| 1980s
Hewlett
Packard becomes a major player in the computer
industry in the 1980s with a full range of computers, from
desktop machines to portables to powerful minicomputers. HP
also links computers with its electronic instruments and
medical and analytical products, making them faster and more
powerful.
Hewlett
Packard makes its entry into the printer market with
the launch of inkjet printers and laser printers that
connect to personal computers. HP's
high-quality, inexpensive inkjet printers spell the end of
dot-matrix printers. The HP
LaserJet printer line, which debuts in 1984, goes on to
become the company's most successful single product line
ever. The quality and reliability of HP's
printers make HP a
highly recognizable brand by both consumers and businesses.
Near the end of the decade, HP
is recognized for its rich past as well as for its
technological advances and products. The garage where the
company started is declared a California historical
landmark, and HP
celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Compaq Computer Corporation (which
will merge with HP 20
years later) is formed in Houston, Texas. Originally called
Gateway Technology, the company is started by three former
Texas Instruments executives who have the idea of creating a
portable computer to run IBM-compatible software. The
company's name is a combination of the words
"compatibility" and "quality."
By mid-decade, Compaq is
challenging IBM, beating the archrival's Intel 80386-based
PC offering to market by nine months. Compaq uses that
opportunity and customers' endorsement of its commitment to
industry standards as a springboard to rapidly increase
growth and new product development. Among those products is
the Systempro, the first server built using
industry-standard components.
Compaq sales skyrocket throughout
the decade. Late in the decade, Compaq achieves $1 billion
in annual sales faster than any company in U.S. business
history.
1980
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HP-85 |
HP
introduces its first personal computer, the HP-85.
A steady stream of PCs follow.
HP
introduces the first laser printer that is fast and
inexpensive enough for use outside a central computer room.
HP
revenue: $3 billion. HP
employees: 57,196.
1981
HP's
products become formally available in China when the China
Hewlett-Packard Representative Office opens in Beijing.
HP
revenue: $3.6 billion. HP
employees: 66,807.
1982
The electronic mail system
developed by HP Limited
in the United Kingdom is the first major wide-area
commercial network of its kind based on minicomputers.
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HP 9000 |
HP
makes advances in business computing when it introduces the HP
9000 technical computer with 32-bit "superchip"
technology. The first "desktop mainframe" is as
powerful as room-size computers of the 1960s.
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HP-75C
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HP's
first handheld computer, the HP-75C,
is introduced. With 16K RAM and 48K ROM, it runs BASIC and
VisiCalc and can also be used as a clock and appointment
alarm. Weighing only 26 ounces, the HP-75
provides 50 functions and is an early tool for mobile
computing, connecting with such peripherals as a modem,
digital cassette drive and printer/plotter.
Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard wins the
prestigious Deming prize for quality.
HP
revenue: $4.3 billion. HP
employees: 69,538.
Compaq Computer Corporation (which
will merge with HP 20
years later) is founded by former Texas Instruments
executives Joseph Rodney "Rod" Canion, Jim Harris
and Bill Murto. Canion is the company's first president and
CEO. Venture capitalist Ben Rosen is named chairman. The
company's first product is designed on a placemat at a local
House of Pies.
On November 4, Compaq introduces
its first product, the first portable PC. Equipped with a
4.7 MHz processor, 640K RAM and dual 5 1/4-inch floppy disk
drives, the Compaq Portable PC weighs 28 pounds.
1983
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HP-150 Touchscreen
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HP
allows users to activate features on their PCs simply by
touching the screen when it introduces its first touchscreen
personal computer, the HP-150.
Bill Hewlett is awarded the
National Medal of Science, the nation's highest scientific
honor.
HP
revenue: $4.7 billion. HP
employees: 72,000.
In its first full year in business,
Compaq ships more than 53,000 portable PCs and earns $111
million in revenue, the highest first-year sales of any
manufacturer in American business history.
Compaq's initial public offering
raises $67 million. Its securities are traded on NASDAQ.
1984
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Think Jet
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Thermal inkjet technology developed
at HP is introduced in
a high-quality, low-price personal printer, the HP
ThinkJet. The ThinkJet brings quiet, portable 96-dpi
printing to desktop and portable PCs. With its far superior
printing quality and inexpensive price, the ThinkJet spells
the end to noisy dot-matrix printers.
Inkjet technology research began at
HP Labs in 1978.
Although large, industrial inkjet-marking devices already
existed, they weren't suitable for document printing needs.
