Based on the GEOS operating system, the HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer is designed to be easy and fun to use -- and fast to learn. The new organizer, which features a breakthrough design and a range of information-management tools, is expected to be available for consumers worldwide on Nov. 1 at an estimated street price of $349 (U.S.).
"The HP OmniGo 100 does exactly what I need it to do and was very easy to figure out," said Lori Burke, director of communications for the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans. "Finally there's an easy way to keep track of my work-related and personal information -- including my budgets -- without having to spend a fortune or take a course on how to do it."
The new organizer extends HP's well-established family of handheld products, which includes the popular HP 200LX palmtop PC.
"HP became a worldwide leader in handheld technology with the 200LX," said Andrew Seybold, editor in chief of Andrew Seybold's Outlook on Communications and Computing. "Now HP is expanding its line of handheld products to include devices that suit a variety of customers, from those who prefer a high-end PC companion to those who want a high-quality organizer with a variety of features."
Small enough to fit into a coat pocket, the HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer is designed to adapt to the way people on-the-go prefer to work. It combines the convenience of a pen and the familiarity of a keyboard with a rotatable screen that allows horizontal or vertical display. The organizer enables customers to track daily appointments and expenses, take notes, organize addresses and telephone numbers and compute financial information with a built-in HP calculator and financial tools.
"The HP OmniGo 100 organizer provides customers with high-quality personal information management and financial tools in a single, low-cost solution," said Kheng Joo Khaw, general manager of HP's Asia Pacific PC Division (APCD). "We understand what our customers are looking for in a personal organizer through experience gained from our calculators and palmtop PCs. Until now, customers have had to compromise on features or price to get the product they want. We're offering all the organizational tools our customers need at a price they're willing to pay; it's the right product at the right time."
Later this year, SkyTel's new 2-Way wireless messaging service for the HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer enables users to connect the HP OmniGo 100 organizer to a SkyTel 2-Way pager will be available. Users then can transmit messages wirelessly to other SkyTel 2-Way users and create replies to messages received.
With today's introduction, the following solutions also are available: o Pocket Quicken -- Intuit's popular personal, portable financial-management software, which will be available to all customers free when they purchase the HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer; o HP OmniGo 100 Connectivity Pack -- which includes a cable to allow simple connection to a Windows-based PC, for automated file management, backup and synchronization between the OmniGo 100 organizer and a desktop PC; o HP OmniGo 100 organizer Clip & Go -- which links the OmniGo 100 organizer clipboard to a Microsoft(R) Windows-PC clipboard through a serial-port connection, enabling quick and easy data transfer to a desktop PC's word processing, spreadsheet or paint programs; and o HP OmniGo 100 organizer Strategy Games -- which feature six challenging strategy games to take on the road.
"The HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer is the first product resulting from our collaboration with HP to develop market-winning organizers," said Gordon Mayer, president of Geoworks. "HP's experience in the handheld market -- combined with Geoworks' expertise in developing compact, full- featured software -- uniquely enables the partnership to deliver low-cost, multifunctional devices for the mobile customer."
"The GEOS operating system was the natural choice for HP," said Khaw. "It provides all the flexibility and ease of use that today's consumer needs from an organizer -- not to mention an extensive array of user-friendly, intuitive accessories."
The HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer features an innovative 360-degree rotatable hinge that allows the user to fold back the front cover to reveal a keyboard and screen. The double-jointed case can be folded over completely, to provide a solid, easy-to-hold work surface, much like a traditional notepad.
In addition, the unit comes with 1MB of RAM, one standard PCMCIA Type II card slot for additional data storage and expanded software and services, and a serial port for PC and printer connectivity. With 3MB of ROM, the HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer weighs just 11.6 ounces -- with batteries included -- and runs on two standard AA batteries and one lithium backup battery.
The HP 200LX palmtop PC remains the industry leader for customers who need a handheld companion for their home or office PCs. The HP 200LX palmtop PC lets customers communicate wirelessly through cellular, two-way paging to exchange e-mail and use messaging and other on-line services.
The HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer will be available through a variety of retail outlets and mass merchants, including Service Merchandise, Staples, OfficeMax, Lechmere and J&R Office World. HP's handheld products also are available through a wide range of home-office and PC/peripherals channels, including computer and consumer-electronics superstores.
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 99,900 employees and had revenue of $25 billion in its 1994 fiscal year.
Graffiti and HP OmniGo Connectivity Pack were developed by Palm Computing and Bokja Software Clip and Go and Strategy Games for the HP OmniGo 100 handheld organizer were developed by Geoworks.