Exabyte announces first AutoPak 1x10, 2U autoloader shipments

Computer Technology Review, March, 2002

Exabyte Corp. announced at FOSE 2002 its first customer shipments of the VXA AutoPak 1x10. The AutoPak 1x10 combines the convenience of automated backup and restore with the reliability of VXA technology. It stores a considerable amount of data, up to 660 GB compressed, at a cost of $2,995 Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), less than $5.00 per gigabyte.

The VXA AutoPak 1x10 is ideal for small businesses, or larger organizations with decentralized offices and few IT staff'. The AutoPak 1x10 optimizes server room real estate and increases data management efficiency by offering automated backup at one of the lowest costs per gigabyte in the industry. The VXA AutoPak 1x10 is designed with significant advantages over current 4mm autoloaders and specifically targets the replacement of DDS autoloaders. The DDS replacement market was created when DDS (DAT) technology manufacturers announced they would not develop the next-generation DDS product, leaving millions of cost-conscious DDS users in need of a new tape storage product alternative.

According to various industry analyst firms, the total autoloader market constituted more than 50% of total automation sales in 2000, and is expected to grow around 10% per year. Within that segment, new technologies will be replacing current DDS autoloader shipments, which were approximately 59,000 units in 2000, and expected to decrease by 15,000 units in 2002. Additionally, more than 30% of all servers shipped in 2001 were rack mountable. This highlights the need for space-efficient rack mountable tape storage solutions to complement the growth in rack environments. "With a streamlined form factor, high capacity offering and a low price, the VXA AutoPak 1x10 offers small to medium businesses an excellent and economical solution for automated data backup," stated Kelly Beavers, vice president of marketing at Exabyte Corporation. "The AutoPak 1x10 is also a tremendous opportunity for Exabyte to continue rapid VXA adoption in the DDS replacement market."

The VXA AutoPak 1x10 comes with a 3-year warranty and contains one VXA-1 tape drive, 10 VXAtape cartridges, offering up to 660 GB of compressed capacity, as well as a SCSI cable, terminator, CD manual and a US and international power cord. It also features a user-friendly operator control panel and SCSI LVD interface.

For additional information, call 1-800-EXABYTE or visit:

www.exabyte.com