New NEC PCs Set Sophisticated Computing to Music … Digitally; New NEC Home Music Studio Empowers Music and Computer Lovers, Leads New NEC Consumer PC Line-up

Business Wire, Oct 14, 1999

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 1999--

Full Spectrum Of New NEC Consumer Computers

Promise Power and Performance

Sophisticated home and SOHO computer users will sing ... and record, mix, download and express their musical preferences through the introduction of the NEC Home Music Studio(TM) from Packard Bell NEC's Consumer Division.

These powerful new NEC PCs are complete home music studios that allow music lovers to easily create a customized digital music collection. One of the NEC Home Music Studio models is housed in a sleek new chassis incorporating the design language of the award-winning NEC Z1, promoting a distinctive look and easy upgradability.

Offering full functionality for all types of multimedia and productivity needs, the NEC Home Music Studio PCs complement the rest of the new NEC consumer PC product offerings available at retail stores nationwide in October. Ranging in suggested retail prices from $599.99 to $1,699.99 plus a $50 Packard Bell NEC company mail-in rebate (Note 1), all-new NEC consumer PCs offer consumers one of the best combinations of performance, focused functionality and innovation.

"Consumers are clamoring for PCs that empower and enhance customized music creation and we're answering this demand with the introduction of the NEC Home Music Studio systems," said Mal Ransom, senior vice president, Packard Bell NEC Consumer Division.

"The NEC Home Music Studio PCs are the cornerstone of our new Fall NEC consumer PC line-up. However, all of our new NEC consumer PCs synthesize our technological expertise and advanced innovation to deliver full functionality for diverse types of computing requirements."

NEC Home Music Studio Offers Complete Music and Computing

Solution

The NEC Home Music Studio PCs put a full-fledged personal digital music center at consumers' fingertips. Featuring one of the most advanced music management programs by Sonic Foundry, the NEC Home Music Studio systems quickly transform PC users into home music studio executives. It allows them to create or "burn" CDs of favorite digital music files purchased on the Internet from Web sites such as Urocketmusic.com or mix a progressive rock band's newest track.

The NEC Home Music Studio PCs deliver a lengthy list of impressive features, including:

--   Virtual jukebox -- consumers can sort and catalog favorite music
     files and create custom playlists through a variety of sources
     including a direct connection to Urocketmusic.com, a premier
     Internet music site
--   Digital music downloading -- with a few simple clicks, users can
     easily search and navigate MP3 music sites on the Web, making
     downloading favorite licensed music tracks a breeze
--   Personalized music mixes -- using Sonic Foundry's Siren software,
     consumers can create personalized music compilations from their
     own collection of audio CDs and other licensed sources and
     quickly "burn" them to CDs
--   Create original music -- using Sonic Foundry's ACID Style
     software, consumers can invent their own sound by simply
     selecting a drum track, laying down a guitar riff and even adding
     their own vocals
--   Editing studio -- a professional audio mixer allows users to add
     effects, change recording levels, mix from different formats and
     change key and tempo
--   Customized CD artwork -- premier labeling software allows
     consumers to create CD artwork, CD labeling, title lists and
     jewel case artwork
--   Output music to other devices -- consumers can easily record to
     Diamond Rio portable MP3 music players and play selections from
     their virtual jukebox when connected to a home stereo or
     entertainment system

Additionally, the Creative(R) Sound Blaster(R) Live! Value 3D PCI sound system and performance-tuned Harman Kardon(R) speakers create a spacious, high-fidelity acoustic environment that delivers fantastic sound quality.

The NEC Home Music Studio PCs also offer design innovation combined with advanced technology, providing all the power necessary for demanding multimedia, productivity and Internet applications. Hard-hitting configurations start with some of the latest in high-quality processors, the Intel Pentium(R) III 500 or 550, which deliver all-around computing performance.

Stocked with 13.0GB (Note 2) hard drives and 96MB to 128MB of memory, and a CD-RW (Note 3) drive paired with either a CD-ROM or DVD drive, the NEC Home Music Studio PCs will satisfy the most power-hungry computer user.

Drawing from the design language of the revolutionary NEC Z1, the new NEC Home Music Studio models are as easy to expand as they are easy on the eyes. These systems provide upfront multimedia port access and easy upgradability -- simply slide a latch and open the front chassis panel like a door and you have access to the inside of your PC.

Internet and communications are simple through the 56K-capable ITU v.90-compliant modem for high-speed downloads and premium Internet productivity tools (Note 4) including NEC Direct Internet Access, NEC Net Media Player Internet Radio and E-Mail VOICELink (Notes 5,6) to add voice messages to your e-mail.