HP Continues Its Largest Consumer Product Rollover with Introduction of Eight New Digital Imaging Products

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 29, 2002-- HP (NYSE:HPQ - News) today announced new digital imaging offerings which produce prints that surpass both the photo quality and fade resistance -- up to 73 years, more than twice as long as most traditional prints -- of traditionally processed photographs. The introduction of these eight products, including four photo printers, photo paper and three digital cameras, continues HP's largest consumer product rollout in company history.

"This introduction marks a milestone in HP's efforts to make it radically simple for consumers to capture and share photos," said Mary Peery, senior vice president, HP Digital Imaging and Publishing. "These new products are a direct result of the investment HP has made in its $20 billion imaging and printing business to make it easy for everyday people to enjoy the convenience of printing photos at home."

The HP Photosmart 7550, 7350 and 7150 photo printers feature new, industry-leading print technology that, when used in conjunction with HP's enhanced Premium Plus Photo papers, gives consumers prints that exceed both the photo quality and image permanence of traditionally processed photographs.(1) In fact, a recent study conducted by SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory, a premier consulting firm specializing in digital imaging technology, showed more consumers prefer HP-printed digital images to traditionally processed photos.(2)

"When presented with prints of five different photos, U.S. consumer respondents preferred HP prints more than other inkjet and silver halide prints," said David Spencer, president, SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory. "Most participants did not realize inkjet printers are capable of producing true-to-life photographs. The test proved to be a real eye-opener."

The HP Photosmart 130 photo printer also joins HP's line of photo printers, offering consumers a compact, on-the-go solution for producing photo-quality, 4 x 6-inch prints from virtually anywhere. It features CompactFlash, Secure Digital, SmartMedia, MultiMedia and Sony Memory Stick memory card slots and offers impressive, borderless prints with up to 4,800-optimized dots per inch (dpi).(3)

In addition, HP introduced the HP Photosmart 720, 620 and 320 digital cameras, featuring the exclusive HP Instant Share technology, which enables users to easily choose where photos will be sent or printed.

"Digital cameras have become so popular among Internet-connected consumers because they enable users to view and share their photos instantly," said Michelle Slaughter, research analyst, InfoTrends. "HP's Instant Share feature increases users' ability to take immediate action with the digital photos, enhancing one of the most desirable attributes of digital photography."

HP Photo Printers, Papers and Inks Deliver Quality and Ease of Use

The HP Photosmart 7550, 7350 and 7150 photo printers offer HP's best photo quality with up to 4,800-optimized dpi or up to six- and seven-ink(4) color printing, producing vivid colors and realistic skin tones. Photos printed using the HP 57 Tri-color inkjet print cartridge and the new HP 58 Photo cartridge resist fading for up to 73 years when printed on HP Premium Plus Photo papers -- lasting more than twice as long as most traditional prints.

The HP Photosmart 7550 photo printer allows users to preview, edit and enhance photos using its LCD screen and front-panel buttons. Additionally, the HP Photosmart 7550 and 7350 photo printers offer users the ability to print borderless 4 x 6-inch prints and feature slots that accommodate CompactFlash, Secure Digital, SmartMedia, MultiMedia and Sony Memory Stick memory cards for computer-free printing.

The three printers also feature front USB ports, giving HP Photosmart digital camera owners another way to print photos without using a computer.

The new HP Premium Plus Photo papers, developed for use with HP's new photo inks and new generation of inkjet printers, give consumers the ability to print professional-quality photos that surpass the quality of traditionally processed photographs. The 10-mil thickness, high-gloss coating, vivid colors, realistic skin tones and glossy blacks give the prints a professional photo-finish look and feel.

HP Digital Cameras Feature Exclusive Photo-sharing Technology

With a variety of resolution choices from 2.1-megapixels to 3.3-megapixels, the HP Photosmart 720, 620 and 320 digital cameras capture all the detail for brilliant results and record motion to capture the memories as they happen. Additionally, HP Photosmart 720 digital camera users also will be able to capture sound along with motion.

All three digital cameras feature HP Instant Share technology and are compatible with the optional HP Photosmart 8881 digital camera dock, which allows users to easily connect to a computer, TV or printer while recharging batteries.

