Epson Unveils Its Next Generation of Consumer Scanners; The Perfection 2450 Photo, Perfection 1650 Series and Perfection 1250 Series

Business Wire, July 18, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

Macworld New York 2001

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2001

New Scanner Models Deliver More Powerful, Higher-Resolution

Scanning at Affordable Prices to Match a

Variety of Customers' Needs

Epson America Inc. is once again addressing the ever-changing needs of its customers with today's introduction of the new EPSON Perfection(TM) scanner line. The EPSON Perfection 2450 PHOTO, the EPSON Perfection 1650 series and the EPSON Perfection 1250 series are making their first appearance this week at Macworld Expo in New York. With five new flatbed offerings in all, a scanning solution is available for customers ranging from home and school users to graphic artists and advanced amateur photographers.

For the first time, Epson is offering 2400 x 4800 dpi resolution with its flagship consumer scanner, the EPSON Perfection 2450 PHOTO, using Epson's advanced Micro Step Drive(TM) technology, delivering incredible image quality and sharp, vivid results. This high-performance scanner also has USB 2.0 and IEEE-1394 (FireWire) connectivity for scanning at lightning fast speeds.

"The new line of EPSON Perfection scanners provide the most advanced consumer scanner technology available today with incredible resolution, increased bit depth and IEEE-1394 (FireWire) connectivity on our flagship consumer model," said Ali Atash, product manager, consumer scanners, Epson. "Our entire line of Perfection scanners delivers flexibility, ease of use and exceptional results at affordable prices."

The EPSON Perfection 2450 PHOTO -- Affordable Solution for Professional Quality Scans

The EPSON Perfection 2450 offers photographic image quality with 3.4 Dmax, 48-bit color-depth and an impressive 2400 x 4800 dpi resolution using Epson's Micro Step Drive(TM) technology. This exclusive technology features an extremely precise stepper motor, onboard memory and intelligent image processing for the highest sub-scan resolution in its class. By using a method known as "half stepping," the scanner is able to capture exceptional image detail by scanning at an amazing 4800 dpi. For increased productivity, the scanner also is conveniently equipped with a built-in 4" x 9" transparency adapter for scanning slides, transparencies and negatives. The Perfection 2450 is ideal for home photography enthusiasts, digital photographers and graphic artists with its advanced features and high-speed scanning capabilities. With a price tag under $400, the Perfection 2450 is an affordable alternative to the more expensive, higher-end scanners for scanning everything from 35mm film strips to 4" x 5" transparencies.

Additionally, the scanner is loaded with outstanding features and innovative technology, such as Epson's new Micro-Lens technology. This technology is built into the CCD and enables the scanner to capture more light into the center of the CCD, which results in better scans. It also has an integrated A/D converter on the CCD chip to minimize electrical noise and improve the overall signal to noise ratio for better image quality. Another technology that is featured in this scanner is Epson's ColorTrue (R)II Imaging System, which provides vivid, true-to-life colors with every scan. This technology, which is featured on all of the Perfection models, integrates superior hardware, optics and image processing to achieve accurate color reproduction and reduced noise.

The EPSON Perfection 2450 scanner includes a full-featured software bundle that includes the following titles: LaserSoft(R) SilverFast(R) SE, Adobe(R) PhotoShop(R) Elements, EPSON Smart Panel(TM) and EPSON TWAIN Scanning Software.

With both USB 2.0 and IEEE-1394 (FireWire) connectivity, the Perfection 2450 PHOTO can be set up quickly and simply on both Windows and Macintosh systems. The scanner will be available in early October for an estimated street price of $399 and can be purchased through Epson authorized dealers, consumer electronic stores, mail order, distribution and on the Epson Store Web site (www.epsonstore.com).

The EPSON Perfection 1650 Series -- Power and Performance in a Sleek Package

The Perfection 1650 scanner models are perfect for home or office environments with their stylish design and impressive features. There are two different models available: the Perfection 1650 and the Perfection 1650 PHOTO. Both models provide an impressive resolution of 1600 x 3200 dpi, 48-bit scanning and a convenient four-button interface with start, scan to web, scan to e-mail, and photo scanning buttons. They are ideal for scanning photos, text or graphics and include several popular software titles and OCR capabilities for specialized projects. The Perfection 1650 PHOTO unit includes two additional items that are not included with the standard model -- a built-in 35mm filmstrip adapter for added versatility as well as Adobe Photoshop Elements. An optional 4"x 5" transparency unit is available for $99.

Included with the Perfection 1650 models are versatile selections of software titles that make scanning a snap. The following titles are featured on these scanners: ArcSoft(R) PhotoImpression(TM), EPSON Smart Panel(TM) with NewSoft(TM) OCR, EPSON TWAIN Scanning Software and Adobe Photoshop Elements.