HP Introduces SMB Desktop PCs

HP 100B All-in-One PC

One of these things is not quite like the others: Tablets, smartphones, 4G technologies, and... desktop PCs geared for the small and midsize business (SMB) market?

Though the pre-show buzz hovers around more glamorous gadgets, SMBs will also have a seat at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. HP announced on Tuesday two new desktop computers targeting smaller business users ahead of the electronics industry's annual desert gala. Both models, which will be available in February, tout space- and cost-savings for SMBs short on both.

The HP Compaq 4000 Pro, which starts at $499, boasts a small form factor design but includes some legacy technologies, such as PCI expansion slots, PS/2 device support, and a standard serial port. It's based on Intel processors.

In a launch video on HP's YouTube channel, product marketing manager Greg Morris said that at the entry level of the SMB segment, companies are often buying consumer-oriented PCs. "What they don't get, however, is the stability and the level of business services that are historically found with our HP Compaq line of business PCs," Morris said. "We have introduced the 4000 Pro to satisfy those customers' needs."

The Compaq 4000 Pro comes with the minimum 12-month life cycle and onsite service warranty that HP offers with its larger business lineup.

The HP 100B All-in-One PC likewise wears a starting price tag of $499. It runs on an AMD processor and features a 20-inch LCD display with high-definition (HD) graphics. A webcam and speakers are integrated in a sleek black design. The company said the new model is easily upgraded later as needed.

HP's Morris said in a launch video that the 100B will target small- and home-office users who have previously shopped the retail consumer market for PC needs. He added that the 100B provides an operating system and applications suitable to business users, in a machine that's essentially ready to deploy out of the box.

"HP is very committed to this all-in-one form factor," Morris said.

HP also announced on Tuesday its updated lineup of Thin Clients, the new T5500 series.