By miniaturizing the technology and offering it in the form
of a personal printer, HP
is able to offer better print quality than serial dot-matrix
printing, quieter operation, extremely low power consumption
and, eventually, high-quality, low-cost color. Today's HP
inkjet printers continue to provide technological
breakthroughs at ever decreasing prices.
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Laser Jet
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HP
also introduces the HP
LaserJet printer the company's most successful single
product. Able to print at 300 dpi (dots per inch), the
LaserJet quickly becomes the world's most popular personal
desktop laser printer.
HP
Labs Bristol opens. The Bristol, England facility is the
largest HP research
operation outside of Palo Alto.
HP
revenue: $6 billion. HP
employees: 82,000.
Compaq announces its first desktop
computer, the Compaq Deskpro, simultaneously in the U.S.,
Germany and the United Kingdom.
Compaq earns revenue of $329
million, an industry record for a second-year company. The
company moves to its new headquarters on a 55-acre tract in
northwest Houston. Eventually, the Compaq campus will grow
to nearly 1,000 acres.
1985
China Hewlett-Packard (CHP), the
first high-tech joint venture in China, is established.
HP
revenue: $6.5 billion. HP
employees: 84,000.
Compaq introduces the Deskpro 286
and Portable 286, the first portable PC to feature Intel's
80286 processor.
Compaq is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange and reports third-year revenues of $503.9
million, another U.S. business record.
1986
HP
is the first major computer company to introduce a precision
architecture based on reduced instruction set computing
(RISC). The HP
Precision Architecture family of computer systems marks the
first commercial application of RISC architecture. The use
of RISC microprocessors makes powerful computers faster and
less expensive. The development effort takes five years and
is HP's most expensive
R&D effort to this point.
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Deskpro 386
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HP
revenue: $7.2 billion. HP
employees: 82,000.
Compaq joins the Fortune 500
the youngest company ever to do so.
Compaq introduces the Compaq
Deskpro 386, the first IBM-compatible personal computer
running Intel's 80386 processor launched nine months
ahead of IBM's 386 offering. "Compaq's 386 entry
defined a new standard for the industry," concluded PC
Magazine in its 20th anniversary issue.
1987
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Bill and Dave at the garage
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Bill Hewlett retires as vice
chairman of the HP
board of directors and is named director emeritus.
The birthplace of the company, the
original garage rented by Dave Packard at 367 Addison Ave.,
is granted California state landmark status as California
Registered Landmark No. 976.
HP
revenue: $8.1 billion. HP
employees: 82,000.
Compaq manufactures its
one-millionth personal computer and announces it will build
a $23 million manufacturing plant in Erskine, Scotland.
Compaq introduces the Deskpro
386/20 and Portable 386, offering more speed, power and
capabilities than ever before.
1988
HP's
DeskJet printer, the company's first mass-market inkjet
printer, makes its debut. The DeskJet offers plain-paper
printing and industry-standard print resolution.
HP
moves into top 50 on Fortune 500 listing: No. 49.
HP
is listed on Tokyo stock exchange; it is the company's first
listing outside the United States.
HP
revenue: $9.8 billion. HP
employees: 87,000.
Compaq reports $1.2 billion in
sales and is recognized for reaching the $1 billion mark
faster than any company in American business history.
Compaq and HP
join with seven other companies to announce Extended
Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), allowing advanced
computers to remain compatible with older computers.
1989
HP
celebrates its 50th anniversary.
HP
revenue: $11.9 billion. HP
employees: 95,000.
On November 6, 1989, Compaq
introduces the Systempro PC System, the first
industry-standard server. Based on 386 microprocessors,
Systempro includes an innovative disk subsystem called the
intelligent drive array.
Compaq's first notebook PC, the
Compaq LTE, makes its debut. It is the first full-function
laptop on the market.
the
90s
HP
is one of the few companies in the world to successfully
marry the technologies of measurement, computing and
communication. The company makes new advances in portable
computing, enters the home-computing market and continues to
invent new printing and imaging solutions. For most of the
decade, HP enjoys
growth rates of 20 percent.
Early in the 90s, John Young
retires and is replaced by Lew Platt, under whose leadership
HP continues to grow. HP
becomes recognized as a company whose policies on work-life
balance, diversity and community involvement help attract
and retain top employees.
At the end of the decade, HP
spins off its measurement and components businesses to form
a new company, Agilent Technologies. It also brings on board
a new CEO, Carleton (Carly) Fiorina, who focuses the company
on reinventing itself for growth and leadership in the 21st
century.
Compaq's explosive growth is
threatened in the early 90s by inexpensive "PC
clones." Eckhard Pfeiffer replaces Rod Canion, becoming
Compaq's second president and CEO. The aggressively priced
ProLinea PC line is introduced. By mid-decade, Compaq is
shipping more PCs than any company in the world.
