Leading Edge Expands Fortiva Family of Personal Computers With Intel Pentium Multimedia Mid-Tower System

Business Wire, Nov 14, 1994

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 14, 1994 -- Targeting small office/home office (SOHO) users and consumers who require powerful multimedia systems, Leading Edge Products, Inc. today unveiled the Fortiva Series 6000 Multimedia Mid-Tower at Comdex. The price/performance leading company continues to provide unsurpassed value to customers with suggested retail pricing for the new multimedia mid-tower starting as low as $2,799 for a system with the 90MHz Pentium processor, 8MB of memory and 1 gigabyte hard drive. The plug-and-play ready systems feature excellent expansion opportunities, upgradability with future Intel Pentium OverDrive processors, as well as a PCI local bus video controller for accelerated graphics performance.

Available in December, this compact multimedia mid-tower addition to the Fortiva Series of systems includes software ideal for SOHO users, and consumers demanding the latest in business and "edutainment" software. Models with modems also offer access to major on-line services, including Prodigy, America Online, CompuServe, Genie and Delphi (for Internet access). The mid- tower's multimedia components include a double-speed CD-ROM drive, stereo speakers, headphones, and a 16-bit audio board.

The company also announced today that the Fortiva Series 6000 Multimedia Mid-Tower will be available with the 75MHz Pentium processor in the first quarter of 1995.

"Business and consumer users are demanding powerful multimedia systems designed around the Pentium processor to take advantage of the wealth of exciting sound and video-intensive software packages available on the market today," said Michael Morand, Leading Edge president and CEO. "The Fortiva 6000 Multimedia Mid-Tower is the ideal high-end platform that offers both the expandability and advanced features required to support multimedia applications offered today and in the future."

Software Bundling

The Fortiva Series 6000 comes standard with MS-DOS 6.2, Microsoft Windows 3.1, MS-Works for Windows, MS Productivity Pack, Microsoft Money and Microsoft Entertainment Pack 4. In addition, more than 25 popular multimedia software and CD titles -- with a total retail value of over $1,000 -- offer users entertainment, reference and educational programs in addition to business productivity applications. These include Infopedia (eight information and reference titles); Dr. T's Sing-A-Long; Better Homes & Gardens Healthy Cooking; Americans in Space; Musical Instruments of the Symphony Orchestra; Royal Geographic's Ten Man-Made Wonders of the World; Star Crusader; Better Homes and Gardens Dandy Dinosaur; and Multimedia Jokebook.

Configuration Specifications

The Fortiva Series 6000 Multimedia Mid-Tower system comes with either 8MB or 16MB RAM expandable to 128MB on the main system board, and a one gigabyte hard drive. Cache memory includes 16KB internal to the CPU and 256KB external. The system is plug-and-play ready, with additional features such as a 296-pin ZIF socket for microprocessor upgrades and PCI local-bus graphics accelerator with 1MB video memory (upgradable to 2MB).

Storage includes one 3.5" floppy drive, five 5.25" and two 3.5" drive bays, while the system can be expanded through two 32-bit PCI slots, four 16-bit ISA slots, and one PCI/ISA shared slot. A dual channel IDE controller can accommodate up to four peripheral devices -- two PCI and two ISA -- for improved system performance and high-speed data transfer. The system includes one enhanced parallel port (ECP and EPP), two high-speed serial ports, one PS/2 keyboard port, as well as a 200 watt power supply, 101-key keyboard and mouse. Select models also offer a 14.4 baud fax/data modem.

Pricing

The Fortiva Series 6000 Multimedia Mid-Towers are priced at $2,799 for the 90 MHz Pentium with 8MB RAM and $3,099 with 16MB RAM. Dealer prices may vary.

Service and Support

The products are supported through Leading Edge's AdvantEDGE service and support program that guarantees long-term product satisfaction. The program includes choice of a 3-year carry-in or one-year on-site warranty, toll-free technical support 7 days a week, 12 hours per day, and 24-hour access to an on-line information bulletin board. Carry-in service is provided at over 800 Leading Edge Authorized Service Centers nationwide. On-site service is provided in the United States by GE Computer Service, a division of General Electric.

About the Company

Leading Edge Products, Inc. is a supplier of personal computers and peripheral products for today's business and consumer computing markets. Founded in 1980, Leading Edge has more than 10 years experience in providing price/performance leading systems, in a recognizable brand name. The company's Valiance Series of computers are available exclusively through distribution. Its Fortiva line of multimedia, mid-tower and desktop systems and Aviva Series of notebook computers are sold through the retail channel, including resellers, mass merchants and computer superstores. Leading Edge is a subsidiary of Daewoo Telecom, Ltd., part of the $30 billion industrial leader, Daewoo Group. For additional product information, Leading Edge can be reached at 1-800-874-3340.