HP Makes Its World-Leading Scanners Integral Part of Electronic Desktop; New Scanner Family -- Ranging from Personal to Networked Workgroup -- Enables Users to Share and Distribute Paper Information Electronically.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 1995--As part of its strategy to make its world-leading scanners an integral part of the electronic desktop, Hewlett-Packard Company today introduced scanners that let business users create, distribute, share, file and store paper-based documents electronically. HP scanners previously were used primarily for creating documents.

The new ScanJet 4 scanner family includes the HP ScanJet 4s personal desktop scanner and the HP ScanJet 4Si network scanner for Novell networked workgroups, which are both grayscale scanners, and the HP ScanJet 4c color scanner for high-quality images.

The new scanners now include Visioneer PaperPort 3.0 paper-management software for key office tasks. PaperPort 3.0 enables HP ScanJet users to organize, file, fax, edit and copy documents with a familiar user interface; launches more than 75 applications with point-and-click ease using PaperPort links; and provides an integrated optical character recognition (OCR) application through Caere OmniPage Lite.

"The HP ScanJet 4 scanner family removes the barrier between paper information and the computer," said Doug McCord, general manager of HP's Greeley (Colo.) Hardcopy Division. "Our users need to be able to share critical, paper-based information quickly and easily throughout and beyond their offices. We're bringing a network scanner and a desktop personal scanner to the new ScanJet 4 product line to meet those needs. And, by adding Visioneer PaperPort software to the ScanJet 4 family, we're helping users bridge the gap between traditional document-creation tasks and the document sharing and filing they also want to do. Now, our users can easily distribute documents electronically as well as continue to create powerful, persuasive documents."

All three scanners will work on the Windows 95 platform.

HP has teamed with Visioneer Inc. to adapt easy-to-use Visioneer PaperPort 3.0 software to the ScanJet 4c and the ScanJet 4Si scanners. In addition, HP will source the ScanJet 4s scanner from Visioneer Inc., with PaperPort software modifications and slight cosmetic changes from the PaperPort 2.0 sheetfed scanner Visioneer sells under its own name.

THE SCANJET 4s PERSONAL DESKTOP SCANNER

For users who require a small scanner at their desktops for quick electronic sharing and filing of paper, HP introduced the ScanJet 4s personal desktop scanner. HP's first sheetfed scanner, the ScanJet 4s scanner comes with PaperPort 3.0 software to extend the versatility of the user's desktop computer by removing the barrier between paper documents and the computer. The ScanJet 4s scanner is expected to sell for around $349 U.S. ($429 U.S. list).

The ScanJet 4s personal scanner is a convenient way for people to share paper documents rapidly by distributing them via e-mail and PC fax or filing documents electronically. A user can insert a memo, receipt, magazine article, business card or other paper into the feeder, and the scanned document instantly appears on the user's PC screen.

The compact HP ScanJet 4s scanner fits easily on a desk between most computers and monitors, and measures just 3.75 inches high, 12.5 inches wide and 2.75 inches deep. It gives users quick access to scanning by automatically activating when paper is inserted; its Auto-Launch software can easily move documents into more than 75 different applications, including PC fax, e-mail and word processors, with a single mouse click. The ScanJet 4s scanner can scan documents ranging in size from business cards to 8.5 inches wide by 30 inches in length.

The 4-bit grayscale ScanJet 4s scanner provides users with 400-dpi-enhanced and 200-dpi-optical scanning resolution. It scans a typical page in less than 10 seconds and can be installed quickly and easily by connecting it directly to the serial port of an IBM-compatible PC or a Macintosh computer.

The ScanJet 4s scanner comes with Visioneer PaperPort software, which provides automated links to more than 75 applications, including e-mail and PC fax solutions, document storage and retrieval, copy capability and integrated Caere OCR.

THE SCANJET 4Si NETWORK SCANNER

The industry's first true network scanner with direct hardware LAN connectivity and full Novell certification, the ScanJet 4Si scanner ($2,999 U.S. list, Ethernet; $3,199 U.S. list, Token Ring) allows business users on a Novell NetWare 3.1x and above network to capture and electronically distribute, share or file paper-based documents easily. The ScanJet 4Si scanner makes it easy for workgroup members to distribute and share documents via existing e-mail, groupware and PC fax software.

THE SHARED SCANNING PROCESS

With the ScanJet 4Si scanner, a user goes to the scanner, inserts a document or stack of documents into the 50-page automatic document feeder (ADF) and presses the MENU button on the control panel. The user then selects a user name from the workgroup on the front-panel display and presses the GO button, and the ScanJet 4Si scans the document and sends it directly to the recipient's PC.

The PaperPort software display on the user's PC shows a thumbnail sketch of the scanned document(s) on the user's desktop. Using an easy drag-and-drop method, the user simply drops the image(s) onto any popular application software, such as e-mail, groupware, PC fax or word processing. For example, a team member may scan a chart and send it by e-mail to a colleague. The recipient may drop the document image onto the e-mail icon and distribute it to one or several colleagues via Lotus(R) cc:Mail, Microsoft(R) Mail and other packages. An administrator working on financial reports may scan in text material and drop it into a word processor, such as WordPerfect or Microsoft Word, by dragging and dropping the document onto the word processing icon. At that point, Caere's integrated optical character recognition (OCR) software, OmniPage Lite, automatically processes the scanned pages and converts them to editable text.

