HP Brio
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | September 1998 |
| Founder | Hewlett-Packard |
| Products | Desktop personal computers |
| Owner | Hewlett-Packard |
The HP Brio series comprised business-focused desktop personal computers developed by Hewlett-Packard specifically designed for small enterprise users.
Introduced in September 1998, the 7000 series targeted typical business computing needs and was priced at approximately $2449, including a 15-inch display. Meanwhile, the 8000 series catered to users requiring higher performance for demanding business applications.
In June 1999, HP launched the Brio BA and BAx models, which were bundled with Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business and offered at price points of $999 and $1,499 respectively.
The BA200 model, released in October 1999 at around $499, was aimed at small businesses that typically purchased white box PCs—non-branded or consumer retail machines similar to those from eMachines. These systems came pre-installed with Windows 2000 and held certification for Novell network operating systems to ensure seamless integration into corporate networks. Additionally, they featured HP Brio Internet Center and HP Brio Center software packages, delivering robust Internet access, e-commerce functionality, and online support services.
At the same time, HP announced a collaboration with AT&T; WorldNet Service to provide small and medium-sized businesses with straightforward, high-speed Internet connectivity solutions. This partnership offered a comprehensive package including connectivity as well as tools for website and online store development.
In 1998, HP also teamed up with Symantec to pre-install pcANYWHERE32 remote access software on all Brio PCs, targeting small to medium enterprises that lacked dedicated IT personnel.
The budget-conscious Brio models offered both on-screen and online technical assistance via a tailored Yahoo! portal featuring news updates, business advice, stock market information, and support content specific to HP products.
By May 2000, the HP Brio BA200 had achieved recognition as number six on PC World's Top 10 Budget PCs ranking.
In January 2002, Netscape Communications granted Hewlett-Packard a license to incorporate its Netcenter Web portal within the Brio business PC product line.
Models
The HP Brio family consisted of multiple model variations denoted by the "x" placeholder across series ranging from 71 to 85:
- HP Brio 71xx
- HP Brio 80xx
- HP Brio 81xx
- HP Brio 82xx
- HP Brio 83xx
- HP Brio 84xx
- HP Brio 85xx
- HP Brio BA200
- HP Brio BA210
- HP Brio BA300
- HP Brio BA400
- HP Brio BA410
- HP Brio BA600
- HP Brio BAx
- HP Brio BA