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Industry Analysts, Inc.

Comparitive Analysis

A Comparative Analysis of Hewlett Packard Web Jetadmin 10.0 compared to Web Jetadmin 8.1 Prepared by: Industry Analysts, Inc. July 10, 2007

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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A Comparative Analysis of HP Web Jetadmin 10.0 versus Web Jetadmin 8.1

As part of the rollout of the new Web Jetadmin 10.0 Printer/Fleet Management Utility, Hewlett Packard engaged Industry Analysts, Inc., an Independent Testing and Research company, to conduct a detailed comparative analysis. The object of this analysis was to document the benefits of the improvements made in the new Web Jetadmin 10.0 (WJA 10.0) release as compared to the previous Web Jetadmin 8.1 (WJA 8.1) release. The analysis was conducted at Industry Analysts, Inc.’s Technical Services Division in Fairfield New Jersey, and was performed using the latest downloadable version of Web Jetadmin 8.1, which was downloaded from Hewlett Packard’s web site, and the Beta 1 and Beta 2 versions of Web Jetadmin 10.0 supplied to IATSD by Hewlett Packard under nondisclosure prior to it’s official announcement, release, and availability. The protocol consisted of examining both Web Jetadmin releases in specified areas, detailing the differences found between the versions and describing how the differences in WJA 10.0 benefit an Administrator and/or corporate user. Methodology: The Web Jetadmin versions 8.1 and 10.0 were installed on Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2-based PCs of equivalent hardware configurations. Each test was timed, and performance recorded. Relevant screens were recorded using TechSmith SnagIt.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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For testing purposes, an Active Directory was constructed as follows:

The areas that Hewlett Packard requested Industry Analysts Technical Services Division examine were: • Ease-of-Use • Performance • Security and use of System Resources such as Active Directory Services

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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In most cases, the limited size of the network constructed for the test resulted in IATSD not being able to quantify the performance differential between Web Jetadmin 8.1 and Web Jetadmin 10.0 on many of the requested Performance Tests. In these cases, Industry Analysts provided only our subjective analysis. Our findings are detailed in the accompanying report. Ted Needleman Senior Director, Technical Services Division Industry Analysts, Inc. 1275 Bloomfield Avenue, Building 3, Suite 50C Fairfield, NJ 07004

