Sampo America Unveils 2001-2002 Digital Display Products At CES

Business Wire, Jan 6, 2001

Business Editors

CES 2001

BALDWIN PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2001

Sampo America will present its 2001-2002 digital display products at CES. The lineup includes HDTVs, DVD players and plasma monitors.

"Sampo HDTVs and DVD players are for anyone building an audio/video home theater," James Chen, president, Sampo America, said. "From watching the latest blockbuster movies with crystal clear digital playback to listening to the hottest MP3s from the Internet, Sampo products deliver unprecedented quality and value."

Sampo's new HDTV line offers 27- and 32-inch pure-flat progressive-scan monitors and a 34-inch pure-flat widescreen monitor. All models include high definition component video inputs and 1080i native resolution support. The flagship 34-inch can also display 720p signals in native format without down-conversion. In addition, Sampo HDTVs are compatible with any PC. Picture quality of the widescreen monitor surpasses that of competitors; the Sampo product displays computer graphics at XGA (1024x768 pixels) without compromise whereas traditional HDTVs display only at SVGA (800x600 pixels).

The new DVE line features two DVD players with MP3 audio playback capability so users can experience downloaded music on high-quality sound systems. In addition, the new progressive-scan DVD player offers high performance video playback on televisions equipped to handle progressive-can signals.

Sampo is one of the first companies to standardize component video outputs on the entire DVD product line for superior video playback. When Sampo's DVD player is connected to a TV equipped with component video inputs, the image displayed is in true color.

Sampo's new plasma monitor comes with both standard USB and RS232 connections, providing flexibility for remote control applications. Businesses using the product in multi-display installations, such as department stores or public sports arenas, can manage multiple monitors simultaneously.

Sampo's PME-42V3 connects to any PC. The 42-inch monitor's Digital Video Interface (DVI) capability eliminates the need for analog conversion and provides superior PC video performance for business or home applications.

"Sampo's Plasma Multimedia Monitors are ideal for businesses that want quality displays that enhance their presentation or feature eye-catching advertising," Chen said.

Suggested retail prices for Sampo's products are:

HDTV

-- SCE-27PH16 - $999

-- SCE-32PH16 - $1299

-- SME-32HD5 - $3499

DVD player

-- DVE-621 - $129

-- DVE-631CF - $249

-- DVE-720P - $349

Plasma monitor

-- PME-42V3 is $8,995

About Sampo America

Sampo America is the consumer electronics division of Sampo Corp., responsible for same brand sales in the United States. Headquarters for Sampo America are in Baldwin Park, Calif.

For more information, visit www.sampoamericas.com.

About Sampo Corp.

Founded in 1936, Sampo Corp. is a leading supplier of consumer electronics, home appliances and telecommunications products. The company is one of the top original equipment manufacturers (OEM) selling to the United States as well as the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, France, Australia, Hong Kong and China.

Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Sampo Corp. has manufacturing plants in Taiwan, the Philippines and China. Sampo Corp. has more than 5,000 employees throughout Asia, Europe and the United States.