Recognizing market shifts, Compaq
sets its sights on high-performance and enterprise
computing. Eckhard Pfeiffer announces the goal of Compaq
being one of the world's three largest computing companies
by 2000. The company achieves that goal with the purchase of
Tandem Computers and Digital Equipment Corporation.
As the decade closes, however,
Compaq faces some significant challenges. Eckhard Pfeiffer
resigns. Only months after being named chief operating
officer, Michael Capellas is chosen to lead Compaq into the
millennium. The new president and CEO becomes a champion for
innovation, faster decision-making and listening to
customers.
1990Compaq's
most powerful notebook, the SLT 386/20, is introduced.
Compaq has its first billion-dollar
quarter. Compaq products are sold in 64 countries through
3,000 authorized dealers.
1991
HP makes advances in lightweight
portable computing with the introduction of the HP 95LX
palmtop PC, HP's first palmtop personal computer. Weighing
only 11 ounces, the HP 95 LX is roughly the size of a large
pocket calculator but possesses as much computing power as a
desktop personal computer system. It has a financial
calculator, a telephone and address program, Lotus 1-2-3, a
simple text editor and an infrared link for transferring
data.
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DeskJet 500C
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HP introduces the color DeskJet
500C, which creates a revolution in color printing. Up to
this point color printers have been expensive, specialized
machines. But the DeskJet gives customers an inexpensive
color-printing option and the model is a huge success.
Eckhard Pfeiffer, who for years led
Compaq's international operations, is named to replace Rod
Canion as president and CEO. He outlines a strategy that
includes sweeping changes in product development, pricing,
customer support, distribution, product promotion and
financial management.
Compaq introduces its first modular
PC, the Compaq Deskpro/M family. Components previously
included on one system board the processor, EISA bus,
I/O, video graphics controller and memory expansion each
has their own board, allowing easy upgrading. The company
introduces its first color portable PC.
1992
John Young retires; Lew Platt, an
engineer and head of the Computer Systems Organization, is
elected president and CEO and a member of the board of
directors. Platt, an HP employee since 1966, wins kudos
inside and outside the company for championing diversity in
the workplace, establishing a balance between work and
personal life for employees and directing HP to become a
leader in community involvement.
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HP Corporate
Business Systems |
HP introduces the HP Corporate
Business Systems nine HP 3000 and HP 9000 computing
systems with mainframe performance at up to 90 percent lower
cost.
Compaq announces a series of new
"clone-busting" products, redefining PC industry
economics with its first low-cost family of PCs ProLinea.
It also introduces its first low-cost server, ProSignia, and
its first server management and optimization tools.
Compaq's first printer product, the
Compaq Pagemarq, makes its debut.
Compaq signs on its first official
retail channels, including ComputerCity and CompUSA.
1993
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HP OmniBook
300 |
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HP introduces the 3-pound HP
OmniBook 300, a "superportable" personal computer
with enough battery power to last during a flight across the
United States.
The company ships its 10 millionth
HP LaserJet printer.
Dave Packard retires as chairman of
the board of directors. Lew Platt is elected chairman of the
board.
HP revenue: $20 billion. HP
employees: 96,000.
Compaq introduces its first
all-in-one Compaq PC, the Presario family.
Compaq announces Concerto, its
first pen-based notebook PC, as well as its first mini-tower
PC. The company discontinues its printer business.
Compaq joins the Fortune
100.
1994
HP produces the world's brightest
LED (light-emitting diode). Combining bright output,
reliability and low power consumption, LEDs replace
incandescent lamps in many new applications. HP LEDs expand
the range of LED applications in cars, traffic-control
signals and moving-message panels.
HP begins collaboration with Intel
to develop a common 64-bit microprocessor architecture for
the computers of the 21st century. The work draws on years
of research at HP Labs to create a replacement for PA-RISC
processors. Known then as IA-64, the new processor (now
called Itanium) debuts in 2001.
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HP OfficeJet printer-fax-copier
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HP introduces the HP OfficeJet
personal printer-fax-copier, a space-saving product designed
specifically for professional home-office users.
Telecommuting policies are
formalized, making HP one of the first companies to
encourage telecommuting around the world. Employees can work
at home or at remote HP offices. The result is rising job
satisfaction, reduced commute time, increased flexibility to
coordinate personal and work schedules, and lower levels of
stress. HP benefits from reduced office-space requirements
and improved employee retention.
HP revenue: $25 billion. HP
employees: 98,400.
