Compaq Delivers a Barrage of Innovative Technologies for the Home.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 1996 -- Transforming useful technology for the home, Compaq Computer Corporation (company) Compaq Computer Corporation - The largest US manufacturer and vendor of IBM PC compatible personal computers and servers. Compaq was started in 1982 by three ex-Texas Instruments employees. Quarterly sales $2499M, profits $210M (Aug 1994). http://compaq.com/. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : CPQ CPQ Compaq CPQ Conseil du Patronat du Québec (Canada) CPQ Configure-Price-Quote CPQ Conseil de Presse du Québec (Québec Press Council, Canada) CPQ Companion Parrot Quarterly ) today announced -- at a press conference in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. -- a complete family of Presario home PCs that combine premier technology and stunning intuitive design to revolutionize form and function in home computing. As part of Compaq's series of summer announcements, the new Presario family delivers the best in sight, sound, motion and communications to meet the demands of the evolving home market. Compaq has incorporated more than 20 new technologies and creative features in the new Presario Series, offering distinct product solutions designed to meet the needs of specific consumer market segments: home and family, home office, multimedia enthusiasts, design conscious and mobile computing Using a computing device while in transit. Mobile computing implies wireless transmission, but wireless transmission does not necessarily imply mobile computing. Fixed wireless applications use satellites, radio systems and lasers to transmit between permanent objects such as buildings . "Thanks to unique technology innovations, the new Compaq Presario Presario is a series of desktop computers and notebooks from Compaq. The Presario family of computers was launched for the consumer marketplace in September 1993. Although HP has since acquired Compaq, the Presario name was not discontinued due to its marketability. 1000 to 8000 Series of multimedia PCs promises to change the way people think about home computing," said Mike Heil, senior vice president and Group General Manager, Consumer Products Group, Compaq. "In partnership with the greatest names in consumer entertainment products, as well as through our own commitment to listen and to respond to the needs and desires of our customers, we've built in a number of technologies that truly are bringing about a new age in home computing." Some of the major technology breakthroughs available with the new family of Presario home PCs include: the addition of JBL JBL James Bullough Lansing (audio/speaker engineer) JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JBL John Bradshaw Leyfield (wrestler) JBL Jonathan Bell Lovelace (investment research) Pro audio speakers, offering the industry's most advanced sound; PowerVR (TM) 3D graphics, providing arcade-quality 3D for the ultimate gaming experience; and the addition of videophone (1) (VideoPhone) A line of videophones (definition #1 below) from AT&T that were introduced in the early 1990s and later pulled off the market due to poor sales. The first models came with a price tag above $1,000, and a pair were needed. See Picturephone. capability, which enables customers to talk on the phone and at the same time, be seen by one another. A number of Presario units are available today at Compaq retail partners, additional models to follow this fall. Retail prices will range from $1,699 - $3,999. (a) Advanced Audio System JBL Pro Audio Compaq has partnered with Harman International, the worldwide audio leader, to co-develop the exclusive new JBL Pro Audio speakers. This joint-development effort has achieved "Best-in-Class" PC audio and will offer users outstanding audio performance unmatched in the PC industry. JBL Pro Audio speakers deliver a no-compromise audio experience, offering exceptionally accurate sound, with extremely low distortion. Depending on the Presario model, the speakers easily attach to the Presario monitor or integrate with the computer chassis, or work as stand-alone satellite speakers. The JBL Pro speakers are available with Presario 3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Series. Presario 8000 Series models come packaged with JBL Pro Audio premium powered speakers Powered speakers (or active speakers) are speakers that have built-in amplifiers. They can be connected directly to a mixing console or sound source, without the need for an amplifier. Such speakers are available with passive or active crossovers built into them. , a ported two-way speaker design (separate tweeter tweeter - woofer and full elliptical el·lip·tic or el·lip·ti·cal adj. 1. Of, relating to, or having the shape of an ellipse. 2. Containing or characterized by ellipsis. 3. a. driver) to provide excellent dynamic range. An optional JBL Pro Sub- woofer (jargon) woofer - (University of Waterloo) Some varieties of wide paper for printers have a perforation 8.5 inches from the left margin that allows the 3.5 inch excess on the right-hand side to be torn off when the print format is 80 columns or less wide. , standard on some of the Presario 8000 Series models, offers even more dramatic bass response for all Presario products. InterWave 32-Voice Wavetable A group of sampled sound waves used in MIDI. See wavetable synthesis and MIDI. (hardware, music) wavetable - A type of sound generator often built in a sound card. A wavetable contains digitised samples of real instrument sounds or effect (FX) sounds. Sound System The InterWave 32-Voice Wavetable Sound System is the top-of-the-line sound system technology which outperforms every 16-bit sound technology on the market. This advanced technology provides high-quality hardware-accelerated wavetable synthesis The technique used by MIDI for creating musical sounds by storing digitized samples of the actual instruments. It provides more realistic sound than the earlier FM synthesis