest Presario S desktop PC series, which remains under the Compaq brand, is aimed at tech-savvy consumers and gamers. In line with this focus, the S series features a built-in DVD+R/RW drive and the choice of either Pentium 4 or AMD XP processors. It also comes with a range of graphics cards, including the NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440, and a DDR333 memory chip.
The Presario series would suit people who were looking for a stronger, faster way of going from A to B” Bedi said.
In contrast, the HP Pavilion series will be targeted at the family user and represents a more scenic way of going from A to B”
From a design perspective, this would mean a wireless keyboard and mouse, and a more stylish overall design, he said.
Other highlights of the Pavilion 500 series include a built-in storage station located at the top of the tower for housing peripherals and disks, and front access to USB 2.0 ports. The latest Pavilion products also feature a six-in-one digital media reader and DVD-ROM drive.
Both the Pavilion and Presario PCs are available with either 15-inch or 17-inch CRT monitors as well as 15-inch LCD screens. The S series also has the option of a 17-inch LCD screen. The Presario S desktop series is priced from $1399. Prices for the Pavilion 500 products start at $1699.
HP public relations executive, Brad Swiney, said there had been a lot of confusion about the future of HP’s consumer PC brands since the completion of its merger with Compaq in 2002, particularly from its retail and channel partners.
The launch of the two new consumer PC series would address these concerns and finally give HP the opportunity to present a clear road map of its consumer PC strategies, he said.
The contrast between the Pavilion and Presario desktop PC series will also be mirrored across HP’s notebook products. Bedi said the company’s first Pavilion ze4200 notebook series for entry-level users, launched earlier this year, again differed from products under the more established Presario 2100/2500 notebook range by focusing on simplicity and style over performance and speed.
All products under the new Presario S and Pavilion 500 series were now available from retailers.