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Executive Summary:
Ease-of-use: HP has substantially improved the user interface in Web Jetadmin 10.0. o The Administrator can control what each User sees and can do. o The leftmost Navigation pane and rightmost Common Tasks panes put many of the most common tasks right up front. While WJA 10.0 uses SQL, rather than Microsoft Access, the installation and migration from WJA 8.1 is highly automated. o The install routine asks what settings the Administrator wants transferred, or the Administrator can simply default to transfer all settings from the prior installed version and edit them under WJA 10.0. The installation time for both products was minimal, though IATSD needed to provide Internet access to Web Jetadmin 8.1 to enable it to find and download Plug-ins to discover PC-connected printers and extend the Report Generation capabilities. Web Jetadmin 10.0 makes more use of Wizards to automate common tasks. This approach might initially appear cumbersome, but having the software walk the User through a process is actually more efficient in the long run. This is because many Users will not have to hunt through multiple screens to find the correct one, or parse through a Help screen to figure out the information required by the utility. o The right mouse button is enabled on many navigation selections, making it possible to accomplish more complex tasks without the need to navigate through numerous layers of menus.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Performance:
In most areas examined by IATSD, the size of the network under test was too small to measure any quantifiable time difference on the tasks performed using each of the releases. Where a real performance differential between WJA 8.1 and WJA 10.0 exists, is in the enhanced productivity that results from new features such as docking panes, right mouse button menus, and new Wizards for the most common tasks. In use, Web Jetadmin 10.0 has a somewhat different feel than Web Jetadmin 8.1. The new release makes it easier to customize the displays so that more of the desired information is displayed on the most commonly used screens. This reduces the need for an Administrator to bounce back and forth between screens. The new tabbed interface in WJA 10.0 also reduces the need to search for functions and features. o This feature is also a significant benefit when WJA 10.0 is being accessed by a User, rather than an Administrator, and can be expected to reduce support costs. Web Jetadmin 10.0 provides an excellent balance of options-tocomplexity. While there are numerous pages of options available, easyto-use Wizards generally allow the utility to be both globally and individually configured to specific Users, groups of Users, and Domains. o This configurability is also expressed in the use of pre-configured templates for the printer and MFP driver configuration. Web Jetadmin 10.0 allows an Administrator to “overbuild” a configuration, loading the template with every conceivable feature available, across HP’s printer and MFP line. The utility will automatically edit the template in real-time, to implement only the features available with the particular device being configured.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Security & Use of System Resources:
Web Jetadmin 10.0 considerably extends both the security features and its use of system resources such as pre-configured authorizations over the capabilities contained in Version 8.1. o Web Jetadmin 8.1 allows an Administrator to authenticate an entire domain or user group. o Web Jetadmin 8.1 device-level security, largely consists of devicespecific passwords, the optional ACL (Access Control List), and/or stored device credential information. o Web Jetadmin 10.0 also permits setting permissions on the basis of single or multiple domains. Each domain and/or group can be configured with different rights. Web Jetadmin 10.0 then builds on this to permit authentication to take place according to the credentials and permissions contained for a User, group, or domain in the Windows Active Directory.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Overall Analysis:
Web Jetadmin 8.1 remains a very capable and viable contender in the fleet management and administration market. Web Jetadmin 10.0 builds upon this very strong and well-adopted foundation. Web Jetadmin 10.0 is a significant upgrade to Web Jetadmin 8.1 not because it addresses deficiencies in the earlier version, but because it adds features that increase ease-of-use and functionality. Web Jetadmin 10.0 provides significantly more customizability in both appearance and functionality (such as report generation and user authentication and approvals). This makes it easy for an IT Administrator to “have it your way.” o This customizability also allows an Administrator to have better control over what features and functions an individual user (or group of users) see and can access. This can often result in reduced support costs and time. o The Administrator can set as many predefined roles as desired, then simply add users to the role. The Administrator can also switch users between different roles if the Administrator later determines that the User requires access to different displays and controls. o By creating a comprehensive set of standard roles, the Administrator can greatly cut down on the time it takes to customize the user interface for new Users. o Many functions that required Plug-ins with WJA 8.1 are now built into WJA 10.0.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Migrating from WJA 8.1 to WJA 10.0 requires almost no learning curve and is very highly automated. Becoming more productive with Web Jetadmin 10.0 requires only a minimal learning curve, which makes WJA 10.0 an exceptionally costeffective upgrade. Web Jetadmin 10.0 is a “no-brainer” upgrade for current WJA 8.1 Users, and should be a very attractive option to IT departments that have either not yet adopted a fleet management utility, or are currently using another vendor’s utility with fewer features and less ease-of-use.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Web Jetadmin 8.1 established a de facto standard in the industry of what is to be expected in a printer administration and fleet management utility. The newest release, Web Jetadmin 10.0, raises the bar, and effectively sets a new standard for the industry that puts HP even further ahead when it comes to providing comprehensive functionality, combined with ease-of-use.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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DETAILED ANALYSIS

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Ease-of-Use: Installation:
What is involved in installing WJA 8.1 and 10.0? WJA 8.1: WJA 10.0:

Download software from HP web site, double-click to self-extract, launch, enter location (or use default), and enter admin User name & password.

Download software from HP, double-click to self-extract & launch, then download and install .NET Framework 2.0 (if needed). WJA 10.0 install will then complete.

Analysis: Neither install proved to be problematic. The WJA 8.1 install automatically searched for available data sources on the server (in this case MS Access), and configured it to work with WJA 8.1. The install for WJA 10.0 was a bit more complex, as this version of WJA requires SQL. Fortunately, the WJA 10.0 install takes care of this, completely automating the install of MS SQL Server Express 2005 and configuring it. We did, however, need to first download .NET Framework 2.0 and install it before the installation would proceed. Our test PC was a fresh install of the operating system, but for most WJA 10.0 installations, .NET Framework 2.0 would already be installed.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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How long does each install take? (Does not include download time) WJA 8.1: WJA 10.0:

4 minutes 8 seconds

9 minutes 55 seconds

Analysis: Both WJA 8.1 and WJA 10.0 are automatically installed when the Administrator clicks on the Install button. Installing WJA 10.0 took more than twice as long as the WJA 8.1 install simply because the installation is more complex. WJA 10.0 requires SQL be installed on the WJA Server. If it is, WJA 10.0 will configure the existing SQL Server installation so that it supports WJA 10.0. Since the testing IATSD performed began out with a “clean” system, WJA 10.0 needed to install Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express. This product is included in the install package, and is automatically installed and configured with no input required by the Administrator.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Migrating from 8.1 to 10.0 – what is actually moved and how long does it take? WJA 8.1: WJA 10.0:

