Hitachi America ships 24X data rate CD-ROM drive for computer OEM and upgrade markets; 24X maximum data rate and 90ms access times deliver fastest possible CD performance in personal computers

Business Wire, July 1, 1997

BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 1, 1997--Hitachi America, Ltd. today announced that it is shipping the CDR-8330, a 24X maximum data rate CD-ROM drive for personal computers.

The new drive utilizes advanced signal processing electronics and Constant Angular Velocity technology to achieve data rates ranging from 1,500 KB/sec. to 3,600 KB/sec., with data access times as low as 90 ms.

Hitachi was the first CD-ROM manufacturer to use Constant Angular Velocity (CAV) technology, which eliminates the variable spindle motor speed used in older CD-ROM drives. By spinning the disc at a constant rate, equivalent to a 10X data rate drive in the CDR-8330, the drive is quieter and more reliable than drives spinning at faster speeds. Constant motor speed also eliminates the need for settling of the optical pickup after seeking data, resulting in an improved access rate compared to drives using older CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) technology.

"Even as the market begins its transition to DVD drives, our OEM and distribution channel customers are seeing demand for improved CD-ROM drive performance and reliability," said Werner Glinka, Director of Marketing for the Storage Products Group of Hitachi America, Ltd. "The CDR-8330 meets this demand, providing maximum performance for owners of new, Pentium-class systems using CD-based multimedia applications, including productivity software, reference materials, educational software, and games."

The CDR-8330 drive is designed for Windows 3.X and Windows 95 systems. It uses the E-IDE (ATAPI PIO Mode 4) bus interface and supports DMA (Direct Memory Access) Mode 2 to minimize the effect of drive operations on CPU performance. Physical dimensions are 146 mm X 41.3 mm X 190 mm, and the drive has a weight of approximately 1 kg. The CDR-8330 drive supports all standard 650 MB capacity CD-ROM formats, including Mode 1 and Mode 2 discs, Photo CD, Audio CD, Data and Audio Mixed Mode, and CD-Extra. CD-Recordable and CD-Rewritable media can also be read in the drive.

The CDR-8330 drive is marketed in North America by the Computer Division of Hitachi America, Ltd. While Hitachi's principal customers are personal computer OEMs, the company expects that upgrade kit vendors will package the drive for resale directly to end-users at competitive retail prices.

The Computer Division of Hitachi America, Ltd. sells high-capacity, high-performance hard disk drives, CD-ROM, and DVD drives through its Storage Products Group. The Computer Division is part of Hitachi Americas Converging Technologies Group, which markets a broad range of electronic hardware and software products, including semiconductors, storage devices, printers, monitors and flat panel displays.

Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Japan, markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and semiconductor products, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout the United States. Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the world's leading global electronics company, with fiscal 1996 consolidated sales (ending March 31, 1997) of $68.7 billion. The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment.

CONTACT: Hitachi America, Ltd.

Reader contact, 800/HITACHI (800/448-2244)

Werner Glinka, 415/244-7630 (editorial contact)

or

FS Communications (editorial contact)

Matthew Schmidt, 415/691-1488