Chips: Toshiba's Equium Commercial Desktops Now Offer Powerful Intel Pentium III Processors - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, March 8, 1999

Bringing the latest technology and IT management solutions to the enterprise, the Computer Systems Division (CSD) of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. (TAIS) has announced the immediate availability of its Equium 7100 line of commercial desktops featuring Intel's Pentium III processors.

By incorporating the Pentium III processors, the expanded Equium line delivers the highest performance available while providing long-term investment protection.

Toshiba's Equium line offers the widest processor speed selection available in one product family. Customers can now choose from the Intel Celeron processors running at 333MHz to Pentium III processors at 450 and 500MHz.

"Intel and Toshiba are focused on fulfilling IT and business managers' needs for computing solutions that will grow with their business and maximize their computing investment," said Jeffrey Friederichs, vice president of marketing, Toshiba CSD. "By offering Intel's Pentium III processor in our Equium line, Toshiba is continuing its tradition of delivering systems that meet corporate customers' demands for minimum maintenance and maximum performance."

Toshiba Continues to Deliver Industry-Leading Manageability Solutions At the forefront of manageability solutions, Equium commercial desktops come standard with a complete package of manageability tools, including Toshiba's one-of-a-kind Configuration Builder CD. This innovative CD reduces the time and costs associated with creating custom system images from days to minutes. Toshiba's manageability package, combined with the built-in asset tracking capabilities found in Intel's new Pentium III processors, assist IT managers and network administrators with the initial structuring and daily maintenance of PCs throughout their network.

With the performance power of Intel's Pentium III processors, Equium desktops are able to enhance productivity by providing IT departments with the ability to automatically deploy compression, encryption and management tools. The new comprehensive package reduces operating costs by eliminating trips to an employee's desk for software updates, and allowing network administrators to perform more management tasks directly from the MIS department.

"Toshiba systems equipped with the Intel Pentium III processor deliver the most processing power and management capabilities to meet the computing needs of even the heaviest power users," said Jeff McCrea, director, Intel Desktops Product Group. "This power, combined with the Equium's flexible design and Toshiba's commitment to lowering total cost of ownership, offers customers one of the most sound PC investments available today."

Other manageability tools and features include Intel's LANDesk Client Manager, Desktop Management Interface (DMI) 2.0, Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), Wake-on-LAN and Toshiba's power-saving Secure Sleep with Instant On.

Equium Design Delivers Ease-of-Upgrading and Serviceability Each Equium offers the ultimate in serviceability - from its flexible design to ease of component upgrades. Equium is also the only commercial desktop line to maintain consistency of components across three chassis styles: slim-line, full-size desktop and mini-tower. These systems reduce overall qualification, support and maintenance expenses.

Unlike most competitive systems, the Equium desktop is built to support and grow with tomorrow's technology. Equium's patent-pending one-touch Instant Access Door, located on top of the mini-tower or on the side of the desktop chassis, allows users to swap out a motherboard within 30 seconds, perform memory upgrades in less than 10 seconds and incorporate a new processor in a matter of moments.

Pricing & Availability Equium corporate desktops featuring the Intel Pentium III processors running at 450MHz and 500MHz are available immediately with estimated single unit prices beginning at $1,499 (without monitor).

As with all Toshiba Equium computers, these models are sold through traditional distribution channels including dealers, VARs, distributors and selected mail-order partners.

Service & Support The Equium line of commercial desktop PCs comes with a standard three-year parts, one-year labor-limited warranty, with the first year of same-day or next-business-day on-site service included.

Toshiba's On.Call Global Network provides on-site service options including next-business-day or same-day response to customers' product support needs as well as unlimited telephone support.

Toshiba continues to be the world's leading vendor for portable computers with 17.2 percent market share worldwide in Q3 '98 according to International Data Corp. The company offers portable, desktop and server computing solutions for business customers under the Toshiba brand name. For dealer referral and product literature, call 800/TOSHIBA, or visit the company's World Wide Web site at http://www.toshiba.com.

With headquarters in Irvine and with annual sales of approximately $3 billion, TAIS is comprised of nine divisions which manufacture and market a wide range of business and information-oriented products in the United States and Latin America and one wholly owned subsidiary which operates a network of copier/fax dealers. Products include portable and desktop computers; monitors; PC servers; plain-paper copiers; facsimile systems; voice mail systems; digital business telephone systems; toner products; systems solutions for the cable industry; digital cameras and network systems.