Ximian and Hewlett-Packard Deliver Ximian GNOME Desktop Software for HP-UX Workstations

BOSTON - December 17, 2001 - Ximian, Inc., the leading open source desktop company, and Hewlett-Packard today announced that a preview release of the Ximian GNOME open source desktop environment is now available for HP-UX workstations. Enabling Hewlett-Packard to provide a common desktop experience across Linux and UNIX systems, Ximian GNOME provides HP customers with an elegant desktop interface and a full range of open source productivity applications. The Ximian GNOME 1.2 preview release for HP-UX 11.0 workstations is now available for customer download and evaluation at http://www.hp.com/go/gnome.

Ximian GNOME 1.2 for HP-UX is a modern, highly customizable desktop environment that runs on top of the X Window System, and over time will replace CDE as the default desktop environment on HP-UX. This version of the popular GNOME interface for Linux and UNIX has been ported, productized and tested by Ximian, and provides a robust customizable graphical desktop environment with extensive tools for personal productivity. Ximian GNOME also includes GTK+ and GNOME engineering tools for both free and proprietary software development.

In addition to simple first time set up and drag-and-drop file management, Ximian GNOME for HP-UX lets users customize desktop themes, backgrounds, windows and more. It includes a host of applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, graphics editing, online chat and instant messaging. For developers, Ximian GNOME also includes Glade, a GTK+/GNOME user interface builder to enable rapid prototyping and creation of application interfaces. Critically important in mixed corporate computing environments, Ximian GNOME supports a broad range of Linux and UNIX operating systems in addition to HP-UX, including Solaris, Red Hat, Mandrake, SuSE, Debian, Turbolinux and Yellow Dog.

"Ximian was the obvious choice for us to work with in bringing the next-generation desktop experience to HP customers," said David Frydendall, lab manager, HP Unix Systems Enablement Lab. "Ximian has a proven track record with the open source development model and its Ximian GNOME software provides the desktop usability, the applications availability and broad platform support our corporate customers require."

The customer preview release of Ximian GNOME for HP-UX is the first step in the companies' joint work to develop and support Ximian GNOME as the future common desktop environment for HP-UX, eventually succeeding CDE. The companies have also extended their partnership announced earlier this year ("Ximian GNOME Selected by Hewlett-Packard as Open Source Desktop for HP-UX Workstations," February 1, 2001) to include multi-year Ximian developer support for frontline HP personnel. Ximian will be providing "Level III" support to HP technical support staff worldwide, which will be elevated to 24/7 once HP offers full support following the conclusion of the "preview" release period. HP intends to update the software and commence official support next year.

"Our growing relationship with HP is a powerful endorsement of our company's technology, services and corporate capabilities," said David Patrick, president and CEO, Ximian, Inc. "We're delighted to be working together on a shared vision of a common, elegant desktop environment across Linux and UNIX platforms for developers and corporate customers alike."

About HP
Hewlett-Packard Company-a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services-is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to all. HP had total revenue from continuing operations of $48.8 billion in its 2000 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

About Ximian, Inc.
Ximian is the established leader in providing open source desktop technology, applications, support and services for the Linux and UNIX marketplaces. Ximian products, in use by over 800,000 people worldwide, are providing the ease of use, productivity and interoperability needed to propel the adoption of the Linux desktop in corporate computing environments. Its Ximian Desktop software starts with Ximian GNOME, a productized end-user desktop based on the GNOME project, to provide a complete graphical desktop environment and productivity application suite for Linux and UNIX systems. Ximian Red Carpet and Ximian Evolution deliver software and personal information management solutions for both end users and corporate customers. Comprised of many of the original architects of the GNOME system, Ximian is a founding member of the GNOME Foundation and sits on the advisory board. The company has secured funding from leading venture firms Charles River Ventures and Battery Ventures and can be reached at www.ximian.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products and services may not develop as expected; that development of these products and services may not proceed as planned; and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Oct. 31, 2000, and subsequently filed reports. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, HP's results could differ materially from HP's expectations in these statements. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

Ximian, Ximian Evolution and Red Carpet are trademarks of Ximian, Inc. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.