method, which generates the sound waves entirely via electronic circuits. , with 32 voice capabilities and produces superior musical performance, sound effects sound effects Noun, pl sounds artificially produced to make a play, esp. a radio play, more realistic sound effects npl → efectos mpl sonoros and clarity that rival high-end home stereo equipment. The sound system is available on all Presario 8000 Series models. Presario 1000 Series Audio System The advanced audio system on the Presario 1000 Series consumer notebooks, overcome a common weakness of multimedia notebook computers -- sound quality. The Presario 1000 Series contains clear and powerful stereo sound because it was designed specifically with the notebook's unique industrial design and end-user requirements in mind. The complex acoustical design of the notebook's speaker enclosures incorporate a port for low frequency output. The ported speakers add a new dimension to portable sound by delivering outstanding bass and volume. Additionally, the shape of the speaker enclosures reduces the resonance, resulting in powerful, clear and undistorted Adj. 1. undistorted - without alteration or misrepresentation; "his judgment was undistorted by emotion" artless, ingenuous - characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious; "an ingenuous admission of responsibility" sound. At the heart of the Presario 1000 Series audio system is a unique acoustic transducer transducer, device that accepts an input of energy in one form and produces an output of energy in some other form, with a known, fixed relationship between the input and output. , co-designed by Compaq to make the speakers outperform those found on any other notebook computer available today. Further, a powerful amplifier delivers twice the sound output of competitive notebook computers, providing a CD-quality listening environment and clear-sounding speakerphone. Equalization In communications, techniques used to reduce distortion and compensate for signal loss (attenuation) over long distances. enables the speakers to be designed for maximum efficiency and reliability at critical frequencies. A four-stage equalizer, designed for the Presario 1000 Series takes into consideration the user's physical proximity in relation to the notebook in typical home and office environments, resulting in a listening experience that is very close to home hi-fi system standards. In addition, the microphone was custom-designed into the Presario 1000 Series multimedia notebook to receive the user's voice clearly, without blocking background noise. 3D Graphics Many new models of the Presario family offer accelerated 3D graphics, which add unprecedented realism to games, entertainment and educational software. For the first time, consumers can experience 3D graphics that equal or surpass game performance found in today's arcades and game consoles. Compaq offers two levels of exciting 3D graphics in its new Presario family. The first level is called GamePlay 3D Graphics, available on select Presario 4000 models. The second level is called PowerVR Arcade 3D Graphics, featured on all Presario 8000 Series models. PowerVR Arcade 3D Graphics PowerVR is the highest performance 3D accelerator available for the next generation in interactive entertainment. It runs up to four times faster than game consoles with the capability of processing up to a peak of 1 million large polygons per second, with full texturing, shading, and mip-mapping. The core 3D rendering algorithm is infinite surface based, which allows the system to efficiently cater for polygons, meshes, infinite planes and convex objects. PowerVR is a scaleable architecture for both arcade and PC products and enables consumers to enjoy real arcade-quality 3D graphics on their home PC with lifelike and vivid graphics, smooth animation and rich colors which dramatically improve the game-play and multimedia experience. The only 3D technology endorsed by both the leading arcade video game developers (Sega Entertainment, Inc. and Namco) and the leading PC game developers (such as Activision and Looking Glass Looking Glass - A desktop manager for Unix from Visix. ), the Presario 8000 Series will offer the most popular arcade quality games with the smoothest texturing and fastest play. (See separate release: Sega Entertainment and Compaq Bring the Ultimate in PC Arcade Entertainment to the Home). PowerVR was developed jointly by NEC (NEC Corporation, Tokyo, www.nec.com, www.necus.com) An electronics conglomerate known in the U.S. for its monitors. In Japan, it had the lion's share of the PC market until the late 1990s (see PC 98). NEC was founded in Tokyo in 1899 as Nippon Electric Company, Ltd. and VideoLogic and will support Microsoft's Direct 3D standard, allowing for compatibility with the latest 3D multimedia titles. The Presario 8000 Series features PowerVR and 6MB of total graphics memory for the ultimate in performance and realism. GamePlay 3D Graphics Several new Compaq Presario 4000 Series models feature a GamePlay 3D graphics accelerator A display adapter that performs a specialized set of graphics functions to render an image on screen. Today, all display adapters provide basic rendering functions in hardware, but many have graphics processing units (GPUs) that are sophisticated computers. based on the Virge chip from S3 Inc. GamePlay 3D graphics adds depth, smooth edges and a more lifelike texturing to all categories of software. GamePlay also has 2MB of video memory for faster 2D performance in all applications, and uses MIP Mapping A texture mapping technique that uses multiple texture maps, or MIP maps. Each MIP map is half the size of the first one, providing several texture maps for various levels of depth. MIP mapping is combined with various other techniques to produce different amounts of realism. and bi-linear/tri-linear filtering. Mobile Full Motion Video The Presario 1000 Series features NeoMagic's 128-bit graphics architecture which leapfrogs even the