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Panasonic Unveils New Next-Generation Portable LCD Projectors

Business Wire, May 29, 2008

New LB80 Series Projectors Deliver Maximum Portability, Full-Featured Dust-Resistant Design, and Built-in Wireless Connectivity

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Panasonic Projector Systems Company, Unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America debuted today its newest line of LCD projectors optimized for performance and maximum portability.

Designed for small to mid-sized meeting rooms and classrooms, the highly portable LB80 series projectors, including the PT-LB80NTU, PT-LB80U, PT-LB75NTU, PT-LB75U projectors and their widescreen counterpart, the PT-LW80NTU, display a compact, dust-resistant design to reduce maintenance costs and increase mobility. The PT-LB80NTU, PT-LB75NTU and PT-LW80NTU also feature built-in wireless capability designed for professionals on-the-go who require reliability and high-quality presentation tools when working remotely. All projectors in the LB80 series deliver long-lasting brightness and outstanding picture quality in a small, but full-featured system.

Portability and Wireless Capability

Weighing in at less than 7 pounds and among the lightest in their class, the PT-LB80NTU, PT-LB75NTU and PT-LW80NTU projectors all include wireless capability that allows them to connect to multiple PCs without any cables. Up to 128 different PCs can be connected simultaneously without the need for a router or wide area network.

"We understand that to create a next-generation portable projector, the design has to be compact, full-featured and cost-effective," said Thomas Zitelli, president of Panasonic Projector Systems Company. "With the Panasonic LB80 series, mobile presenters benefit from advanced PC and Mac-compatible technologies coupled with a mobile, cost-saving design that delivers nothing but remarkable picture quality."

Dust Resistant Design and Ceiling Mount Convenience

The new and highly advanced dust-resistant design of the LB80 series projectors minimizes image degradation and enables a clear and consistent picture even after extended use. With features including touch-sensor controls on the top panel, an airtight structure, a zoom/focus ring cover and a cutting-edge Micro Cut Filter, the new design reduces the penetration of dust into the interior and works to ensure the LB80 series projectors operate at peak performance.

All LB80 series projectors display a unique lamp placement design, allowing for lamps to be replaced from the rear of the unit, rather than the bottom. This provides for enhanced accessibility, particularly beneficial for presenters choosing to use the projectors' flexible mounting for ceiling installation.

Wide-Screen Projection

While the PT-LB80NTU and PT-LB75NTU projectors generate quality images via 1,024 x 768 resolution and a 4:3 aspect ratio, the new PT-LW80NTU comes equipped with wide-aspect (16:10 aspect ratio) LCD panels for reproduction of WXGA (1,280 x 800) images from a computer. The PT-LW80NTU is the ideal solution for users who need a projector that can display wide-screen images from a DVD video source or wide-aspect computers.

Long-Lasting Brightness

The PT-LB80NTU and PT-LB80U deliver 3,200 lumens of brightness each; the PT-LB75NTU and the PT-LB75U provide 2,600 lumens, which is 30% brighter than their best selling Panasonic predecessors. The new PT-LW80NTU will deliver both bright and smooth images with 2,600 lumens and as with the other LB80 series projectors, Panasonic bundles several advanced technologies to create the quintessential next-generation portable projector.

Panasonic's fourth-generation Daylight View 4 image-processing now includes the new Edge Enhancer Control to further increase visibility in brightly lit rooms.

PT-LB80NTU, PT-LB80U, PT-LB75NTU, PT-LB75U and PT-LW80NTU projectors each come equipped with a host of standard enhancement features, including quiet operation, 3-second speed start, direct power off, built-in closed-caption decoder, an array of in/out A/V connection terminals, anti-theft features, an easy-to-use remote control and much more.

The Panasonic PT-LB80NTU, PT-LB80U, PT-LB75NTU and PT-LB75U projectors are made in Japan, Buy-American (BAA/TAA) compliant and began shipping to authorized presentation systems dealers in May. The PT-LW80NT is also made in Japan, Buy-American (BAA/TAA) compliant and will begin shipping to authorized presentation systems dealers in July.

Below is the pricing for the new Panasonic Projector LB80 series:

MODEL       <  <  <

MSRP

PT-LW80NTU  <  <  <

$
3,499
PT-LB80NTU  <  <  <

$
3,299
PT-LB80U    <  <  <

$
2,999
PT-LB75NTU  <  <  <

$
2,299
PT-LB75U    <  <  <

$
1,999

For more information on Panasonic's complete line of projectors, go to the U.S. Panasonic Projector Systems Company Web site at, www.panasonic.com/projectors or phone 888-411-1996.

About Panasonic Projector Systems Company

Panasonic Projector Systems Company is a prominent supplier of projectors and presentation systems in the United States. It is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC) of Japan, and the hub of its U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. For more information on Panasonic Projector Systems products, visit the company's Web site at www.panasonic.com/projectors.>