DECnews/New PC Families, Three-Year Warranty, Packaged Systems
decne...@pa.dec.com
Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts 01754-2571
Editorial contact:
Peter Basmajian
(508) 496-8891
DIGITAL INTRODUCES NEW PC FAMILIES,
THREE-YEAR WARRANTY, PACKAGED SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE
MAYNARD, Mass. -- August 30, 1993 -- As the first step in the
company's dramatic expansion of its PC product line, Digital
Equipment Corporation today introduced nine DECpc LPv and DECpc LPx
systems, making up the two families in its new value line of
personal computers, starting at just $1,049. The company also
announced its new line of easy-to-order packaged and pre-loaded
Windows NT systems, aimed at filling the needs of specific PC
users.
"Today's announcements are part of the company's strategy to
provide a full range of personal computer products designed to meet
the differing needs of various customer segments," said Enrico
Pesatori, vice president and general manager, Personal Computer
Business Unit. "All the products in our Value, Performance,
Server, Mobile, and PC Solutions lines will be aggressively-priced,
and will be available through the channels where users prefer to
buy."
At the same time, Digital announced a three-year, worldwide
warranty on its personal computers sold after August 31, 1993.
Unlike other vendors, Digital's warranty is available on all of the
company's PC products.
"Our PC products have a proven track record for quality and
reliability, and are backed by Digital's worldwide service and
support," said Harry Copperman, vice president of US Sales and
Marketing, Personal Computer Business Unit. "We are therefore
extending our warranty on all PC products to three years, while
delivering a level of service that many other vendors do not offer,
or do not deliver directly."
The new warranty features hardware call-screening available 12
hours per day, five days per week, and call-logging, available 24
hours per day, seven days per week. The company will provide
on-site desktop, deskside and server hardware service for the first
year, with Return-to-Digital service for the second and third
years, including 48-hour turnaround. Customers can also upgrade to
on-site service for their second and third years by calling their
Digital sales representative, authorized reseller, or Desktop
Direct for more information. For portable products, Digital
provides a Return-to-Digital three-year warranty (excluding
batteries and other consumables), with 48-hour turnaround where
available.
Telephone support for software purchased with the system on
desktop, deskside, server and portable PCs is provided for one full
year on operating systems, and 90 days for PC applications.
Digital also has a variety of extended services to meet customers'
unique needs.
Digital announced its new DECpc value line, consisting of two
low-priced families of products: the slimline DECpc LPv and the
more expandable DECpc LPx. The new systems replace most of the
company's best-selling DECpc LP line, introduced in August, 1992.
The DECpc LPv family, consisting of five low-profile models
ranging in processor speed from 425sx to 466d2, offers local-bus
graphics with GUI acceleration, processor upgradeability, and is an
excellent value for budget-conscious buyers. Digital offers users
faster scrolling, filing, and cursor movement through the use of
S3's 805 video processor, and simple upgradeability via a LIF (Low
Insertion Force) processor socket. The value-priced system uses
the same low-profile enclosure as the existing DECpc LP series and
is designed for users who need today's best technology to meet
immediate business needs.
The DECpc LPv base system, available in 425sx, 433sx, 433dx,
450d2, and 466d2 variants, includes three ISA expansion slots, two
front-accessible and two internal drive bays for easy expansion and
customization, 145 watt power supply, and is Ready-to-Run Microsoft
Windows 3.1 and DOS 6.0 software -- all in a low-profile case. The
DECpc LPv 425sx with the above configuration, 170 MB IDE hard
drive, and four MB RAM is priced at $1,049 without monitor.
The DECpc LPx family, consisting of four full-profile desktop
models ranging in processor speed from 433sx to 466d2, offers a
choice of graphics performance and is designed for users who want
to take advantage of quickly-changing technology and protect their
investments, but don't have a large budget. Digital offers users
faster scrolling, filing, and cursor movement through a choice of
three VL-bus GUI-accelerated video cards using S3 and Weitek
microprocessors, with performance ranging from 17 to 62M Winmarks,
and simple upgradeability via ZIF (zero insertion force) processor
socket. The system's modular design also enables users to upgrade
to Intel's next generation of Pentium Overdrive processors, as well
as upgrade video cards as new technologies become available.
The DECpc LPx base system, available in 433sx, 433dx, 450d2,
and 466d2 variants, includes the user's choice of video up to
1280x1024 resolution, six 16-bit ISA slots, two VESA VL slots, four
front bays, one internal bay, 200 watt power supply, and is
available in a full-profile case. The DECpc LPx 433sx with the
above configuration, 170 MB IDE hard drive, and four MB RAM is
priced at $1,299 without monitor.
Both systems include two serial ports, one parallel port,
mouse, keyboard, and video ports, from four to 64 MB RAM, 128 or
256K of optional external cache, and are tested to run Microsoft
DOS 6.0, Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT, Novell
NetWare, OS/2, and SCO UNIX software. Digital also offers a wide
range of disks and other options.
