Agfa Launches Snapscan 1212u Scanner; Agfa Adds USB Interface to Award-Winning Scanner Technology, Giving Users Complete Package of Quality, Speed and Ease-of-Use

Business Wire, August 26, 1998

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 1998--Agfa Desktop Products Group (DTP), the world's leading provider of award-winning desktop scanners and digital cameras, today introduced the SnapScan 1212u -- a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible flat-bed scanner designed for home and small/office use. The SnapScan 1212u incorporates the advantages of the widely acclaimed USB interface with the award-winning features of Agfa's SnapScan line of scanners. The SnapScan 1212u is among the first scanners to offer the new interface, providing a unique package of quality, speed and ease of use.

The USB interface makes it easier for consumers to add a wide variety of peripherals to their PCs through a one-size-fits-all, plug and play connection. Agfa refers to the SnapScan 1212u interface as a "hot plug-in", as the scanner can be connected and disconnected without powering down the computer.

USB peripherals automatically self-configure, dramatically simplifying the process for users who may be expanding their computer systems. With a USB port there is no longer a need to adjust system settings, insert add-in cards or reboot the system after connecting the scanner. This is a decided advantage for those who use the same connection for a number of peripherals, such as printers, scanners, digital cameras, etc. In addition, the USB connection is inherently faster. This means improved speed for data transfer during scanning.

"The Windows 98 support of the USB is a realization of the Microsoft concept, `works better, plays better.' You can easily add up to 127 devices on a single PC by using peripherals with USB hubs," says Per Save, Agfa vice president of marketing, Desktop Products Group. "The SnapScan 1212u helps to make this promise a reality. At the same time it puts higher end imaging power into the hands of Win 98/USB users."

The 1200-series represents Agfa's next generation of SnapScan scanners. The new models offer improvements in resolution and scanning power over the award-winning SnapScan line.

Performance Features of the SnapScan 1212u

The SnapScan 1212u features true optical resolution of 600 X 1200 ppi (pixels per inch), which can be interpolated to 9600 ppi, and 36-bit color depth (12 bits per color) to deliver greater sharpness and color detail.

The SnapScan 1212u offers scanner driver software that responds to all needs and experience levels. With an intuitive, easy-to-use user interface, FotoSnap is ideal for the inexperienced user. The software reads the image on preview and automatically selects the best setting for the final scan. As the users' experience and skill level increases, FotoLook lets them adjust scanner parameters to correct or enhance characteristics of the original.

Additional bundled software includes iPhoto Express, which lets the user manipulate photos and create images for a variety of creative applications, and Caere<180>s OmniPage Limited Edition OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software. OCR software scans and converts hard-copy text into a writable format. In addition, the software bundle includes the popular Visioneer PaperPort document management software for sending, filing, copying and locating scanned documents.

The maximum scanning area is 8.5 X 11.7 in. Minimum system requirement is Windows' 98 on a PC with a Pentium II processor.

Pricing and Availability

The SnapScan 1212u will be available in September 1998, at the manufacturer's suggested price of $129.

About Agfa

The Agfa-Gevaert Group is a worldwide manufacturer of imaging products and systems, with annual worldwide sales of $4.5 billion. Agfa-Gevaert manufactures and markets products and systems for the electronic and photographic prepress, medical, and technical diagnostic and amateur and professional photographic markets. Headquartered in Europe, Agfa-Gevaert is wholly-owned by Bayer AG. In the United States, Agfa operates as a division of Bayer Corporation, with headquarters in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. Bayer, headquartered in Pittsburgh, has major businesses in chemicals, health care and imaging technologies. Agfa is on the World Wide Web at http://www.agfahome.com.

(Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Color images of Agfa products are available for download from Agfa's press site on the World Wide Web at http://www.agfapress.com or by contacting Scott Signore of Agfa DTP at 978/658-5600, ext. 5567

Product and company information can be found on Agfa's home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.agfahome.com.

In addition:

-- The domestic activities for Agfa DTP (including desktop scanners,

digital cameras and AgfaJet ink-jet materials) are headquartered

in Wilmington, Massachusetts. -- For general product information, customers can call 888/281-2302 -- To purchase products, customers can call 978/658-5600, ext. 5196

CONTACT: Agfa DTP Public Relations Manager

Scott Signore 978/658-5600, ext. 5567

scott.signore.b@bayer.com