Sony Ships Spressa Recordable CD-ROM Drive Units with Corel's New CD Creator 2 for Windows 95; For Added Convenience, Drives Also Include Corel CD Creator 1.02 for Windows 3.X Environments and Corel's New CD Creator for the Macintosh Software

Business Wire, Jan 11, 1996

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 1996--Sony today announced that its Spressa recordable CD-ROM (CD-R) drives are now available with Corel Corporation's new CD writer software for Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems, Corel CD Creator 2.

In addition, the Spressa package includes Corel CD Creator 1.02 for Windows 3.X environments and Corel's new CD Creator for the Macintosh software. All these versions of CD Creator are included on one CD-ROM disc.

"The combination of a Spressa drive and Corel software provides users with a powerful, flexible CD-ROM creation station," said Chuck Bridges, Marketing Manager, Data Storage Products for Sony Electronics' Component and Computer Products Group. "We're pleased to include different versions of Corel software, so users can focus on creating CDs without worrying about their development environment. The Corel CD Creator "hybrid" disc adds tremendous value to the Spressa drive configurations and provides a distinct advantage over competitive offerings currently in the marketplace."

Sony's Spressa CD-R drives are ideal for such tasks as CD software publishing, image and other large file distribution, data archiving and hard drive backup on the corporate desktop. Sony offers internal (the Spressa 920) and external models (the Spressa 9211).

Not only does Corel CD Creator 2 software make it simple to record CD-ROM discs but its file handling algorithm -- which takes advantage of the Windows 95 operating system -- makes the process efficient as well. In addition, an integrated "disc wizard" feature helps novice users create compact discs through a series of step-by-step questions and explanations. Integrated editors for designing the layout of audio information and data files, and for customizing the compact disc insert are also provided. Corel CD Creator requires minimal temporary disk space to record a layout; available hard drive space need only to be as large as the longest track to be recorded. The software supports common formats such as ISO 9660 Level 1 and 2, Modes 1 and 2, Hybrid, Audio, Mixed Mode or CD Plus.

With a maximum sustained data transfer rate of 300Kbytes per second, the Spressa CD-R drive can record a full 650MB disc in about 45 minutes. To facilitate the smooth flow of data from the hard drive, the Spressa system features a one megabyte data buffer.

Thanks to the Spressa drive's high tolerance for reading from and writing to different media types, users are virtually assured of readability by CD-ROM readers. The Spressa system, which incorporates an industry-standard SCSI-2 interface, is itself an excellent double-speed CD-ROM reader.

Along with software, interface and audio cables, each Spressa package includes other such value-added items as recordable Spressa discs, Multimedia World magazine on CD-ROM, and special offer from Sony's Digital Audio Disc Corporation (DADC) for disc mastering and replication.

The Spressa 920 (internal) package is currently available for a suggested retail price of $1,195.95. The Spressa 9211 (external) package has a suggested retail price of $1,495.95.

The Component and Computer Products Group of Sony Electronics Inc., headquartered in San Jose, Calif., markets Trinitron monitors, optical drives, floppy disk and tape drives, multimedia products and other products through OEM, industrial distribution and reseller channels. For additional information about Sony computer products, call 800/352-7669. -0-

Note to Editors: Please list 800/352-7669 as the Sony customer contact number. The address for Sony Component and Computer Products Group is 3300 Zanker Road, San Jose, CA 95134. For more editorial information about Sony and its products, please contact Marilyn Ritchie, Technology Solutions, 408/280-6000; or Manny Vara, Sony Corporate Communications, 408/955-5142.

CONTACT: Sony Corporation

Manny Vara, 408/955-5142

or

Technology Solutions Inc.

Marilyn Young Ritchie, 408/280-6000 Ext. 213