EPSON introduces 340MB hard disk drive PC card; new 340MB hard disk drive boasts highest density of any PC card on the market

Business Wire, Jan 2, 1996

leadership as a manufacturer of PC card products for mobile computer users, EPSON Tuesday announced a bold new addition, the EHDD340, the highest density hard disk drive PC card available on the market.

The new EPSON card offers mobile users a durable, high-density storage solution in a Type III PC card rugged enough to withstand 750Gs of impact and still execute media transfer rates of up to 6.0 MB/sec and interface transfer rates up to 12.0 MB/sec.

The EHDD340 complements EPSON's extensive line of storage and memory PC cards, and reinforces the company's leadership position as a broadline supplier of PC cards for the storage, memory and I/O markets. The EHDD340 will be available for both OEM and retail markets.

EPSON's EHDD340 also supports the Apple PowerBook 500 series and the new PowerBook 190 and 5300 series. The EHDD340 joins EPSON's industry leading family of Macintosh-compatible PC cards available through authorized retail dealers.

``Our goal is to continue offering our OEM and retail customers the most complete line of PC card solutions at a competitive price,'' said Jack Confrey, vice president, OEM, EPSON. ``EPSON's EHDD340 is the best card currently at market for meeting the mobile user's growing demand for affordable, high-density, portable storage.''

For OEMs, the EHDD340 version will be $395 in quantities of 1,000. Sample units are available now, with production units to follow in mid-January. Retail cards will be available in mid-January and are list priced at $599. All retail cards are covered by EPSON's standard two-year limited warranty. An additional year is provided upon return of the registration card.

EPSON offers a ``compatibility guarantee'' for all EPSON PC cards purchased through retail channels. Under the money-back guarantee program, if an EPSON PC card is not 100 percent compatible with a system after driver and software installation, EPSON retailers will fully refund the purchase price of the PC card.

EPSON also offers an exclusive Data Recovery Program (DRoP) for recapturing valuable data in case of severe damage to the card. With this program, users can have their data retrieved for a $69.95 service fee. All EPSON PC cards come standard with Card and Socket Services software for easy installation and use of the card.

EPSON offers an extensive array of technology products, including ink jet, laser and dot matrix printers, scanners, portable and desktop computers, and for the OEM market, a variety of component and electronic devices.

Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is an affiliate of Seiko Epson Corp., a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency.

Epson America Inc. has headquarters in Torrance. For more information on EPSON and its products, call 800-BUY-EPSON or stop by its corporate Website on the Internet at http://www.epson.com. -0-

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CONTACT: EPSON

Susie Mitchell, 310/782-5174

310/782-5179 (fax)

or

Walt & Sommerhauser Communications

Kellie DiNaro, 408/496-0900