HP Instant Share technology is an Internet-based software application that allows for quick and easy sharing of digital photos with friends and family. From the back of the camera, users can select up to 14 destinations for any photo; then, by connecting the camera to a computer, the photos are instantly sent to the selected destinations -- e-mail addresses, printers or hpphoto.com.

If the destination is an e-mail address, a low-resolution thumbnail image is sent along with access to the original high-resolution image. If the destination is a printer, then a high-resolution image is automatically sent to it. The original high-resolution images are stored on HP servers for up to 60 days; each user is allocated 200 MB of storage for this period. If the recipient forwards the photo to a friend, the 60-day clock is reset.

Availability and Pricing

The HP Photosmart 7550, 7350, 7150 and 130 photo printers are now shipping. The HP Photosmart 720, 620, 320 digital cameras are expected to begin shipping this fall. All products will be available at hpshopping.com and retail outlets nationwide.

Estimated U.S. street prices(5) are as follows:


HP Photosmart 130 photo printer $179
HP Photosmart 7150 photo printer $179
HP Photosmart 7350 photo printer $249
HP Photosmart 7550 photo printer $399
HP Photosmart 320 digital camera $179
HP Photosmart 620 digital camera $229
HP Photosmart 720 digital camera $329

The new HP Premium Plus Photo paper, Glossy (8.5 x 11-inch), is currently available at hpshopping.com and at retail outlets nationwide. It sells for an estimated U.S. street price of $17.99 for a 20-sheet package. The HP Premium Plus Photo paper, Matte (8.5 x 11-inch), is expected to begin shipping to retail outlets in August and sell for an estimated U.S. street price of $17.99 for a 20-sheet package. HP Premium Plus Photo paper, Glossy (4 x 6-inch), is expected to begin shipping to retail outlets in October and sell for an estimated U.S. street price of $9.99 for a 20-sheet package.

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. The company would have had combined revenue on a pro forma basis with the Compaq transaction of approximately $81.1 billion in fiscal 2001 and has operations in more than 160 countries. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) A leading independent laboratory for evaluating image stability, Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. (http://www.wilhelm-research.com) tested the new HP Premium Plus Photo Paper using standard methods for accelerating and predicting light-induced print fading. Wilhelm Imaging Research found that when prints are displayed framed under glass, the new HP Premium Plus Photo Paper used in combination with the HP 57 Tri-color inkjet print cartridge and HP 58 photo cartridge can be displayed for up to 73 years before noticeable fading will occur. The tests predict that prints displayed without glass protection can be displayed for up to 49 years before noticeable fading will occur. In instances where prints are displayed unframed and are exposed to the open atmosphere (for example, prints attached to refrigerator doors with magnets or tacked to office walls), Wilhelm stated that the swellable-polymer coating technology used with HP Premium Plus Photo Paper has demonstrated a high resistance to the effects of ozone and other airborne pollutants.
The display life predictions were derived from accelerated glass-filtered and bare-bulb fluorescent light fading tests conducted at 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 percent relative humidity, based on a standard indoor display condition of 450 lux for 12 hours per day. The spectral power distribution of the fluorescent lamps used in these tests meets the requirements set forth in ANSI Standard IT9.9 and ISO Standard 18909. Due to variability in illumination conditions in homes and offices, Wilhelm notes that images will last longer when displayed under lower light levels. Likewise, display life will be shortened when displayed under illumination that is more intense than 450 lux.

(2) Photos printed on HP inkjet printers with HP photo paper were preferred by consumers over traditional silver halide photos in a research study conducted by SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory in 2002. Both the inkjet and silver halide photos used in the study were created from the same digital files.
(3) Up to 4,800 x 1200 optimized dpi color printing on premium photo papers with 1,200 x 1,200-input dpi.
(4) Seven-ink printing is available on the HP Photosmart 7550 photo printer only.
(5) Actual prices may vary.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products and services may not develop as expected; that development of these products and services may not proceed as planned; and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to HP's annual report on Form 10-K, as amended on January 30, 2002, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001, HP's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2002 (as filed with the SEC on March 12, 2002) and subsequently filed reports. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, HP's results could differ materially from HP's expectations in these statements. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.