The systems are available immediately through the company's
Desktop Direct catalog at 800-722-9332, through Digital's direct
sales force, and authorized resellers.
Packaged and Pre-Loaded Systems to Meet Users' Needs
"A growing number of customers want to buy complete PC
solutions tailored to their business or industry needs," said Jesse
Parker, director of product management, Personal Computer Business
Unit. "By providing these packaged and pre-loaded systems, we are
offering target customers hardware and software configured the way
they want them, at a discounted price."
Today, Digital is announcing the first four of these PC
Solutions packaged systems aimed at small business users, business
professionals in larger corporations, and networked PC users. The
company also announced pre-loaded Windows NT systems based on
popular DECpc models.
The Small Business and Business Professional systems are
optimized for general-purpose computing, including integrated
office software and a modem. The systems include a DECpc LPv 433dx
or DECpc LPx 433dx, four or eight MB RAM, S3-805/S3-805 VESA VL
video, 245 MB IDE hard drive, keyboard, mouse, 15" SVGA
non-interlaced monitor, 128K cache, Lotus SmartSuite software,
14.4K data/fax modem, are Ready-to-Run Microsoft Windows 3.1 and
DOS 6.0, and are priced at $2,423 and $2,693, respectively.
The Network Client and Network Client Pro systems are designed
for networked PC business environments, and feature convenient
setup and operation. The systems include a DECpc LPv 425sx or
DECpc LPx 433sx respectively, four or eight MB RAM, 170 MB IDE,
S3-805/S3-805 VESA VL-bus video, keyboard, mouse, 14" SVGA
non-interlaced monitor, 128K cache, EtherWORKS Turbo ethernet card,
and are Ready-to-Run Microsoft Windows 3.1 and DOS 6.0. The
Network Client system with DECpc LPv 425sx, is priced at $1,599.
The DECpc LPx 433sx Network Ready Client system includes an extra
four MB of RAM, and is priced at $1,999.
For users moving to the Microsoft Windows NT environment,
Digital also introduced cost-saving, pre-loaded Windows NT systems
based on popular DECpc models. The systems include the DECpc 466d2
MT, DECpc 433dx MTE, DECpc 466d2 MTE, DECpc 450ST, DECpc 466ST, and
the DECpc 560ST Pentium-based PC. The Windows NT client kit
included with the systems offers all the features of Windows NT
including peer-to-peer networking, application portability, and
multitasking. All packaged systems include 16 MB RAM, a 245 MB
SCSI drive, maximum external cache available, CD-ROM drive, 1.44M
floppy disk drive, keyboard, mouse, and are Ready-to-Run Microsoft
Windows NT, Version 3.1.
Package prices range from $3,939 to $7,234. Customers can purchase
other DECpc systems with Windows NT separately.
All of the above packaged systems are available immediately
through Digital's Desktop Direct catalog, direct sales force, and
resellers.
Digital's is ranked as one of the fastest-growing personal
computer suppliers in the U.S. by market research firm Computer
Intelligence, and the largest U.S. direct-mail computer supplier by
Catalog Age magazine. The company markets a complete family of
technologically-advanced and competitively-priced PCs -- including
portables, desktops and deskside systems.
Digital Equipment Corporation, headquartered in Maynard,
Massachusetts, is the leading worldwide supplier of networked
computer systems, software and services. Digital pioneered and
leads the industry in interactive, distributed and multivendor
computing. Digital and its business partners deliver the power to
use the best integrated solutions - from desktop to data center -
in open information environments.
####
Note to Editors: Sales information may be obtained by calling
1-800-722-9332.
Additional technical information available in
fact sheets accompanying this release.
DECpc, Desktop Direct, Digital and EtherWORKS are
trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.
Microsoft and Windows NT are registered
trademarks and Windows, DOS, Windows for
Workgroups are trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
Novell, NetWare are registered trademarks of
Novell Inc.
SCO is a trademark of the Santa Cruz Operation.
Lotus is a registered trademark of Lotus
Development Corporation.
SmartSuite is a trademark of Lotus Development
Corporation.
IBM, OS/2 are registered trademarks and
Valuepoint, Spacesaver are trademarks of
International Business Machines Corporation.
S3 is a registered trademark of S3 Corporation.
Weitek is a trademark of Weitek, Inc.
Intel, Pentium and Overdrive are trademarks of
Intel Corporation.
Dell is a registered trademark of Dell Computer,
Inc.
Dimension and Netplex are trademarks of Dell
Computer, Inc.
Compaq is a registered trademark and Prolinea is
a trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation.
Computer Intelligence is a trademark of Computer
Intelligence, Inc.
Catalog Age is a trademark of Catalog Age
Magazine.
CORP/94/246
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