The ScanJet 4Si scanner is a 15-pages-per-minute, 300-dots-per-inch (dpi) flatbed scanner with an integrated ADF. The ScanJet 4Si scanner connects directly to Ethernet or Token Ring local area networks with Novell NetWare 3.1x and/or 4.x servers and MS-Windows clients, providing a completely integrated LAN solution and eliminating the need for a scanner-dedicated PC. Use of CCITT Group 4 compression and buffering with the internal hard drive minimizes the effect on network bandwidth. A 15-page document can be scanned at 300 dpi and displayed on a user's desktop in approximately 90 seconds.

The ScanJet 4Si scanner ships with Visioneer PaperPort software (with integrated Caere OCR software) with a 20-seat user license and network administrative software for full device management and control.

THE SCANJET 4c HIGH-PERFORMANCE COLOR SCANNER

The ScanJet 4c scanner is a high-quality desktop color/grayscale scanner that offers HP's highest scanner resolution -- 2,400-dpi enhanced and 600-dpi optical. The ScanJet 4c color and grayscale scanner is expected to sell for approximately $995 U.S. ($1,179 U.S. list); it replaces the ScanJet 3c color scanner. Like the other scanners in the ScanJet 4 family, the ScanJet 4c comes with Visioneer PaperPort 3.0 software, which enables ScanJet users to manage paper-based information electronically.

The ScanJet 4c scanner enables business professionals to scan high-quality images and accurate text into their applications and distribute and share paper-based information electronically. The scanner's 600-dpi optical resolution and 30-bit color internal capabilities deliver crisp line art, highly accurate text and superior color image quality while increasing control over original-image quality when scanning and enlarging images. This increased capability helps users obtain larger versions of scanned images such as photos, corporate logos or 35mm slides.

The ScanJet 4c scanner ships with complete image- and text-scanning software, including DeskScan II image-scanning software; Corel PHOTO-PAINT 5 for the PC or Adobe PhotoShop(tm) LE for the Macintosh image-editing software, and Caere OmniPage Limited Edition OCR software. In addition, the PaperPort software makes it easy for users to distribute their documents to colleagues.

Options available for the ScanJet 4c scanner include a 50-page ADF, expected to sell for approximately $499 U.S. ($559 U.S. list), and a transparency adapter that permits scanning of transparent media, such as 35mm slides and 4-inch by 5-inch transparencies, expected to sell for approximately $699 U.S. ($759 U.S. list).

U.S. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

All members of the ScanJet 4 family of scanners are available now.

The ScanJet 4Si network scanner ($2,999 U.S. list for Ethernet; $3,199 U.S. list for Token Ring) can be used with Novell networks, either Ethernet or Token Ring, and with IBM-compatible servers and Microsoft Windows-based clients. Network-management software and a license for up to 20 users are included.

The ScanJet 4s scanner, expected to sell for around $349 U.S. ($429 U.S. list) can be used with IBM-compatible PCs on Windows and Apple Macintosh.

The ScanJet 4c scanner (approximately $995 U.S.) can be used with IBM-compatible PCs, MicroChannel architectures or Apple Macintosh computers. The optional ADF (around $499 U.S.) and the optional transparency adapter (around $699 U.S.) are expected to be available Nov. 1.

SERVICE AND SUPPORT

ScanJet scanners come with a limited, one-year warranty that includes HP Express Exchange Service. Express Exchange provides next-day delivery of replacement scanners in the United States. Unit replacement in three to five days is available worldwide outside the United States. Users also may purchase the HP SupportPack, a plan that extends HP Express Exchange Service for an additional two-year period on the ScanJet 4c and the ScanJet 4s scanners. ScanJet 4Si scanner customers may choose this SupportPack option or another that provides on-site service for up to three years.

Users will receive technical support at no charge for one year from HP's customer support center, [phone]. Additionally, 24-hour automated support is available to all HP ScanJet scanner owners at 1-800-333-1917 via HP FIRST, an extensive faxback service with detailed product and support information, and Audio Tips, recorded information on commonly asked scanner questions.

HP is the world's leading supplier of hardcopy products that set the standard for technology, performance and reliability. HP LaserJet and DeskJet printers are the world's best-selling printers that range from high-speed network devices for workgroups to inexpensive desktop products for the home. HP has sold more than 30 million printers worldwide since 1984. Other market-leading HP products include DesignJet large-format printers and plotters, ScanJet scanners, OfficeJet printer-fax-copier devices and HP FAX facsimile machines.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 99,900 employees and had revenue of $25 billion in its 1994 fiscal year. -0- Note to Editors: Lotus is a U.S. registered trademark of Lotus Development Corp. Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Windows is a U.S. trademark of Microsoft Corp. Adobe and Adobe Photoshop are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated, which may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

Sales information may be obtained by calling 1-800-SCANJET (722-6538) or [phone]. Please do NOT use editor-contact or corporate telephone numbers for sales information. Information in this release applies specifically to products available in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary in non-U.S. markets.

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