N/A

N/A

< 5 seconds

Analysis: WJA 10.0 includes a Migration Tool to further ease the job of upgrading from a prior version. This tool can be launched automatically as part of the installation process, or manually, at any later time. In the Beta version tested by IATSD, not all settings were migrated, a fact that is detailed in the documentation that accompanies the Beta release. The settings that are not migrated with the tool are minimal, such as SSL and Product Update settings, and were judged by IATSD to be of minimal consequence.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Installing WJA 8.1 Plug-ins for Client PC Printer Discovery and Report Generation -Procedures and Timing: o

Step 1—Downloading list of available plug-ins and upgrades: 1 minute 3 seconds

Step 2—Downloading and installing PC Printer Discovery & Report Generation Plugins: 1 minute 12 seconds

Analysis: Plug-ins are installed directly from the Home menu screen in WJA 8.1. There is a click box in the Navigation panel for Product Update where Plug-ins can be selected for downloading and installation. The process itself is simple and quick. When the Install Plug-ins button is chosen, WJA 8.1 goes out to the HP Support web site and downloads a list of available updates and Plug-ins. The Administrator makes a choice or choices from this list, and those choices are downloaded and automatically installed. With WJA 10.0, most of the available Plug-ins for WJA 8.1 are included in the utility as standard features. There is still an update facility in WJA 10.0, but it is primarily for downloading and installing product and firmware updates.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Discovery How do you discover network printers on each version? WJA 8.1 WJA 10.0

WJA 8.1’s Discovery settings screen can be accessed from the Set up Wizard (Top screen shot) or by using the Navigation pane on the left side of the screen. Discovery method(s) are selected, and device discovery can be either immediately launched, or scheduled for a later time.

WJA 10.0 also requires that Discovery be configured. The Discovery options screen (top screen shot) is logically laid out. The Administrator simply clicks on the desired choices, and can set a schedule for Discovery to run. The “Discover devices on my network” also is a Common Task in the Task Module docking area (though it can be removed if the Administrator so wishes), so it can be clicked on at any time. Analysis: While both versions require that the Administrator define the discovery method(s) to be used, WJA 10.0’s screen is both easier to find, and easier to use. With WJA 8.1, launching a discovery requires that the User/Administrator search for the command, while WJA 10.0 allows the Discovery command to be placed in a list of common tasks.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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How do you discover printers attached to a client PC on each version? WJA 8.1 WJA 10.0

In order to perform discovery of printers attached by USB or parallel port to network PCs, the Administrator must first download and install the PC Discovery Plug-in from HP’s Support web site. This will add an additional choice, “PC Printer Discovery” under the Discovery folder on the left hand navigation pane. The Administrator must then select the domain to scan, and any needed domain or workstation passwords.

WJA 10.0 does not require a plug-in to discover PCs attached to a network client PC. On the main Discovery settings screen, the Administrator has only to check the radio button for “PC connected devices” and select the discovery method(s) to be used. As with the Plug-in for WJA 8.1, it may be necessary to provide access credentials for domain or workstation access.

Analysis: While the discovery process for PC connected printers may work similarly in both versions (assuming the Plug-in is installed in Version 8.1), the layout of WJA 10.0 makes it a lot easier to actually use.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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How do you set up SMNP v3 discovery on each version? WJA 8.1 WJA 10.0

In the WJA 8.1 navigation pane, click on the “Discovery” box to expand, and then select “Properties.” On the screen that is displayed in the main Discovery Methods pane, click on the “Discover SNMP v3 Enabled Devices” check box, then check “Apply” button.

The WJA 10.0 setting for SNMP v3 discovery is found under the Tools menu (on the top toolbar.) Click on “Tools”, then on “Options”. This will bring up a left panel Navigation menu. Under Device Management, expand the Discovery tab, and then click on “General.” This will bring up the screen in the above screen shot. Then click on the “Discover SNMP v3 devices” box.

Analysis: Setting SNMP v3 discovery is actually a bit less complicated under WJA 8.1. Neither version requires an extensive set up or configuration to accomplish this type of discovery.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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How is the Right Mouse Button Enabled? WJA 8.1 WJA 10.0

N/A
This feature is not implemented in WJA 8.1. WJA 10.0 has extensive right-mouse click functions. Exactly what comes up when the right mouse button is clicked depends on where you are in the utility. Many of the right mouse button menus duplicate choices available from the horizontal drop-down menus on the top of the pane.

