IBM Broadens its Aptiva Home PC Family to Bring Cutting-edge Technologies, Value, Quality and Reliability to the Consumer PC Marketplace

Business Wire, Sept 15, 1997

Performance, Affordability, Quality and Reliability = Value

With the introduction of the Aptiva E Series, IBM Aptiva is re-setting the standard by which all value-priced home PCs will be measured. Priced to meet the needs of the value conscious consumer, the Aptiva E Series does not compromise on multimedia excitement. With processors including MMX(TM) technology, 3D graphics acceleration and a dedicated audio processor, the E Series delivers a full 3D experience not found on most other systems in its price range. In addition to the optional 14" (actual viewing size is 12.7"), 15" (actual viewing size is 13.7") and 17" (actual viewing size is 15.7") monitors, the E Series is backed by the quality, reliability and service that consumers have come to expect from IBM. With the E Series, consumers know they are getting a system that will grow and expand with them while delivering power and performance at a great price.

Multimedia Leadership

Since its inception, IBM Aptiva has been a leader in providing consumers with outstanding home multimedia solutions. The new Aptiva E, L and S Series models are no exception. With multimedia features that include hardware acceleration for both audio and video, as well as fully exploiting MMX technologies, IBM offers exhilarating multimedia capabilities across its entire line.

- Sound by Bose(c) - Powered by a 300 MIPS(i) audio processor, Aptiva's new PC audio system, developed jointly over the past year by IBM, Bose and Cirrus Logic, features an integrated audio solution that includes a custom loudspeaker design, amplifier card and a revolutionary TrueSpace(TM) audio processing system. With TrueSpace technology, stereo sound extends far to the left and right of the actual speaker locations, resulting in a natural, life-like audio experience. The Aptivas with Sound by Bose not only reproduce high quality sound, but also support special audio effects like 3D positional sound, hardware- accelerated Dolby(R) Digital decoding and even virtual 5.1 channel surround sound over just two speakers. In addition, the Bose Acoustimass(R) module, which delivers rich bass from a compact enclosure by launching sound into the room via two air masses, is bundled with all Aptiva S Series models.

- Arcade-Level Hardware 3D Graphics - Originally developed for the consumer gaming marketplace, 3D exploitive software has recently begun to migrate to entertainment and educational software. IBM Aptiva understands the importance of 3D and has incorporated hardware 3D graphics accelerators from either ATI(R) or Trident across all of its new Aptiva models.

- Full AGP Graphics Support - All of the new IBM Aptiva L and S Series PCs with Intel Pentium II processors have the ATI 3D Rage(TM) Pro chip set to bring consumers the ultimate in 3D graphics and video performance. With their full 133MHz AGP(j) capabilities, these Aptivas deliver up to three times the graphics performance of previous models. Aptiva's 3D graphics provide the high-resolution and smooth action needed for the ultimate multimedia experience.