HP UK Press Release 16/11/04

HP Introduces Two Top of the Range New Photosmart All-in-Ones for Best-in-Class Printing
 
HP Photosmart 2710 and HP Photosmart 2610 All-in-Ones offer a stylish answer to print, fax, scan and copy demands

LONDON, UK, 16 November, 2004. HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) announced the launch of two new All-in-Ones, the HP Photosmart 2710 and HP Photosmart 2610. Designed for creative home or home office users, these two All-in-Ones offer a range of high quality print, flatbed fax, scan and copy functions in a compact and sophisticated device.

Both new models offer users integrated home networking with easy set up, enabling fast, multi-user printing, scanning and sharing of photos. The HP Photosmart 2610 and HP Photosmart 2710 All-in-Ones connect to the network using the quick, reliable, built-in 802.3 Ethernet. Additionally, the HP Photosmart 2710 All-in-One connects simply by using the embedded wireless1 (802.11g) LAN technology for secure, wireless sharing.

The HP Photosmart 2710 and HP Photosmart 2610 enable users to preview, select, edit and print their photos directly from a digital camera without having to connect to a computer. This can be achieved by using the built-in memory card slot2 or by connecting a PictBridge-enabled digital camera to the All-in-One via the front USB port. By using the memory card slots on these All-in-Ones, users can preview images on the 8.8 cm colour LCD screen on the HP PSC 2710 or the 6.4cm colour LCD screen on the HP Photosmart 2610, and crop, zoom, edit or rotate photos.

HP?s unique Photo Proof Sheet allows users to choose their perfect shot from thumbnail images, saving time and money. Both models boast full borderless printing including 10 x 15 cm, 10 x 30 cm panorama size3, A4 and double A4 (210 x 594 mm). In addition, these new models feature an automatic paper type sensor which adjusts settings to best suit the paper loaded.

With the optional HP bt300 Bluetooth wireless printer adapter (not included), users can conveniently print colour photos directly from a Bluetooth camera phone, digital camera, PDA or other Bluetooth device.

For those who want to print images from a video, these new HP All-in-Ones allow video action printing. Any short video clip can be printed in frames and used to create a dynamic storyboard of high quality photo images.

With print and copy speeds of up to 30 pages per minute (ppm) black and up to 20 ppm colour, the HP Photosmart 2710 and HP Photosmart 2610 All-in-Ones offer increased productivity. When printing from a computer, people can produce virtually grain-free and professional photo quality prints at up to 4800-optimised dpi (1200-input dpi). Optional 6-ink colour (available with purchase of HP No. 348 Photo Inkjet Print Cartridge) through HP Photoret IV precision technology offers superb photo quality and a wide range of colours. Professional black-and-white photo printing is available with purchase of optional HP No. 100 grey photo inkjet print cartridge.

The flatbed scanner lets users scan high quality documents, photos and even 3D objects at 2400 x 4800-dpi optical resolution and 48-bit colour. With the HP Photosmart 2710 and HP Photosmart 2610 All-in-Ones, users can fax black and white and even colour documents using the simple, easy to use functions and the 33.6 kbps modem ? all independently of the computer. Users can save time and effort with the 75 speed dials, while a 90 page memory ensures incoming faxes are saved even when the paper tray is empty.

HP?s unique Instant Share technology makes it easy for users to share photos via the web or e-mail without large attachments and without turning on the computer. Friends and family simply choose which photos to download. It also allows users to print files while on the go and pick up on the other end, using the remote printing feature.

Supplies that complete HP?s printing system
HP recommends using only HP inks, inkjet print cartridges and print media which have been specially formulated to work with the HP Photosmart 2610 and 2710 All-in-Ones, to achieve the best possible finish. The HP Photosmart 2610 and 2710 All-in-Ones are compatible with HP?s next generation of inkjet print cartridges which offer increased print speed, without compromising on the quality or fade resistance of the finished print out. This new range of inkjet print cartridges features new ink formulations and when used in conjunction with HP Premium Plus Photo Paper, allows users to print true borderless photos.

The HP Photosmart 2610 and 2710 All-in-Ones come complete with the HP No. 339 black inkjet print cartridge for laser-quality sharp black text and professional results and the HP No. 344 tri-colour inkjet print cartridge to produce vivid colours for vibrant colour documents, charts and presentations. Both these print cartridges come in different sizes for greater choice.

For ultimate creative control, customers can also purchase other print cartridges from the range and swap them in so they have the right set of inks available for their print job. Inkjet print cartridges not in use can be stored in a print cartridge protector (supplied) to ensure the inks don?t dry out. When printing photos, users can combine the HP No. 343 / 344 tri-colour inkjet print cartridge along with the HP No. 348 photo inkjet print cartridge for a true-to-life photos with accurate skin tones and a wide range of colours. To print black and white photos customers can swap these cartridges for the HP No. 100 grey photo inkjet print cartridge containing light grey, dark grey and photo black inks.

HP?s Premium Plus Photo Paper offers outstanding image quality, a professional weight of 280 g/m?, and a choice of high-gloss or satin-matt finish for the look and feel of a traditional photo. Printed in combination with HP?s next generation inks, photo prints offer exceptional fade resistance, even surpassing that available with HP?s previous generation of inkjet print cartridges4.

Availability and pricing
The HP Photosmart 2710 All-in-One will be available at selected retailers from December 2004 with a recommended street price of ?349.99.
The HP Photosmart 2610 All-in-One will be available at selected retailers from November 2004 with a recommended street price of ?299.99.

About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company?s offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2004, HP revenue totaled $76.8 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

00This 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 and performance 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 for the year ended October 31, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21, 2003, 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 to update these forward-looking statements

1 Wireless performance is dependent upon distance and terrain between network clients and printer
2 Compatible with Compact Flash, Smart Media, Sony, Secure Digital and xD-Picture Cards
3 Available from 1 September 2004
4 Tests conducted by Wilhelm Imaging Research, with HP Premium Plus Photo Paper on a HP Photosmart 7960 delivered fade resistance of up to 73 years with colour printing (using the HP No. 57 and No. 58 inkjet print cartridges) and 115 years for black and white images (using the HP No. 59 grey photo inkjet print cartridge).

Results of early internal HP testing indicate that three and four ink colour photos printed on HP Premium and HP Premium Plus photo papers should resist fading longer than with previously introduced HP six and eight ink printing systems.  Fade resistance tests with the new HP inkjet print cartridges for six and eight ink colour photo printing are in progress with Wilhelm Imaging Research.  Based on internal HP test results, HP is confident that colour photos printed on HP Premium and HP Premium Plus photo papers will resist fading longer than with previously introduced six and eight ink printing systems.

Internal HP testing show that black and white photos printed with the new HP No. 100 grey photo inkjet print cartridge will yield the same excellent fade resistance as the HP No. 59 grey photo inkjet print cartridge (introduced in 2003).