Capping one of its biggest product transformations in more than a decade, Compaq Computer today introduced the newest members of the Armada notebook PC family: the Armada E500 Series, the all-in-one price/performance leader of the commercial notebook line, and the Armada V300 Series, the best value notebook for the budget-conscious user.
The company also announced the addition of the new Intel Mobile Pentium III processor to its Armada E700, Armada M700 and Armada E500 product series, giving Compaq the broadest Mobile Pentium III product line in the industry.
The Compaq Armada family now comprises five categories of portable computers, ranging from the thin-and-light, ultra portable Armada M300 to the top-of-the-line Armada E700 portable workstation. Compaq customers can now reap the benefits of full compatibility of options and peripherals throughout the Armada line, and can use three types of common docking solutions at the desktop with almost any member of the new Armada family.
Compaq`s ability to provide customers with across-the-board compatibility of parts, options and docking solutions is unprecedented in the portable computing industry, giving Compaq customers the advantage of not only a lower total cost of ownership, but the highest total benefit of ownership.
"With the redesign of our Armada line, Compaq continues to offer customers the benefits of productivity anytime, anywhere. The Armada line has never been stronger, and our dedication to simplify the complexity of enterprise computing, is more evident today, than ever before," said Sean Regenass, Portables Product Manager, Compaq Computer. "While we have completely redesigned our entire commercial notebook line, we have preserved the stability and consistency of the Armada brand, putting Compaq in an excellent position to break new records in performance and customer satisfaction."
New Products Complete the Armada Picture
Sporting a new, streamlined industrial design, both the Armada E500 and Armada V300 weigh in at less than 2.8kg, offer three-spindle support, incorporate a standard Armada MultiBay for the ultimate in configuration flexibility.
The Armada E500 ushers in the next generation of the Armada 1750, and is designed for convenience-oriented business customers who require mainstream core technology in a high quality notebook, at the best price. The Armada V300 is the new class of the Armada 1500c, ideal for medium sized businesses and education users. Offering integrated features in a solidly designed product, the Armada V300 is the best value notebook for the budget-conscious customer.
The Armada E500: The All-In-One Notebook of Choice
The Armada E500 Series provides the latest processor performance and core technology in a high quality, all-in-one design for "workhorse" business needs. The top-of-the-line model includes a 450MHz Intel Mobile Pentium III processor, while other models include industry standard Intel Mobile Pentium II processors at 400 and 366MHz; brilliant 12.1-inch and 14.1-inch TFT (thin film transistor) displays; 64 megabytes (MB) Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) standard, expandable to 512MB; up to a 12 gigabyte (GB) SMART user-removable hard drive; 2X AGP graphics and a 9-cell Lithium Ion (LiIon) primary battery, achieving 3 1/2 -hours of continuous use.
A TV-out port is included for easy connection to external video sources including DVD playback, and a common MultiBay provides the ultimate in flexibility and configurability.
The E500 also provides a Dual-Bay that accepts a weight-saver device, a floppy disk drive or a second 9-cell Li-Ion battery to provide more than nine hours of battery life with the full 3-battery configuration support.
This extended battery life allows users to remain productive for more than a full workday, even when they don`t have access to a power outlet.
Durability features include a mylar lining under the keyboard for greater protection from spills, plus a shock-mounted hard drive enclosure for added hard drive stability.
The E500 is fully compatible with all three new Armada docking solutions announced in July. These include the ArmadaStation EM, offering demanding customers full desktop functionality; the Armada Convenience Base EM, which targets users who prefer port replication and simple network connectivity; and the Armada Port Replicator EM, which takes care of simple cable management back at the desk.
Prices start at R20 956 for a model with an Intel Mobile Pentium II processor at 366MHz, a 12.1-inch TFT display and a 4.3GB hard drive.
The Armada V300: Unprecedented Value and Ease of Use
For a value-based notebook, the V300 includes outstanding features not found anywhere else in the industry at these prices. Standard models ship with an Intel Mobile Celeron processor at 466 or 400MHz; a 12.1-inch TFT display or 14.1-inch TFT display; 64MB memory standard, expandable to 512MB; a 4.3GB SMART hard drive; a diskette driveand a TV-out port for connection to external video sources including DVD playback. The common Armada MultiBay comes standard with optional battery, 24X CD-ROM drive, but an optional SuperDisk LS-120, battery, hard disk drive or 4X DVD-ROM drive may be added.
This new notebook offers simple port replication only. A 6- or 9-cell Lithium Ion battery is included. Prices on the Armada V300 start at R16 512, setting new standards for proven technology at incredible values.
New Intel Mobile Pentium III Models Offer Wide Range of Choices Compaq today unveiled three Armada products offering Intel Mobile Pentium III processors, the fastest processors available for notebook PCs. The Armada E700, M700 and E500 offer Mobile Pentium III processor technology, giving Compaq the broadest line of Pentium III-equipped notebook products in the industry. These products have all been tested and optimised for the new processors, and provide workstation-class performance at breakthrough prices.
