PALO ALTO, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — September 14, 2011 — HP (NYSE: HPQ) today added powerful and affordable displays for creative professionals and retail businesses to its portfolio, including the company’s first 27-inch diagonal performance display with more than 1 billion colors, the industry’s first sub-$200 display with in-plane switching (IPS) technology and HP’s first 47-inch diagonal multitouch Digital Signage Display.

The HP ZR2740w is HP's first 27-inch performance display with more than 1 billion colors. The display is one of four new performance displays and two digital signage displays announced today. (Photo: Business Wire)

Among the new products:

• The HP ZR2740w, ZR2440w, ZR2240w and ZR2040w Performance Displays feature LED backlit IPS panels and deliver ultimate performance for professionals that value exceptional image accuracy.
• The HP Compaq LE2202x Essential Display is for businesses that need affordable display technology in a thin profile with a small footprint.
• The HP LD4220tm and HP LD4720tm Digital Signage Displays allow customers to interact with business messages in a simple yet powerful way.
• The HP SignagePlayer mp8200 provides smooth and reliable operation in demanding digital signage applications.

In addition, the popular HP rp5800 Retail System is now offered in a Digital Signage Edition specifically configured for reliable playback of digital signage and interactive media.

“Design, animation and gaming professionals push the limits of display technology every day simply to do their jobs – and HP has met their needs with a wider range of solutions than ever before,” said Jun Kim, vice president and general manager, Display Business Unit, HP. “HP offers customers robust displays and innovative, interactive digital signage products that are the new face of retail and hospitality.”

New ZR-series displays offer IPS performance in a thinner profile

The four new HP ZR-series Performance Displays are aimed at professionals in animation, game development, broadcast, computer-aided design, design and graphic arts, where performance and visual quality are imperative. The HP ZR2740w, ZR2440w, ZR2240w and ZR2040w displays come with light-emitting diode (LED) backlights for a slim industrial design, more robust colors and the elimination of mercury. They represent the broadest LED performance display lineup in the industry.

All of HP’s ZR series displays employ IPS technology for ultrawide viewing angles. They offer up to 10 times higher contrast ratios when viewed from an angle as compared to mainstream monitors that use twisted nematic (TN) technology.⁽¹⁾

The HP ZR2740w generates more than 1 billion onscreen colors for smooth color transitions that virtually eliminate banding artifacts. The HP ZR2440w, ZR2240w and ZR2040w show up to 16.7 million displayable colors. Customers can choose from a range of sizes – 20-, 21.5-, 24- and 27-inch diagonal screens – and resolutions ranging from 1,600 x 900 to 2,560 x 1,440, with the HP ZR2240w and ZR2440w providing 2-million-to-1 dynamic contrast ratios.⁽²⁾

All four displays have sRGB-class color gamuts. The sRGB color space is the industry standard for web browsers, digital cameras and printers and also matches the Rec. 709 color space used for HDTVs and video editing.

To give creative professionals a complete experience, HP Performance Displays undergo extensive testing to ensure compatibility with HP Z Workstations and feature coordinated brushed-aluminum accents. HP Performance Displays easily connect to a variety of devices, with the HP ZR2240w in particular providing a full range of DisplayPort, DVI-D, HDMI and VGA inputs.

The HP ZR2740w also features the HP Direct Drive Architecture that transmits the color value from the workstation graphics card directly to the billion-color panel with no alteration in the display. The HP ZR2440w, ZR2240w and ZR2040w are rated ENERGY STAR® 5.

Additionally, the 21.5-, 24- and 27-inch diagonal models feature an eight-way comfort adjust stand and new HP Quick Release 2, which is mounted flush on the back of the display for easy VESA mounting. All HP Performance Displays come with a three-year standard limited warranty.

Essential display balances sleek design with responsible features

The new HP Compaq LE2202x, with its small footprint, helps customers free up limited space and adds a modern touch to the workplace. Solid-state LED technology allows for enhanced color performance and a thinner profile than previous HP Essential Displays.

The LE2202x provides full HD <