AST AND FEDERAL EXPRESS OFFER UNIQUE ON-SITE NEXT BUSINESS DAY NOTEBOOK
REPLACEMENT SERVICE

TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS ARE DISPATCHED TO CUSTOMER'S SITE THE NEXT
BUSINESS DAY WITH REPLACEMENT NOTEBOOK IN HAND

IRVINE, Calif., May 16, 1996 -- AST Research, Inc. takes the lead when it
comes to providing top-notch service solutions to its notebook customers.
AST has teamed with Federal Express Corporation, the world's leading
express transportation company, for a unique new next business day on-site
notebook replacement program. The Express ONE (Overnight Notebook
Exchange) program makes exchanging a notebook computer quick and easy.

Unlike other manufacturers that offer 24-hour repair service, AST's program
provides on-site next business day replacement, so there is no repair
guess-work. A fully-functional replacement notebook is in the hands of the
customer the next business day.

"AST selected Federal Express because of their excellent reputation and
superior customer service. Our end-users rely on their AST notebooks
day-in and day-out, wherever their work takes them. They need to be sure
that if something goes wrong, AST will be there to make it right. That's
what Express ONE does," said Matt Doyle, AST's vice president, service and
support.

QUICK REPLACEMENT MEANS LIMITED DOWN TIME

Express ONE is simple to use. If the customer detects a problem with his
portable computer, he places a call to AST's Portable Technical Support.
If the Product Support Representative determines there is a hardware
problem, a replacement unit is authorized to be sent to Federal Express.
By 10:30 a.m. the next day, a Service Technician calls the AST customer to
set an appointment for delivery that day. At the customer site, the
Service Technician unpacks the replacement unit, takes the components out
of the customer's original notebook computer, such as the hard-drive, PC
cards or additional memory, and installs them in the replacement unit. The
technician then performs an audit to confirm the system is operational, so
that customers can get back to work immediately. The old unit is then
packed up and shipped back to AST and the customer then keeps the
replacement unit as their own.

"The trained technicians follow strict guidelines so AST's customers
receive first-class service worthy of their investment," said Rob Shirley,
Federal Express' vice president, sales.

AFFORDABLE AND CONVENIENT

"The value of AST's Express ONE service program is quick response time.
Other notebook vendors can't match the next-day up-and-running promise
AST's program offers -- especially at the affordable prices they are
charging," said Elena Christopher, an analyst with Dataquest, a renowned
market research and consulting firm based in Massachusetts.

AST's next business day notebook replacement program costs are competitive
with other manufacturer's on-site repair programs. A special introductory
rate of $60 for one year or $198 for three years is available if Express
ONE is acquired within 30 days of purchasing an AST notebook. After 30
days from notebook purchase, the cost is $108 for the remainder of the
first year.

EXPRESS ONE BENEFITS RESELLERS

AST's authorized resellers receive a discount on the program, helping them
maximize profits while still delivering top-rate customer service. In
addition, it gives them a competitive response to products from direct
marketers.

David Redding, inside sales manager with The Print Machine, a value-added
reseller based in Greenville, South Carolina, said "We're selling the
program now and our customers love it. The benefit to us is that we don't
have to do repairs in-house, which we couldn't do by the next business day
anyway. In addition, we make money on the program. But the biggest
advantage is that it keeps our customers satisfied."

WORLDWIDE SERVICE & SUPPORT

AST's Express ONE Notebook Replacement Service Program is available in the
48 contiguous states of the U.S. and is an add-on to the Ascentia family's
worldwide three-year limited warranty, which gives users the flexibility
and convenience of having their notebook computer serviced throughout the
world. The first year is covered automatically by ExeCare Plus 48-Hour
Repair Service in the U.S., with AST paying shipping fees. Years two and
three are covered by a carry-in warranty service to more than 1,200
authorized service centers. Users can extend their ExeCare Plus 48-Hour
Repair Service to years two and three for just $96.

In addition, AST backs all of its products with a host of multi-source
support programs including:

* AST's technical support hotline includes live 24-hour, 7-day a week
assistance as well as an interactive voice-response system, InfoLine.
InfoLine provides pre-recorded responses (which can also be faxed) to many
commonly-asked technical questions. By choosing InfoLine, customers can
receive answers to questions without waiting for live phone support. Both
can be accessed toll-free at 800-727-1278.

* Info-FAX is a voice-automated fax-response line which provides users with
product information. It can be accessed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week at
800-926-1278.

* AST OnLine!, AST's bulletin board service (817-230-6850)
* Prodigy: JUMP:AST
* CompuServe: GO:ASTSUPPORT
* America Online: Keyword: AST
* Internet e-mail: customer.support@ast.com

CORPORATE BACKGROUND

AST Research Inc., a member of the Fortune 500 list of America's largest
industrial and service companies, is one of the world's leading personal
computer manufacturers. The $2.468 billion company develops a broad
spectrum of desktop, mobile and server PC products that are sold in more
than 100 countries worldwide. AST systems meet a wide range of customer
needs, ranging from corporate business applications to advanced home and
home office use. Corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway,
P.O. Box 57005, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7005. Telephone (714) 727-4141 or
(800) 876-4278. Fax: (714) 727-9355.
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners!
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