Analysis: Again, this feature underscores the lengths that Hewlett Packard has gone to in making WJA 10.0 easier to use. Instead of navigating through layers of menus and submenus, a quick click on the right mouse button is often the only action necessary to accomplish tasks, in addition to what is being currently exhibited.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Report Generation What are the native reporting capabilities of each version? WJA 8.1: WJA 10.0

WJA 8.1 has no native reporting capabilities. The Administrator can set up alert conditions that will monitor selected devices for specific error or supply low conditions and message the Administrator if an Alert condition is detected.

This deficit has been amply addressed in WJA 10.0 with a comprehensive set of basic reports. These reports are easily modified. It’s also very simple for administrators to create their own reports on an Ad-hoc basis using the Template facility, and store these Ad-hoc reports for future use.

Analysis: As downloaded, WJA 8.1 does not provide a reporting capability other than some basic alerts. This can be remedied by downloading and installing the Report Generation Plug-in, which adds valuable reports in the areas of usage, supply management, and inventory. The Plug-in also adds graphic capabilities in these report areas, but the Plug-in requires that a database be installed and configured for data collection. WJA 10.0 has these facilities built in. The report types in WJA 10.0 are more diverse than those in the WJA 8.1 Plug-in. Furthermore; there is no special configuration that needs to take place to use this feature.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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How easy is it to generate a predefined report? WJA 8.1: WJA 10.0

N/A

Without the Report Generator Plug-in, WJA 8.1 has no predefined reports.

With WJA 10.0, generating a predefined report is easy. Simply click on the desired category of the Reports entry in the Navigation Pane (or if a frequently used report has been added to the Common Tasks pane on the right side of the screen.) These include Data Collection, Report Generation, Archived Reports, and any other categories that the Administrator may have defined. Clicking on the entry in the Navigation Pane will bring up a list of predefined reports in that category and display it in the center pane. If you click on the Report, it will be launched, or you can select a report and modify it.

Analysis: As downloaded, WJA 8.1 does not contain a reporting capability or preconfigured reports. These features are enabled through the download and installation of the Report Generator Plug-in.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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What has to be done to define an Ad-hoc report? WJA 8.1: WJA 10.0

WJA 8.1, even with the Report Generator Plug-in, does not provide a real Ad-Hoc report facility. You can take a predefined report and edit it by eliminating fields or adding custom fields, but this is not a quick or easy process. You can also use the Advanced Options on the Table view of the desired predefined report to customize the detail of the report.

WJA 10.0 does not need a Report Generator Plug-in—reporting features are a standard part of the utility and are extensive. In addition to the comprehensive standard collection of reports, it’s easy to create your own report template for an Ad-Hoc report simply by choosing fields from drop-down menus and selecting the order in which you wish them to appear.

These Ad-Hoc reports can then be saved as a The closest thing to an Ad-Hoc report template and reused (and/or customized further) capability that WJA 8.1 provides is the ability at a future time. to edit views in many of the lists (the Device List is shown above.) Another option is to use the native inquiry facility of the underlying database being used, such as Access or SQL. Analysis: In the area of reporting, HP has clearly excelled in providing an Administrator with the tools to create and print reports on an Ad-Hoc and recurring basis that truly improve the management of the printers attached to the networks. WJA 10.0’s reporting capabilities go far beyond WJA 8.1’s alert functionality, and allow the Administrator to be proactive, rather than just reactive.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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What capabilities does the 10.0 reporting facility have that are not in the 8.1 Plug-in? WJA 8.1 WJA 10.0

The Report Generator Plug-in for WJA 8.1 provides a basic set of reports in the areas of Media Utilization, Supply Management, Inventory, Error Logs, and By User Tracking. Many reports can be viewed either as a table or as a graph. The Report Generator Plug-in is also necessary if the enterprise wants to use HP’s SureSupply program, which automatically orders replacement ink and/or toner when the level in a device hits a preset amount.

The report categories in WJA 10.0 are very similar in intent to those in the Report Generator Plug-in for WJA 8.1. These include Media Page Count, Daily Peak Usage, Supply Replacement Forecast, Supplies Ordering, Supplies Usage, Device Changes, Device Details, Error History, and User Page Count. For each of the above reports, there are available columns that can be selected or deselected, depending on the reporting needs. This makes it very easy to customize a report, or create Ad-Hoc or custom report templates.

