IMSI's New CD Copier `Gamers' Edition' Runs Games Up to 50 Times Faster; Creates Virtual CD-ROMs on Hard Drive — Faster Data Access Without Hassle of Carrying or Swapping CD-ROMs

Business Wire, Nov 10, 1998

NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 1998--Making it possible to run any CD-ROM application directly from a PC hard drive, IMSI(R) (Nasdaq: IMSI) -- a leading developer and publisher of business productivity software -- today announced its CD-ROM emulation product for PC gamers, CD Copier(tm) Gamers' Edition.

"Gamers crave the enhanced speed and convenience CD Copier offers," said Zeev Shpringer, general manager for IMSI's utility products division. "CD Copier is the only utility software product that creates a virtual CD ROM on your hard drive, allowing game enthusiasts to turn their hard drive into a fast, multi-disc CD-ROM drive."

Shpringer notes that CD Copier has already proven to be a huge hit in Japan, where it continues to be one of the top-selling utility products.

"Essentially, virtual CDs on your hard drive can be accessed faster than the originals from your CD-ROM drive," Shpringer said, noting that this contributes to the intensity of game playing experience. "In addition, you can save multiple CDs to your hard drive and stop wasting time swapping out CDs in multi-disk games and applications -- giving you access to as many as 23 CD-ROM applications at one time!"

He adds that the virtual CDs created with CD Copier can be compressed up to 80 percent to save valuable hard disk space.

"Generally, when playing a multi-CD game, a player is prompted to insert different CDs as the game progresses," Shpringer noted. "Instead of hunting for CDs and swapping them in and out of a CD-ROM drive, CD Copier allows users to click a shortcut to the appropriate virtual CD. The software doesn't have to wait for the CD to change or `spin up' because the virtual CDs are already on the user's hard drive. This greatly enhances access and search times, which in turn greatly enhances the gaming experience."

By saving applications to a hard drive, a user's CD-ROM drive is free to run other applications or to play audio CDs.

Ideal for Business Travelers and For Accessing Large Volumes of Information

A benefit to business travelers as well, CD Copier eliminates the need to carry external CD-ROM drives with laptop computers.

"Imagine not having to haul around a dozen CD-ROMs during a business trip. Or worrying about losing or scratching your expensive master CD-ROMs on the road," Shpringer said.

CD Copier also is ideal for those interested in accessing data on encyclopedia CDs quickly and easily.

"Searching through a voluminous amount of data is much faster and easier using a hard drive rather than individual CDs," said Shpringer. "With an encyclopedia on CDs, users access data in an unpredictable order, requiring the application to jump from one part of a CD to another to find the appropriate data. By copying the CDs onto a hard drive with CD Copier, a user saves a significant amount of time searching for specific content."

CD Copier Far Exceeds Windows(R) Explorer for Copying CDs

Shpringer notes that, unlike Windows Explorer, CD Copier will copy, and in most cases, run audio tracks as well.

"This is important if you don't want to lose audio elements that are critical for game applications," he said. "In addition, some applications will not operate if a CD is not actually running from a CD-ROM drive. To combat this potential problem, CD Copier simulates signals to fool the application into believing that a CD is running."

CD Copier will also maintain the exact folder and file structure that exists on the CD-ROM, saving the application to the root of the virtual drive. This ensures that the virtual CD-ROM runs as if it were the real thing.

System Requirements and Availability

CD Copier requires a Pentium or better PC, Windows(R) 95, 98 or NT 4.0 operating system, 33 MB RAM, 16 MB of hard disk space, and a CD-ROM drive (At least 500 MB of free hard disk space is recommended for virtual CD-ROM files, depending on the size and number of CD-ROMs to be placed in CD container files.) CD Copier is now available in retail stores nationwide for an estimated street price is $29.95.

About IMSI

Founded in 1982, IMSI (International Microcomputer Software, Inc.) is a provider of computer-aided design, business productivity, utility, and visual content software. Headquartered in Novato, IMSI has offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, Brazil, and Japan. The company produces and sells its software in 13 languages and in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information, please contact IMSI public relations at 415/878-4000, or visit www.imsisoft.com.

Note to Editors: IMSI is a registered trademark of International Microcomputer Software, Inc. CD Copier is a trademark of International Microcomputer Software, Inc. All other products are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.