News release

Compaq's New Evo D500 Ultra-slim Desktop Earns "Best Desktop PC" Honor at Best of COMDEX 2001

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced that its Evo D500 Ultra-slim Desktop was named "Best Desktop PC" at the Fall 2001 Best of COMDEX Awards. Winners of Best of COMDEX Awards are recognized by IDG Publications and Key3 Media.

"It is an honor for Compaq to be presented with this award by the COMDEX 'Best of Show' award committee," said Jeri Callaway, vice president and general manager of Compaq's Access Business Group. "We are extremely proud of the Compaq Evo D500 Ultra-slim Desktop. We feel that the Evo D500 Ultra-slim Desktop gives people the power and sophisticated technology in a revolutionary design factor, without sacrificing anything."

The Evo D500 Ultra-slim Desktop was designed with ergonomics and accessibility in mind, as the slim form factor is 75 percent smaller than the average desktop PC and weighs just 11 pounds. At just 2.72 inches thin, the Evo D500 allows the monitor to remain at a comfortable eye level when placed upon the unit in the desktop position, and the lightweight PC can be easily transitioned from desktop to tower position. The new desktop is also 50 percent quieter than previous generation desktop PCs, and gives accessibility to all persons by offering front and rear audio and USB connectivity.

Both innovative and functional, the Evo D500 Ultra-slim Desktop follows Compaq's legacy-free model, but also offers an optional Snap-On Legacy module for additional flexibility. It also meets the IT needs of today and tomorrow, by incorporating Compaq's ground-breaking MultiPort wireless connectivity and MultiBay storage devices.

Compaq has also won a number of other awards this week, including a clean sweep of the desktop category of PC Magazine's "Editor's Choice" awards, which honored both the Evo Desktop D500 Small Form Factor and the Presario 8000Z Desktop. Additionally, the Compaq Evo Notebook N400C was named "Most Innovative Wireless Enabled Notebook" by Andy Seybold at his 11th annual Wireless Awards Dinner at COMDEX Fall 2001.

The ultimate balance in size, expandability and manageability for business users, the Evo D500 Small Form Factor offers the latest in processor technology with Intel® Pentium® 4 processors up to 1.9 GHz, nVidia Vanta graphics card, SMART II hard drive, and can be configured with up to 3 GB SDRAM.

Available direct from Compaq, the Ultra-fast Presario 8000Z is the fastest PC on the market, configurable with AMD® Athlon™ XP processor and features the MyMovieSTUDIO home movie editing and DVD authoring technology. A gamer's dream machine, the Presario 8000Z also features the nVidia GeForce 3, 64 MB DDR graphics card for mind-blowing speed and true-to-life graphics.

The perfect balance of technology and mobility, the Evo Notebook N400c weighs only 4.8 pounds, measures a thin 1.2 inches, and features Compaq's innovative MultiPort wireless solution. MultiPort is a flexible, innovative solution that allows users to connect to multiple wireless standards such as 802.11b or Bluetooth™ by simply changing out a wireless module integrated into the top of the notebook, providing customers a means to migrate to future wireless standards as they become available. The Evo Notebook N400c comes equipped with Mobile Intel Pentium III-M processor up to 1.066 GHz -M, ATI Mobility Radeon graphics adapter with 16MB of DDR (double data rate) SDRAM memory, 14-inch XGA TFT display and a dual pointing device, yet this powerful notebook still delivers more than four hours of battery life on a single charge.

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation ("Compaq") is a leading global provider of enterprise technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, and desktop and portable personal computers that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.