New Scanners, Digital Camera and Photo Printer Make It Easy for Consumers to Digitally Capture, Share and Print

HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced two new scanners, an 8x optical zoom digital camera and a compact photo printer that provide simple and innovative ways to capture, print, share and receive digital images. Among the new products is the industry's first scanner to feature an automatic photo feeder, which allows consumers to quickly and easily digitize traditional photos by scanning a stack of 4 x 6-inch or 3 x 5-inch photos.

Bringing electronic organization to shoeboxes full of photos, the HP Scanjet 5500c scanner allows users to scan a stack of up to 24 photos, the same number of photos in a typical roll of film, by simply placing them in the feeder and pressing a single button. Users also can view scanned images in about seven seconds(1) -- no warm-up time required.

Three other products join HP's line of digital imaging products, including the HP Scanjet 4570c scanner; the HP Photosmart 230 photo printer -- featuring a convenient LCD screen for previewing and editing photos prior to printing; and the HP Photosmart 850 digital camera with manual controls and HP Instant Share technology.

"In June of this year, HP unveiled its $1.2 billion investment to reset the printing and imaging market. Today's announcement illustrates the ongoing results of that investment and sets the stage for products that are yet to come," said Jeff Hopper, vice president of marketing, HP Digital Imaging Organization. "With innovations like the automatic photo feeder on our scanner, an LCD screen on our compact photo printer and innovative manual controls on our digital cameras, HP is offering simple and convenient features that make it easy to capture, share and print."

"We have found that 89 percent of scanner owners scan photos and 47 percent of Internet households print digital photos at home," said Kerry Flatley, research analyst, InfoTrends Research Group. "HP's solutions are designed to help simplify the scanning and photo printing process at a time when digital imaging is playing a more significant role in consumers' lives."

HP Scanjet 5500c and 4570c Scanners

The HP Scanjet 5500c and 4570c scanners have seven, one-touch buttons for convenient access to features such as a share-to-Web option, HP Memories Disc Creator software for creating photo CDs to be viewed on a PC or DVD player, copy center functions and e-mailing. Consumers can get professional-quality scans with up to 2,400 dots-per-inch (dpi) and 48-bit color for printing, e-mailing and posting on the Web.

To convert from traditional film to digital format and for easy archiving, a lighted adapter is included with each scanner, which allows consumers to scan 35 mm negatives and slides. The automatic photo feeder is included with the HP Scanjet 5500c scanner and is optional for the HP Scanjet 4570c scanner.

HP Photosmart 230 Photo Printer

The compact HP Photosmart 230 photo printer produces borderless, 4 x 6-inch prints. The printer provides professional-looking output with crisp detail and vibrant colors on HP premium photo papers, featuring up to 4,800-optimized dpi.(2)

In addition, the printer lets users preview and edit photos prior to printing with a 1.8-inch color LCD screen. Users can print directly from the digital camera -- no computer is needed -- via the printer's memory card slots, which support Compact Flash, Memory Stick, MultiMedia, Secure Digital and SmartMedia.

The HP Photosmart 230 photo printer follows the recent introduction of the company's new line of photo printers, including the HP Photosmart 7550, 7350, 7150 and 130 models.

HP Photosmart 850 Digital Camera

The HP Photosmart 850 digital camera offers customers the choice between using automatic or manual controls for freedom to select camera settings for ISO, exposure, white balance and aperture. The digital camera produces outstanding close-ups and brilliant photos, featuring 4.1-megapixel total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x optical, 7x digital). The electronic viewfinder enables consumers to enhance the framing of photos through the lens viewing.

The digital camera also features HP Instant Share technology, which allows users to snap a photo and then select on the camera where the photo will go the next time the camera is connected to a computer or optional HP Photosmart 8881 digital camera dock.

All of the new products introduced today include HP photo and imaging software, which allows users to conveniently and easily edit, create and print photos, including photo album pages.

Price and Availability

The HP Scanjet 5500c scanner, HP Scanjet 4570c scanner, HP Photosmart 230 photo printer and HP Photosmart 850 digital camera are expected to begin shipping in early October. All products will be available at hpshopping.com and retail outlets nationwide.

Estimated U.S. street prices(3) are as follows:

HP Scanjet 5500c scanner (includes photo feeder) $299
HP Scanjet 4570c scanner $199
HP Scanjet automatic photo feeder (optional for HP Scanjet 4570c) $199
HP Photosmart 230 photo printer $249
HP Photosmart 850 digital camera $499
HP Photosmart 8881 digital camera dock $79.99

About HP

HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its merger transaction involving Compaq Computer Corp. on May 3, 2002. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) Preview time is based on using a 1.7 GHz PC with 256 MB RAM.

(2) 4,800x1,200-optimized dpi color printing on premium photo papers when printing from a computer and 1,200 x 1,200-input dpi.

(3)Actual prices may vary.