Impatient for Windows XP? So is Hewlett-Packard Co.: Though Microsoft’s new operating system doesn’t officially debut until October 25, HP’s phone banks and retail-store kiosks are now taking orders for desktop and notebook computers with Win XP, some of which will reach retail shelves and be available from the company’s online store as early as next Monday, September 24.
While Windows XP Professional will be available for HP’s business PCs, the first retail models are consumer systems with Windows XP Home Edition. They include the HP Pavilion 7935, which pairs a 1.3GHz AMD Athlon processor with 128MB of SDRAM, a 40GB hard disk, 8/4/32X CD-RW drive, integrated S3 Savage4 3D graphics controller, Ethernet LAN interface, and front-mounted USB peripheral port for $749.
The Pavilion 7955 desktop is powered by Intel’s 1.5GHz Pentium 4 processor and comes with 256MB of SDRAM, a 40GB hard disk, both the CD-RW and a 16X DVD-ROM drive, and both USB and IEEE 1394 front-access ports, as well as a 32MB Nvidia TNT2 M64 graphics card and Ethernet port. Its price is $949.
For portable shoppers, the Pavilion N5415 notebook features a 900MHz AMD Duron CPU, 256MB of SDRAM, 10GB hard disk, and DVD-ROM drive; it sells for $1,199 after a $100 mail-in rebate. The Pavilion N5425 has a 900MHz AMD Athlon 4 processor, 256MB of SDRAM, 20GB hard disk, DVD/CD-RW combo drive, and TV-out and Ethernet ports for $1,499 after the $100 mail-in rebate.
Eric Grevstad is the managing editor of sister site, HardwareCentral.