Compaq introduces its first
sub-notebook, the Compaq Aero, and launches its first
rack-mountable ProLiant server.
Compaq achieves the No. 1 worldwide
PC market share position, announces expansion of
manufacturing operations in Houston, Scotland and Singapore,
and opens a manufacturing facility in Brazil.
Compaq revenue: $10.9 billion.
Compaq employees: 14,400.
1995
The HP Pavilion PC marks the
company's highly successful introduction into the
home-computing market.
Dave Packard publishes The HP
Way, a book that chronicles the rise of HP and gives
insight into the business practices, culture and management
style that helped make it a success.
HP revenue: $31.5 billion. HP
employees: 105,200.
Compaq announces a complete
redesign of its popular Deskpro product line, adding new
"Intelligent Manageability" features.
Compaq acquires Thomas-Conrad and
NetWorth, extending the company's internetworking product
offerings.
Compaq's sales of $14.8 billion
make it the No. 5 computer company in the world.
1996
Co-founder Dave Packard dies on
March 26.
HP revenue: $38.4 billion. HP
employees: 112,000.
Compaq produces its one-millionth
server.
Compaq introduces new products: the
LS-120, the industry's first 120 MB floppy drive; the Armada
family of value-priced, flexible notebooks; and the PC
Companion, a handheld PC.
1997
HP wins an Emmy Award for
contributions to the sophisticated MPEG compression
technologies used for video data.
HP becomes one of the 30 stocks
that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).
HP revenue: $43 billion. HP
employees: 121,900.
Compaq establishes a finance
company for customer leasing and other financial options.
New Compaq products include the
company's first portable PC designed specifically for the
education market, a sub-$1,000 home PC and a flat-panel
monitor.
Compaq acquires Cupertino-based
Tandem Computer Incorporated, known for its
high-performance, fault-tolerant Himalaya servers and
related software and services. Acquiring Tandem expands
Compaq's influence deeper into high-end business computing
and broadens its appeal beyond PCs and industry-standard
servers.
Compaq revenue: $24.6 billion. The
company is named Forbes magazine's Company of the
Year.
1998
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Jornada 820
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HP introduces its first Jornada PDA
(personal digital assistant). The Jornada 820 Palmtop PC
runs Windows CE as its operating system.
HP revenue: $47.1 billion. HP
employees: 124,600.
Compaq acquires Digital Equipment
Corporation for $9.6 billion-at the time the largest
acquisition in computer industry history. BusinessWeek
writes, "By acquiring Digital, Compaq is catapulted
from the upstart, wild-and-woolly PC generation into the
high-tech big leagues of companies that supply the world's
most complex and critical information systems."
Compaq drives innovation with the
industry's first space-saving, full-featured,
high-performance rack server, the ProLiant 1850R.
Compaq announces a line of remote
access servers based on Windows NT server solutions and
launches color inkjet printers for retail.
1999
HP's board of directors announces
its decision to spin off a new company from the existing HP
organization. Agilent Technologies consists of HP's former
measurement, components, chemical analysis and medical
businesses. HP retains its computing, printing and imaging
businesses. Agilent has its initial public offering of
common stock on November 18, 1999. HP retains 84.1 percent
of common stock. It is Silicon Valley's largest-ever IPO.
In July, Lew Platt retires, and HP
names Carleton (Carly) S. Fiorina as President and CEO.
Carly comes to HP after nearly 20 years at AT&T and
Lucent Technologies. As CEO, she leads HP's reinvention as a
company that makes the Internet work for businesses and
consumers.
HP reveals a new strategy designed
for the Internet age, based on Web services. Web services
are electronic services available over the Net that complete
tasks, solve problems or conduct transactions. They can be
used by people, businesses and other services and accessed
via a wide range of information appliances over
infrastructure solutions. HP positions itself to deliver all
three components: Web services, intelligent devices and the
infrastructure (servers and software).
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Jornada
420 |
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The first pocket-size Jornada, the
420, is introduced. This is the first CE pocket-size PC with
a color screen.
In November, HP begins a new brand
campaign based on a single concept: invent. Print and
television ads focus on the company's history of invention
and innovation. The company also introduces a new logo.
HP revenue: $42 billion. HP
employees: 84,400.
Compaq introduces the iPAQ desktop
PC the first "legacy-free" Windows 2000 device
designed for businesses moving to an Internet-based
computing model.
Compaq forms a strategic
partnership with CMGI, which acquires control of Compaq's
AltaVista business and related properties.
