From: hart@waterloo.hp.com Tony Hart 
Subject: New HP 700/RX Software
Followup-To: poster
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Schaumburg, IL
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 15:53:33 GMT

                   HP ANNOUNCES NEW X SERVER SOFTWARE,
           FIRST TO OFFER LOCAL USER ENVIRONMENT FOR X STATIONS

               Company Also Announces Reduced RAM Pricing

       PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 22, 1992 -- Hewlett-Packard Company
today announced X server software for its HP 700/RX family of
RISC-based X stations that supports a broad range of local clients,
and provides industry-leading ease-of-use and flexibility.  These
local clients run locally on the X station to off-load the host system
and include HP Visual User Environment/RX (HP VUE/RX), which HP
believes is the X terminal industry's only local user environment.


       HP VUE/RX allows users to manage multiple windows and create
multiple workspaces easily within the X station environment while
providing the familiar look and feel of HP VUE 3.0, the newest version
of HP's standard graphical user interface.  Because HP VUE/RX allows
users to off-load RAM usage from the host to the X station client,
customers also can benefit from lower cost per seat.  For example,
users can off-load up to 3-Mbytes per seat of system RAM by moving
client operations from the host, or server, to the X station.


       "X station users are becoming more sophisticated and are
looking for new ways to work more productively," said Bruce M.
Huibregtse, general manager of HP's Panacom Division.  "While other X
terminal vendors offer local window managers and local terminal
emulators, only HP has delivered a complete local user environment."


       By providing fast and easy access to multiple workspaces, HP
VUE/RX allows X station users to organize multiple windows by
activity, client, job or project.  "HP VUE/RX is like having another X
station at the push of a button," said Huibregtse.


       HP VUE/RX shields users from the intricacies of the UNIX-based
operating system through the use of self-explanatory icons, pull-down
menus and slide-up bars.  It also provides a workspace control panel
that permits switching among workspaces, a toolbox icon for launching
frequently used applications and tools, and a local client launcher
for other local clients.


       With the new software release, HP offers Front-end HP VUE, a
local user environment that off-loads host RAM and MIPs and provides
system administrators with the flexibility to configure systems for
their particular needs.  For example, it allows some HP VUE 3.0
operations to run on the host while running HP VUE window manager
within the X station.  Front-end HP VUE also provides drag-and-drop
icons for ease of use and a workspace control panel for greater
flexibility.


       The new X server software includes several features that
provide system administrators and users with the flexibility to
configure their environments for optimal use.  They include the
following:

       o     local window managers and terminal emulators --
             OSF/Motif 1.2 Window Manager, xterm and hpterm are
             offered as local clients. All local clients, including
             HP VUE/RX and Front-end HP VUE, are downloadable
             clients that can be started and terminated at the user's
             request.  Memory used by the local client is returned when
             the client is terminated;

       o     selectable/downloadable extensions -- system
             administrators can  selectively download feature extensions
             to the X station's base software, which optimizes X station
             resources while satisfying end- user requirements;

       o     X Window System Version 11 Release 5 (X11 R5) server
             support -- HP now supports the latest MIT X11 R5 release.
             X11 R5 service includes the use of an optional font server;

       o     performance enhancements -- X11perf performance will
             increase by more than 60 percent to 2,800.  The
             HP 700/RX Xstone rating increases to 93,000; and

       o     SNMP Reset -- system administrators can perform X
             station resets from remote locations.  Increased SNMP
             functionality allows more efficient systems management.


       In addition to the HP Apollo 9000 Series 700 and 400
workstations and HP 9000 Series 800 business systems, the new software
will operate with Sun Microsystems SPARCstations, SCO
OpenDesktop-based PCs and IBM RS/6000 AIX-based workstations.


       The announcement further strengthens the industry-leading HP
700/RX station family.  HP is the market leader in the color X
terminal market, and the company moved into the No. 2 position in the
overall market for 1991, according to International Data Corp., a
market-research firm.  IDC estimates 1992 worldwide X terminal
shipments of 226,000 units and predicts an annual compound-growth rate
of nearly 100 percent through 1995.


U.S. List Prices and Availability

       The new software release is available to new customers for $695
(U.S. list) for an onsite license for an unlimited number of users.
Existing HP 700/RX station users on HP software-support services
automatically will receive upgrades to this new software release free
of charge.  It is expected to ship on Nov. 1, 1992.  Software for SCO
and IBM platforms is expected to be available in December and January,
respectively.


Reduced Memory Pricing

       HP also announced up to 33 percent reductions on X station RAM
pricing
which is effective October 1, 1992.

       Configuration   Former Price    New Price     Reduction

       2-Mbyte SIMM    $299              $200        33 percent
       4-Mbyte SIMM    $499              $400        20 percent
       8-Mbyte SIMM    $999              $800        20 percent


     The HP 700/RX family is the industry's first complete family of
RISC-based X stations, and provides a level of interactive X Window
System performance previously available only on workstations.  Based
on an Intel* i960 and superscalar microprocessor, the HP 700/RX
stations deliver performance of up to 93,000 Xstones.


     The combination of HP 700/RX RISC X stations and Series 700
PA-RISC-based workstations delivers the industry's leading desktop
price/performance.  In addition to high performance and economical
cost per seat, this computing solution provides users with a broad
selection of applications, low-cost hardware maintenance and easy
system administration.


     HP is the third-largest computer supplier in the United States,
with computer revenue in excess of $10 billion in its 1991 fiscal
year.  HP has been delivering PA-RISC-based computers since 1986 with
high performance at a low cost of ownership.  PA-RISC is being
advanced by the Precision Risc Organization, an association of
industry-leading companies that will broaden the use of PA-RISC
technology and deliver its benefits to more customers worldwide.


     Hewlett-Packard Company is an international manufacturer of
measurement and computation products and systems recognized for
excellence in quality and support.  The company's products and
services are used in industry, business, engineering, science,
medicine and education in approximately 100 countries.  HP has 90,900
employees and had revenue of $14.5 billion in its 1991 fiscal year.

Tony Hart,
Panacom Automation Division,
Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd.,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
hart@waterloo.hp.com