In an era where corporate management is focused on cost, Hewlett-Packard Co. this week released a new
line of desktop and mobile workstations designed to deliver desktop
workstation-class features and optimal performance for CAD and other 3-D
applications at a price point starting at $769.
Joining the Z series of workstations is the HP Z200,
an entry point to workstation-class performance, which offers, among other
options, dual-core processors based on the next-generation IntelA(R) processors
as well as quad-core processor options based on the enterprise-class Intel XeonA(R)
3400 series. Designed for ease-of-use and serviceability, the Z200 has
been architected as a tool-less chassis and convertible minitower featuring
FireWire and USB ports right on the front of the system. The HP Z200 also
includes an 89 percent efficient power supply, which helps to reduce overall
energy usage and the amount of waste heat released into the environment.
The HP Z200 takes aim at the entry level of the engineering
spectrum - those companies and users whose main applications are AutoCAD,
SolidWorks or even Inventor. "The HP Z200 workstation provides a low-entry
price point, while taking advantage of technologies engineers crave such as
reliability of ECC memory and applications that have been tested and
certified," says Jeff Wood, HP's director of worldwide marketing, workstations.
"This gives designers and engineers who are trying to run their CAD/modeling
applications on a PC an opportunity to step up and enjoy benefit from true
workstation performance, reliability and innovation while staying within their
tight budgets."
Accompanying the desktop-class unit is a pair of mobile
workstations: The 15-inch diagonal
display HP EliteBook 8540w and the 14-inch EliteBook 8440w. Both units include
an LED-backlit, anti-glare high-definition display along with NVIDIA graphics
and choice of Intel Core i7 or future Intel Core processors with Turbo Boost
and vPro technology. The HP EliteBook 8440w is designed for photographers,
power users, developers and designers who need entry-level workstation
graphics, while the HP EliteBook 8540w, with its next-generation graphics, fast
hard drives and support for up to 16GB of memory, is aimed at users who want to
experience faster rendering capabilities. "The HP EliteBook 8440w Mobile
Workstation is HP's thinnest and lightest mobile workstation," Wood says. "It's
been tested, optimized and certified to run the most demanding professional
applications for our highly mobile users."
Each HP Z200 unit comes with the HP Performance Advisor, a
software tool that acts like a personal system engineer to update workstation
settings and drivers, helping to ensure optimal performance, maximize stability
and increase overall productivity. Both the desktop and mobile workstations
also come preloaded with HP SkyRoom, affordable HD videoconferencing software.
To run out its line, HP also released the HP ZR22w and HP
ZR24w, new workstation displays that incorporate super in-plane switching
(S-IPS) panel technology and are available in 21.5- and 24-inch diagonal sizes.
