New Noteboks: Micron Electronics Boosts Performance of Transport Trek 2 All-In-One Notebooks with New Pentium II 366 MHz and 333 MHz Processors - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Feb 1, 1999

Micron Electronics, Inc., a leading direct vendor of personal computer systems, Monday began offering the award-winning Transport Trek 2 all-in-one notebook computers with Intel's most powerful mobile processors -- the Pentium II 366 MHz and Pentium II 333 MHz processors -- also announced Monday.

Micron's Transport Trek 2 notebook computer is designed for users who require a high-value portable computer (beginning at $1699) with the performance and features of a desktop system and industry-leading customer services and support. In addition to the high-performance notebook itself, Micron offers its customers services such as Mpower, which includes leasing, trade-in of older products (including those of competitors), and environmentally safe product recycling. The company also provides every notebook customer with a complimentary one-year enrollment in Micron University, an online resource that offers instructor-led computer training as well as a wide ranging business- and technology-related curriculum (www.micronU.com). Micron's customer support is available via a toll-free telephone call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week as well as on Micron's web site. A typical Transport Trek 2 user transports this desktop-replacement notebook between home and work or from room to room at home, using the notebook for personal and business applications as well as for graphics- and performance-hungry applications such as presentations and video. Each Transport Trek 2 is custom configured according to customer specifications at the time that it is purchased via telephone or the web (using Micron's web-based configurator). Equipped with a battery bay as well as two media bays, the slim (1.8-inch high) Transport Trek 2 comes with a floppy-disk drive and a removable hard-disk drive as well as a choice of a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or a second hard-disk drive. The bright and clear TFT screen is available in 14.1-inch, 13.3-inch or 12.1-inch sizes. Memory options range from 32 MB to 128 MB. The size of the hard disk can range from 4.3 GB to 10 GB. For high-performance graphics and sound, all Transport Trek 2 notebooks come with a Trident 9397 DVD video card, an ESS Maestro M2 audio card and two stereo speakers. Providing outstanding versatility, the Transport Trek 2 also has two USB ports, a parallel port, a serial port, DC input, SVGA, PS/2, TV out, a docking station port, audio in/out, a microphone port, a headphone port, and a fast IR port. Because each Transport Trek 2 is custom configured, Micron can offer customers a wide range of options in software and communications. Micron offers Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 as the operating system for the Transport Trek 2. Software options include Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition, and Microsoft Office Pro 97. Communications options include three PC cards: a 56K fax/modem, a 56K cellular fax/modem and a combination 56K fax/modem and 10baseT Ethernet card. Micron's aggressive pricing for the Transport Trek 2 ranges from $2699 for a typically configured high-end notebook down to $1699 for a typically configured value notebook. The $2699 configuration includes the new Intel 366 MHz Pentium II processor, the large 14.1-inch screen, 64 MB of random access memory, a 4.3 GB hard-disk drive, the floppy-disk drive, a 24X (max speed) CD-ROM drive and Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition. From this base configuration, customers can add additional memory, move up to a larger hard-disk drive, switch from the CD-ROM drive to a DVD drive, and add software, peripheral devices and additional service options. The $1699 configuration includes the previously available Intel 266 MHz Pentium II processor, the 12.1-inch screen, 32 MB of random access memory, a 4.3 GB hard-disk drive, the floppy-disk drive and a 24X (max speed) CD-ROM drive. Again, from this base configuration, customers can select from a wide variety of upgrade options. "Once again, Micron is turning on a dime to offer our customers the latest in notebook performance," said Shane Thomas, Micron's vice president of portable products. "We've got the fastest Intel processors, DVD, and state-of-the-industry components all the way around. Plus, we're providing an industry-breakthrough training resource, and a rich offering of customer services and support that dramatically reduce the cost of acquisition and ownership." At Micron Electronics, employees are building more than powerful computing systems. They're building powerful users. Ranked No. 3 among direct manufacturers of computing solutions and recognized for providing leading-edge products and industry leading support, Micron Electronics customizes each desktop PC, notebook, server and service to meet the evolving technology demands of consumers and small business, commercial and public sector buyers. SpecTek, a division of Micron Electronics, Inc., processes and markets various grades of DRAM products under the SpecTek brand name. Micron Electronics, Inc., common stock trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol MUEI. The Company is majority owned by Micron Technology, Inc. FMI: www.micronpc.com or 800/209-9686.