HP launches sub-US$1,000 unit

Hewlett-Packard has launched a sub-US$1,000 PC aimed at small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Its Brio family is powered by Intel's Celeron line of low-cost microprocessors in 300 megahertz and 333 MHz speeds, and has a compact 'microtower' that stands only 33 centimetres high.

HP is targeting Brio at the more than 290,000 SMEs in Hong Kong which have fewer than 500 employees but constitute more than 98 per cent of the SAR's businesses.

'Most of them do not have MIS [management information systems] departments, so they need to rely on dealers or consultants,' Clarence Cho, HP's supplies business manager for North Asia, said.

Kenneth Cheuk, SME programme manager for HP, said: 'HP and our [channel] partners aim to become the virtual IT departments' for these businesses.

Brio is equipped with PC Doctor diagnostics software that can help computer novices fix problems. The PC is certified for Windows and Novell operating systems, comes pre-loaded with Windows 98 and can support Windows versions NT and 95.

Brio's microtower, which features CD-Rom and floppy drives, was made compact by integrating components such as sound and video into the motherboard, Mr Cho said.

The keyboard features buttons for quick, one-touch access to the Internet, Word, or spreadsheet programs.

Brios can be purchased in Hong Kong using optional financing schemes, as local SMEs 'are more interested in financing options than others in the Asia-Pacific', Mr Cheuk said.

HP did not release the Brio's exact price, but confirmed it would be less than $1,000, not including the monitor.