Press/Digital Announces Venturis Line Of Desktop Systems
Digital Press & Analysts News
Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts 01754-2571
Editorial contact:
Sandy McLaughlin
(508) 264-7981
DIGITAL ANNOUNCES VENTURIS LINE OF DESKTOP SYSTEMS
Low-Cost Business PCs with Advanced Functionality for
Increased User Productivity
MAYNARD, Mass. -- October 31, 1994 -- Digital Equipment Corporation
today announced its new, entry-level Venturis line -- a family of
eight affordable, desktop Pentium and 486 systems. The Venturis
line replaces Digital's popular DECpc LPv+ and DECpc LPx+ Value
Line.
The aggressively-priced Venturis line, with models starting as
low as $1,079, is aimed at the volume purchaser in medium and large
organizations. Easy to deploy, install and maintain, the new PCs
are designed to meet the performance requirements of general
business users as well as those of users in client/server
environments. The Venturis line provides an optimum balance of
graphics, disk subsystems and processors for basic office
applications such as word processing, transaction processing,
e-mail, and communications.
The Venturis announcement is the second in a series of major
new product announcements this fall from Digital's Personal Computer
Business Unit. Like the recently-introduced Celebris line, the
Venturis line features a new naming convention, new packaging, new
enclosures and a new start-up menu, and helps PC users become more
productive, more quickly.
"With the introduction of the Venturis line, Digital again
moves beyond offering just excellent engineering and technology, to
focusing more on how people can better interact with their computers
-- from the new 'Getting Started' menus and 'Quick Set-Up Guide' to
the uniquely-designed easy-access enclosures," said Bernhard Auer,
vice president and general manager of Digital's PC Business Unit.
Superior Capabilities with Solid Performance
"With Venturis systems, Digital continues its tradition of
providing PC users with leading-edge technology, excellent price/
performance and ease-of-use," said Howard Elias, vice president,
Desktop Product Line.
The new Venturis systems:
o incorporate Plug and Play capabilities that enable faster
upgrades and more reliable system performance;
o ensure Windows 95 compatibility, enabling PCs to take
advantage of the new version of Microsoft Windows;
o use S3's Trio32, Trio64 and Vision864 graphics accelerators
for improved graphics performance;
o include Desktop Management Interface (DMI) capabilities for
more efficient distributed computing;
o implement Advanced Power Management and Energy Star
compliance across the line, including the Pentium 60, for
energy-efficient computing;
o incorporate multiple levels of security that prevent
unauthorized use and access to desktop information; and
o offer multimedia, office and networking options, which
enable customers to expand the capabilities of PCs as their
computing needs evolve.
Ease-of-Use Initiatives
All Venturis models provide easy access to product and service
information to assist system administrators and resellers in getting
users up and running. The 'Getting Started' screen includes system
specific introductory information, help screens, user registration
and service and support information. The Venturis 'Quick Setup
Guide' has illustrated installation instructions. User assistance
for system functions, such as network setup, advanced power
management settings, plug and play ISA configuration, and resource
configuration is also included.
Also designed for ease-of-maintenance, all Venturis models
include features such as a latched enclosure that allows easy access
to the system. The swivel sub-assembly enables easy installation of
hard drives. In addition, easy access to the motherboard
accommodates upgrades and service.
Digital's entire Venturis family, including the Pentium 60
model, complies with the U.S. government's Energy Star power
conservation guideline, making Digital's PCs 'easy' on the
environment, as well as offering energy saving value for customers.
Each system features multi-levels of security features,
including an external chassis keylock, keyboard and mouse password,
diskette access control, hard drive access control and multiple-
level password protection. The new Venturis PCs come with Digital's
worldwide service and support through a limited three-year warranty,
including one year on site.
Desktop Management Interface (DMI) Ready
DMI functions will enable network administrators to manage PCs on
networks for enhanced communications and more efficient distributed
computing. Digital's Venturis family is DMI ready, which will provide
significant advancements in network administration of an organization's
client/server computing environment. Venturis DMI will allow desktop
client hardware and software status reporting, asset management across
a network, remote diagnostics of client PCs, and improved management of
a company's enterprise-wide, distributed computing environment.
Five of the eight new Digital Venturis systems -- the Digital
Venturis 433sx, 450s2, 466, 4100 and 560 -- offer slimline
enclosures. The full profile Digital Venturis FP450s2, FP466 and
FP4100 feature a five slot and five bay enclosure. U.S. list prices
range from $1,079 for the Digital Venturis 433sx to $1,899 for the
Digital Venturis FP4100. All models are available now.
Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's leader in open
client/server solutions from personal computing to integrated
worldwide information systems. Digital's scalable Alpha AXP
platforms, storage, networking, software and services, together
with industry-focused solutions from business partners, help
organizations compete in today's global marketplace.
####
Note to Editors: Sales information may be obtained by calling
1-800-722-9332.
Digital, the Digital logo, Alpha AXP, Celebris and
Venturis are trademarks of Digital Equipment
Corporation.
Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation.
Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows 95
is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
S3 is a registered trademark and Trio32, Trio64
and Vision864 are trademarks of S3 Incorporated.
CORP/95/675
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