HP Introduces New Entry-Level 3D-Graphics Workstation

HP Introduces New Entry-Level 3D-Graphics Workstation

Reduces Prices on Other Workstation Modes

By Kathy Dow and Larry Lytle
Business Wire

January 9, 1989

Palo Alto, CA, US -- Hewlett-Packard Co. Monday introduced the HP 9000 Model 340SRX workstation, an entry-level 3D-graphics workstation that HP believes will set a new price/performance standard for the industry.

In addition, HP also announced U.S. list price reductions on several HP 9000 workstation models.

The new HP 9000 Model 340SRX workstation, with a U.S. list price of $14,900, is said to be the first 3D workstation available for less than $15,000 that offers better 3D graphics-application performance than any other workstation in its class.

Based on the MC68030 microprocessor, the Model 340SRX delivers all the benefits of HP's high-performance SRX graphics architecture. The Model 340SRX is source- and object-code compatible with the existing HP 9000 Series 300 computers.

"HP is the first to break the $15,000 barrier for a complete 3D- graphics workstation," said Bill G. Kay, general manager of the HP Workstation Group. "The Model 340SRX makes it possible to deliver 3D graphics to a far broader set of users than ever before."

HP's graphics-workstation performance has led to significant orders from major customers. McDonnell Douglas chose 216 HP 9000 Model 360SRX workstations for the design of the U.S. Navy's A-12 advanced attack aircraft, and Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company chose 170 HP 9000 Model 360 TurboSRX workstations for development work on an anti-submarine aircraft program.

HP's technological leadership in 2D- and 3D-graphics workstations has resulted in large sales volumes that make the new aggressive price/performance possible, Kay said. In fiscal 1988 (ended Oct. 31, 1988), sales of HP 3D-graphics workstations tripled over 1987.

According to International Data Corp., HP had the second-largest installed base of UNIX-system workstations worldwide in 1988. HP's workstation products use the HP-UX operating system, which adheres to UNIX System V Interface Definition Issue 2.

In addition to introducing the HP 9000 Model 340SRX, HP announced significant price reductions on its best-selling HP 9000 Model 360 workstations and on other graphics-workstation products, including the HP 9000 Model 370SRX and Model 825SRX.

The U.S. list price of the midrange HP 9000 Model 360SRX 3D system was reduced 43 percent from $34,965 to $19,900. The U.S. list price of the basic HP 9000 Model 360 was reduced 10 percent from $16,010 to $14,400.

Since its introduction as the industry's first MC68030-based workstation in June 1988, the Model 360 has become HP's best-selling workstation. Applications include mechanical and electrical design, test and measurement, computer-aided software engineering, general scientific/technical computing, as well as selected non-technical applications.

The high-end HP 9000 370SRX is now U.S. list priced at $41,900, a 17 percent reduction from its original U.S. list price. HP also reduced the price of the HP 9000 Model 825SRX workstation from $59,500 to $56,500, reflecting a 5 percent decrease.

The Model 370SRX is based on the 33-Mhz MC68030, the highest- performance member of Motorola's microprocessor family. An HP Precision Architecture superworkstation, the Model 825SRX combines the benefits of HP SRX graphics with HP's advanced RISC (reduced- instruction-set computing) architecture.

Hewlett-Packard Co. 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 93 countries. Founded in 1939, the company celebrates its 50th anniversary in 1989.

It has 87,000 employees and had revenue of $9.8 billion in its 1988 fiscal year.

NOTE TO EDITORS: UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T in the U.S.A. and other countries.