Toshiba Equium 7100 PCs Incorporate Intel's New 550MHz Pentium III Processor While Eliminating Qualification Time and Expense for Corporate Customers

Business Wire, May 17, 1999

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 1999--

Toshiba Continues to Address IT Concerns About

Technology Transition Costs by Maintaining a Consistent Platform

That Now Supports 10 Intel Processors

The first PC manufacturer to address IT needs for platform stability, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS), Computer Systems Division (CSD) today announced a new built-to-order (BTO) option for its Equium(TM) 7100 series of desktop PCs with Intel's new Pentium(R) III 550MHz processor. Toshiba proves its ability to ease technology transitions by adding its tenth processor option that allows current Equium customers to bring new PCs into the enterprise without needing to re-qualify the systems.

"Corporate customers have grown accustomed to spending needless time and money on qualifying new systems every time a new processor or technology comes to market," said Jeffrey Friederichs, vice president of marketing, Toshiba CSD. "Toshiba was the first manufacturer to solve this problem for corporate customers with the stability of its innovative Equium product design. The Equium 7100 has continued to incorporate the latest technologies while maintaining a consistent platform, ultimately extending product lifecycles and reducing TCO."

Independent research confirms that Toshiba's Equium 7100 desktops reduce ownership costs by eight percent, or $433 per PC per year, in companies with 1,000 seats for a total annual cost-savings of $433,000. Consistency of components, a stable motherboard platform, streamlined qualification and easy serviceability combine to make the Equium 7100 series a smart choice for corporate environments.

Maximum Serviceability for Corporate Customers

Further reducing IT support costs, the Equium 7100 incorporates Toshiba's unique Instant Access door. The Instant Access door allows motherboard replacement in as little as 30 seconds, without having to remove the monitor or disrupt the work environment. This design minimizes downtime and reduces the cost of performing system upgrades and system maintenance by requiring less time at a user's desk.

Toshiba Delivers Industry-Leading Manageability Solutions

Equium desktops incorporate a number of manageability tools, including Toshiba's unique Configuration Builder CD. This CD reduces the time and costs associated with creating custom system images from days to minutes. Toshiba's manageability package, combined with the built-in asset tracking capabilities found in Intel's Pentium III processors, assists IT managers and network administrators with the initial structuring and daily maintenance of PCs throughout their network.

"Toshiba systems equipped with the Intel Pentium III processor maximize power and manageability for the most demanding corporate power users," said Jeff McCrea, director, Intel Desktops Product Group. "This power, combined with the Equium's flexible design and Toshiba's commitment to reducing total cost of ownership, offers customers a sound PC investment."

Pricing & Availability

Available immediately, Equium systems incorporating the Intel Pentium III 550MHz processors have estimated single unit prices starting at $1,729. All Toshiba Equium computers are sold through traditional distribution channels, including dealers, VARs, distributors and select mail order partners.

Service & Support

Toshiba's Equium desktop PCs ship with a standard three-year parts, one-year labor limited warranty, with the first year of next-business day on-site service included. Toshiba's InTouch Center provides unlimited telephone support seven days per week, 24 hours per day during the standard warranty period. Toshiba's On.Call Network Service provides the option of extending the first year, next-business day on-site service to the second and third years of the warranty.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.

Toshiba continues to be the world's leading vendor for portable computers with 17.6 percent market share worldwide in Q4 `98 according to International Data Corp. The company offers portable, desktop and server computing solutions for business customers under the Toshiba brand name. For dealer referral and product literature, call 1-800-TOSHIBA, or visit the company's World Wide Web site at http://www.toshiba.com.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with annual sales of approximately $3 billion, TAIS is comprised of nine divisions, organized into three business groups, which manufacture and market a wide range of business and information-oriented products in the United States and Latin America and one wholly owned subsidiary which operates a network of copier/fax dealers. Products include portable and desktop computers; PC servers; plain-paper copiers; facsimile systems; toner products; voice mail systems; digital business telephone systems; interactive voice response systems; network systems and digital cameras.

TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of the $42 billion Toshiba Corp., the seventh largest computer and electronics company and the world's 26th largest industrial corporation in terms of sales. Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high-technology products with over 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide.