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Hitachi launched a range of desktop computers on Monday with internal wireless LAN modems that support the IEEE 802.11a standard, the company said, claiming a world first for such products.

The 802.11a standard supports data transmission at rates up to 54 megabits per second (or mbps) and makes use of spectrum in the 5-GHz band, a step up in both speed and frequency from the more common 802.11b standard that supports up to 11 mbps transmission at 2.4-GHz.

Among a range of 14 desktop and notebook machines the Tokyo company announced on Monday, three of the desktop models come with 802.11a support built in. They differ in the processor, which is either a 2.4-GHz or 2-GHz Pentium 4 or a 1.7-GHz Celeron, and each has 128MB of memory and a 40GB hard drive.

Users have the option of a 15-inch or 17-inch XGA resolution thin film transistor LCD monitor and prices range from $2,026 to $1,553.

Upgraded USB

The machines also include support for USB 2.0, the latest version of the USB standard that supports data transmission at 480 mbps. This is some 40 times faster than the first version of USB.

Interoperability testing of devices based on the 802.11a system is just beginning and, as a result, devices based on it are expected to become more and more common. Hitachi said the products announced Monday have not undergone interoperability testing, although the controller chip has passed WiFi Alliance tests.

Hitachi's announcement comes on the same day that Toshiba is announcing plans to put 802.11a modems inside some of its notebook computers due out in December.

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