Analysis: WJA 10.0 has a more comprehensive set of reports available. It’s very easy to customize these, or create new report templates with drop-down menu lists. The reporting capability has been added to WJA 10.0, so no download or Plug-in is necessary. Additionally, installing the Report Generator Plug-in for WJA 8.1 requires that the Administrator tie the Plug-in to an existing database program, if installed, or install and connect the Plug-in to a database such as Access or SQL, if not already installed. WJA 10.0 does not require this set up step. The new release is configured out-of-the-box to perform the necessary data collection, though the Administrator must select the data collection times and frequency.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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Active Directory Services/Security Settings:
How are User rights and security set?

WJA 8.1

WJA 10.0

With WJA 8.1, User rights and security are set by defining passwords for individual machines, or group-wide passwords which allow Users to access specific groups of printers. This is accomplished on the Device Group Properties page.

With WJA 10.0, User right certificates and authentications noted in the Active Directory can be automatically implemented. An Administrator can also create Roles, using the Applications tab in WJA 10.0, which has a predefined set of rights, and assign these on a per-user or group basis.

Analysis: For the most part, User rights in WJA 8.1 are device specific and are more or less limited to passwords. WJA 10.0 allows an Administrator to provide a wider variety of User rights simply by selecting a user, group, or domain, and selecting the rights to be granted from a checklist. This is not only easier to accomplish, but allows the Administrator more flexibility in granting rights and capabilities.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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What system resources can each version access to provide hands-off User authentication? WJA 8.1: WJA 10.0

WJA 8.1 allows the Administrator to set up groups and provide a group password. A WJA 8.1 specific password can be selected at installation and initial set up time. WJA 8.1 can also be configured to use NT Domain groups and apply the passwords associated with these groups.

Web Jetadmin 10.0 provides an Administrator with great flexibility in setting up authentication. An Administrator can set up WJA 10.0 to query Active Directory Services (available in Windows operating systems since Windows 2000) for authorities and certificates stored by ADS, transferring those authorities into WJA 10.0. The Administrator can also use the Application Management tab in the Task box to create and edit User roles, selecting permitted authentications from checklists.

Analysis: Windows has had robust authorization and certification capabilities since the establishment of Active Directory Services ADS) in Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Server. WJA 8.1 does not really interface with ADS, though it can make limited use of permissions stored in the LDAP. Web Jetadmin 10.0 was designed to interface with ADS and make use of the certificates and permissions stored there, though these can be overridden or supplemented by the Administrator. Additionally, this ADS authentication process flows in both directions. When a printer object is added to a print queue, it can be automatically added to the Active Directory as well. The net effect of this is to provide more robust security with considerably less effort on the part of the Administrator, and reduces the need for duplication existing User rights and permissions.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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About Industry Analysts, Inc.
INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC. 50 Chestnut Plaza Suite 900 Rochester, NY 14604 USA Phone: (585) 232-5320 Fax: (585) 454-5760 Industry Analysts, Inc. (IA, Inc.) is a market research and product testing firm specializing in the office automation industry. Founded in 1974, IA, Inc. provides “real-world” third party testing and evaluations, market research and focus groups from our offices in Fairfield, New Jersey, and Rochester, New York. IA, Inc. is a veteran member of the Business Technology Association. Our staff regularly attends industry trade shows and analyst meetings. The firm has offered a unique blend of product testing, research and training since 1974. Senior Technical Director Ted Needleman has written more than 4,000 product reviews, articles and columns as well as two books.

www.industryanalysts.com
Technical Services Division (IATSD) 1275 Bloomfield Avenue Building 3, Unit 50C Fairfield, NJ 07004 USA Phone: (973) 227-8699 Fax: (973) 227-3644

Industry Analysts, Inc. does not believe in subjective awards based on arbitrary findings. Because of this, Industry Analysts is one of the few testing organizations that do not confuse test results with the need to market certificates. Industry Analysts understands the need for unbiased, real-world test data. Because the firm’s revenue is not dependent on vendors buying awards, Industry Analysts can confidently state that our test results are just that—test results, which can be replicated anywhere. To visit Industry Analysts’ testing laboratory, please call for an appointment.

This comparative report was prepared explicitly for Hewlett-Packard. It cannot be copied, distributed or quoted without their express permission.

© 2007 Industry Analysts, Inc. • www.industryanalysts.com

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