newest 64-bit notebook graphics performance, breaking the performance bottleneck between the graphics accelerator and its memory. New video acceleration capabilities take advantage of this performance to provide up to 30 frames per second, full- screen MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) An ISO/ITU standard for compressing digital video. Pronounced "em-peg," it is the universal standard for digital terrestrial, cable and satellite TV, DVDs and digital video recorders (DVRs). full-motion video. Videophone The new Presario family moves beyond traditional computing functions to become a total communications tool. With the new videophone capability (b), customers can experience full color motion video phone calls over standard phone lines. The overall image quality will vary with connect rate, compressibility of the audio and video, and processor/memory resources. A typical session will produce up to eight frames-per-second. The videophone technology utilizes Intel's ProShare technology and the H.324 protocol, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of systems. Compaq will also offer a Universal Serial Bus See USB. (hardware, standard) Universal Serial Bus - (USB) An external peripheral interface standard for communication between a computer and external peripherals over an inexpensive cable using biserial transmission. (USB USB in full Universal Serial Bus Type of serial bus that allows peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, digitizers, data gloves, etc.) to be easily connected to a computer. )-based plug and play camera ($199) later this year that enables most Presario models to send full color motion video. Easy Access Buttons Changing the home PC's ease-of-use paradigm, the Presario line includes an exclusive series of Easy Access Buttons on the front of the PC, giving users finger touch access to frequently used multimedia functions such as playing audio CDs, talking on the speakerphone, retrieving a message on the answering machine, and Smart Q button for immediate access to on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. help. Prior to these new Presario PCs, useful applications were buried beneath layers of software, making them inconvenient and time-consuming to activate. In addition to push button access, consumers can instantly see if they have voice or fax messages waiting via a message indicator light, providing a more robust and easy to use message system than a dedicated telephone answer machine. The new Presarios also include a sleep button which powers the machine down to a "whisper" quiet, energy saving sleep mode where the home PC can monitor incoming calls and faxes and be instantly available for any immediate computing need. This new sleep functionality transforms the home PC into an instantly interactive consumer electronic device. Along with this technology, Compaq becomes the first PC manufacturer to incorporate On-Screen Display (OSD (1) (On-Screen Display) An on-screen control panel for adjusting monitors and TVs. The OSD is used for contrast, brightness, horizontal and vertical positioning and other monitor adjustments. ) with Easy Access Buttons, providing immediate user feed-back at the push of a button. Upon pushing an OSD active button on the PC's bezel The front cover of a desktop or tower computer case. The term also refers to the individual drive bay covers, which are removed to install CD-ROMs and other removable drives that require access from the front of the case. , customers see a four second graphic display or status message on the monitor. 33.6 Kbps Talk and Send DSVD (Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data) An all-digital technology for concurrent voice and data (SVD) transmission over a single analog telephone line. The DSVD V. Modem All new Presario models include a 33.6 Kbps Talk and Send Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data (communications) Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data - (DSVD) A technique supported by some modems for multiplexing compressed speech with digital data for transmission over a normal telephone line. (DSVD) modem (c), the fastest modem currently supported over standard analog phone lines. All new Presario models support talk and send DSVD (simultaneous voice and data See SVD. ) that transmits voice and data over the same line. Using this technology, two game players -- one in Los Angeles, one in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of -- can play against each other and speak at the same time over a single phone line. Two Line Modems To meet the demands of many individuals who operate a home-based business and require two phone lines, a two-line Talk and Send DSVD Modem is available on Presario 6000 Series models. Using this feature, customers can continue to operate their business normally and receive faxes or access the Internet on the second phone line, regardless of whether they are already on a speakerphone call with the first line. Double-Bright TFT (Thin Film Transistor) The term typically refers to active matrix screens on laptop computers. Active matrix LCD provides a sharper screen display and broader viewing angle than does passive matrix. See LCD and thin film. TFT - Thin Film transistor Flat Panel Display A thin display screen for computer and TV usage. The first flat panels appeared on laptop computers in the mid-1980s, and the LCD technology became the standard. Stand-alone LCD screens became available for desktop computers in the mid-1990s and exceeded sales of CRTs for the first time The 12.1-inch Double Bright TFT (Thin Film Transformer) display is the first of a new breed of flat panels designed for desktop computers. The display from Compaq uses dual lamp lighting technology to provide double the brightness of typical flat-panel displays. Consumers gain exceptionally crisp and colorful images that surpass the quality of traditional computer monitors. In addition, the advanced flat-panel display provides an extremely wide