"The combination of Compaq`s new Armada designs and Intel`s new mobile Pentium III processors means that customers will find a broad range of powerful solutions to choose from," said Robert Jecmen, Vice President and General Manager, Intel`s Mobile and Handheld Products Group, Intel Corporation. "The integration of Mobile Pentium III processors to the Armada E700, M700 and E500 products means that Compaq Armada customers can enjoy great performance without sacrificing mobility."
The Armada E700, Compaq`s powerhouse notebook for enterprise customers, leads the pack with a new ultra high performance model incorporating an Intel Mobile Pentium III processor at 500MHz, a stunning 15-inch TFT XGA display, an 18GB SMART hard drive, 128MB SDRAM, a 4X DVD-ROM drive and a 1.44MB diskette drive.
The high performance, high mobility Armada M700 product series also gained several new Mobile Pentium III models today. At 4.6 pounds and 1.1-inches thin, this svelte new product series is quickly becoming the best-selling product in the new generation of Armada notebooks.
New Mobile Pentium III models include one with a 500MHz processor, and one with a 450MHz processor, both with 14.1-inch TFT displays, 12GB and 6.4GB SMART hard drives, and a 24X CD-ROM.The Armada M700 Series includes an 8-cell Li-Ion battery standard. Finally, a new model of the just-released Armada E500 includes the Mobile Pentium III processor 450MHz. For just R31 677, Compaq offers one of the most affordable, fully configured Mobile Pentium III notebooks on the market.
Choice of Operating Systems
Starting today, Compaq now offers a choice of Windows 95 or Windows 98 through a dual-installation on all new Armada models (with the exception of the Armada M300). The first time the computer is turned on, the customer is prompted to select his or her preferred operating system and it will automatically install itself, while the unused OS is deleted from the computer. Alternatively, a model with Windows NT 4.0 pre-installed is available for NT customers. Every Armada notebook has been certified by NSTL to be Year 2000 Ready, and every Armada model is ready to run Windows 2000 Professional Edition when it is announced by Microsoft.
New PC SmartCard Option
For greater system security, Compaq today announced a new Smart Card Reader option for portable customers. Smart Cards are available from a variety of manufacturers and service providers, and offer a higher level of security for e-commerce, e-mail, web access and virtual private networking.
The Compaq PC Card Smart Card Reader option kit includes a sample Smart Card designed to store a digital certificate. This enables customers to securely identify themselves when communicating over the Internet or other network. With a Smart Card and a personal digital certificate, a customer can digitally sign electronic mail and access secure web sites that use digital certificates to authenticate users. The Smart Card and personal digital certificate can be used to sign e-mail or access secure web sites with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0, Microsoft Outlook 98, or Netscape Communicator 4.04. The PC Card Smart Card Option Kit sells for R1852.
PC Lifecycle Solutions
Compaq`s PC Lifecycle Solutions integrate award-winning Armada products with industry leading services, tools and solutions that address the complete lifecycle of PC ownership - planning, deployment, management and transition - resulting in overall lower TCO. This program makes it easier for customers to select and incorporate the right mobile technologies for their business needs, augmented by tools and services to make managing the remote and mobile PC environment easy and cost effective.
Core components of PC Lifecycle Solutions are Compaq`s Change Management Program, PC Certification Testing, and PC Custom Configuration Services. Available for all Armada products, these services help reduce the anxiety and costs associated with planning, deploying and managing new mobile PC technologies world wide.
Compaq`s Change Management program recently gained several new features, including longer product lifecycles on world wide Armada models - up to 12 months - as well as enhancements to its industry-leading Change Notification web-based program.
More than 1,700 customers currently use Compaq`s Change Notification program, through which they receive proactive updates regarding key technology changes to help them better manage and integrate change into their IT environment. Examples of this program include up to 60-day advance email notification of potential production changes to the Armada line, plus visibility to future mobile technology roadmaps.
Compaq`s PC Certification Testing and PC Custom Configuration Services help customers introduce new mobile technologies into their global IT environment faster and with minimal risk. Through these services, Compaq can help customers develop and test their corporate software images on new Compaq Armada hardware for a cost-effective deployment method that keeps project rollouts on time and within budget.
Integrated World Wide Service and Support
Compaq Armada notebook products are backed by a world wide service organisation with 550 locations in 114 countries. Compaq Services offers unmatched Windows NT and Microsoft Exchange expertise, global account capabilities online, innovative service packages and service franchises, and Compaq Active Answers.
The Compaq Armada E500 and V300 Series come standard with a one-year world wide warranty. Warranty extensions and upgrade options are available through Compaq`s CAREPAQ service offers. CAREPAQ service offers are convenient, packaged service options available for purchase like any other option.
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