In July, Compaq names Michael
Capellas as CEO, making him the first former CIO to lead a
major technology company. He focuses the company around
global business units with end-to-end responsibility for
meeting the needs of their customers. He rallies the company
around a vision of driving "everything to the
Internet" and a commitment to become advocates for
Compaq's customers.
the
21st century
In the HP years of the 21st
century, HP focuses on three key areas of invention:
intelligent, connected access devices, infrastructure
solutions and applications that can be delivered over
networks as Web services.
Under the leadership of Michael
Capellas, Compaq focuses on being a unifying force across
the Internet, delivering next-generation access devices,
building out the business-critical Internet and ensuring
customer success through global partnerships, solutions and
services.
On May 3, 2002, HP completed its
merger transaction with Compaq Computer Corp., the largest
tech merger in history.
2000
HP moves up the Fortune 500
listing to No. 13.
On June 2, HP completes divestiture
of Agilent Technologies. As a result of the distribution of
shares of Agilent Technologies common stock, Agilent
Technologies is now a fully independent company.
Carly Fiorina delivers the
commencement address at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in June. It is the second time an HP CEO has
given the address (the first was Bill Hewlett in 1986).
Carly Fiorina is named chairman of
the board of directors on September 22.
HP marks advances in the area of
Internet infrastructure, introducing the high-end Superdome
server line in September and announcing that it would
acquire Bluestone Software. With this acquisition, HP
significantly expands its Internet software portfolio by
adding Bluestone's acclaimed J2EE and XML application
servers and tools.
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Superdome |
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In October, HP announces a new
business initiative focused on emerging markets. Called HP
e-Inclusion, the program addresses the digital divide by
fostering sustainable, profitable businesses in developing
countries.
HP revenue: $48.8 billion. HP
employees: 85,500.
Michael Capellas is named chairman
of Compaq's Board of Directors, replacing the legendary Ben
Rosen and becoming the first Compaq CEO to serve also as
chairman.
Compaq Alpha technology enables HP
completion of mapping the human genome by Celera Genomics.
Compaq unveils the iPAQ Pocket PC
and expands the line with five new products, including the
iPAQ Home Internet Appliance and the iPAQ Personal Audio
Player.
Compaq is selected by the U.S.
Department of Energy to build the world's fastest and most
powerful supercomputer.
Compaq revenue: $42.4 billion.
Compaq employees: 70,100.
2001
Co-founder Bill Hewlett dies on
January 12.
With the introduction in February
of two software families HP Netaction Software Suite and
HP OpenView Software Suite HP unites its software
offerings into a comprehensive platform for developing,
implementing and maintaining Internet-based services.
HP creates a new business
organization, HP Services, in March. The role of the new
organization includes consulting, outsourcing, support,
education and solutions deployment.
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Itanium |
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In May, HP introduces systems and
services based on the new Itanium processor jointly
developed by HP and Intel. Developed as an extremely
parallel high-performance architecture, Itanium is the
platform for next-generation 64-bit computing.
In September, HP acquires
StorageApps, whose storage virtualization technology enables
customers to easily implement and manage storage networks.
On September 4, HP and Compaq
announce a definitive merger agreement to create an $87
billion global technology leader.
Also in September, HP announces
that they will acquire Indigo, a leading commercial and
industrial printing systems company, accelerating HP's plans
to transform and lead the rapidly evolving digital
publishing market.
HP revenue: 45.2 billion. HP
employees: 88,000.
Compaq achieves a No. 1 position in
overall market revenue in high-performance technical
computing, according to IDC.
Compaq passes EMC as the No. 1
provider of storage solutions worldwide, including units,
revenue and capacity.
Compaq and Intel announce a plan to
accelerate enterprise server roadmaps by transferring Compaq
technology to Intel and moving 64-bit servers to the Intel
Itanium processor family.
Compaq announces its
"Computing on Demand" initiative, which allows
customers to purchase computing resources where and when
they're needed similar to purchasing IT as a utility.
2002
On May 3, HP and Compaq officially
merge, beginning operations as one unified company. The new
HP serves more than one billion customers across 162
countries, and is a leading global provider of products,
technologies, solutions and services to consumers and
businesses. The companys offerings span IT
infrastructure, personal computing and access devices,
global services and imaging and printing.
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HP Deskjet
5550 |
HP announces "Big Bang,"
its largest consumer product rollout. Between now and early
2003, HP will release worldwide more than 50 new imaging and
printing products offering consumers greater value and
unparalleled ease of use. Three new color inkjet printers
are part of the initial rollout, including the HP Deskjet
5550, which features up to six-ink printing and
4,800-optimized dots-per-inch (dpi) technology.
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