viewing angle. Available with the Presario 3000 Series, this display is an integral part of the models' product design, allowing it to achieve its compact dimensions without compromising desktop performance or expandability. Presario Multimedia Monitors With the new Presario family, Compaq introduced three new multimedia monitors, including the Compaq Presario 1425 (14-inch, 12.9-inch viewable), 1525 (15-inch, 13.5-inch viewable), and 1725 (17-inch, 15.6-inch viewable). The new multimedia monitors are designed to complement the new designs of the Presario Series, with the same shapes and colors, making them attractive for anywhere in the home. All new monitors include a built-in microphone, optimized for the Presarios' full-duplex speakerphone. They also include a familiar, large-size volume knob and mute button that resemble the controls on today's home stereo systems. The digital volume knob links to all software providing a consistent volume level indicator. 4-Disc Autoload CD Changer Changer The name given to a clearing member that is willing to assume the opposite position of a futures contract within a larger alternative exchange, of which it also is a clearing member. The 4-Disk Autoload CD Changer takes CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). functionality to a new level, allowing customers to not only store additional titles inside the computer for easy access, but also switch effortlessly between multimedia titles, data discs, music and games at the touch of one of Compaq's Easy Access buttons. A unique software utility allows the CD changer to act as one logical drive. Consumers can therefore access any CD in any slot seamlessly. Scanner Keyboard As a feature technology in the Presario 6000 Series, the Scanner Keyboard provides an easy way to input paper documents and business cards into a PC, and has the ability to link with built-in software programs for instant faxing, editing and filing providing extra efficiency for home office users. With the Scanner Keyboard, users can maximize the use of their PCs by integrating other computer features for hard-copy faxing, document management, convenient copies and high-resolution black and white image scanning. The Scanner Keyboard includes PaperPort software, from Visioneer Communications, Inc. Gamepad Compaq is offering two styles of gamepads on select models of the new Presario 4000 and 8000 Series home PCs. The standard game pad is designed for first-time users and moderate game enthusiasts who simply want to add more fun to playing games. The ThrustMaster Advanced Gamepad, available on select Presario 8000 models, is an innovative fully featured, fully programmable game input device, with a number of unique breakthroughs that put full control of the game into the user's hands. It features an eight-way directional pad, six buttons, two triggers and a full throttle wheel. Remote Control To make the Presario easier to use, the Presario 4400 Series includes a remote control, which gives users convenient control from across the room to frequently used multimedia applications such as: playing compact discs, operating the answering machine and adjusting volume. Cordless Mouse The Compaq Presario 3000 Series comes standard with a cordless radio frequency controlled mouse with three user-programmable buttons, providing customers with the ultimate in freedom and flexibility. Each Cordless RF Mouse comes with its own Mouse House for convenient storage. 2-Line Surge Protector Compaq has taken steps to ensure that buyers of the new Presario 6000 Home Office Series will have their investment protected, with a reliable and highly rated 330-volt surge protector strip (6 power lines and two phone lines). The 2-Line Surge Protector uniquely protects against surges from electrical power lines as well as both phone lines. International Availability The Compaq Presario family, introduced in North America and Latin America today, will be launched within Compaq's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Refers to that region of the world. For example, one might see products packaged differently for the UK, EMEA and Asia Pacific markets. ), Asia Pacific and Japan regions later this year. The product models and features for all regions and countries may differ. Company Background Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune 100 company and the world's largest supplier of personal computers, delivers useful innovation through products that network people with information. Compaq is strategically organized to meet the current and future needs of its customers, offering enterprise computing solutions, networking products, commercial PC products and consumer PCs. In 1995, the company reported worldwide sales of $14.9 billion. The company is an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs and business practices. Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products can be found at http://www.compaq.com or by calling 1-800-OK-COMPAQ. Product information and reseller locations can be obtained by calling 1-800-345-1518. -0- (a) All prices listed herein are estimated US retail prices; actual prices may vary; monitor not included unless otherwise noted. (b) Free videophone-receive software offer available late 1996. (c) Free DSVD software upgrade to add DSVD functionality available late 1996. Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Innovate Forum is a service mark of Compaq. -0- VNR VNR Video News Release VNR Van Nostrand Reinhold (publishing company) VNR Video Noise Reduction VNR Veranstaltungsnummer VNR VFR Flight Not Recommended VNR Video News Reel VNR Very Nice Roll VNR Variable Navigation Ratio Coordinates Date: Monday 07/15/96 Time: 2:30 p.m. Satellite Name: Galaxy C4 Transponder: 1H ch11 Audio: 6.2 & 6.8 Downlink Freq: 3920 Mhz CONTACT: Compaq Computer Corporation Brian Temple, Mike Berman 713-514-0484 or Miller/Shandwick Technologies Wendy DeFeduis, Matt Lloyd 617-536-0470 |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion