NEW 3M 'GO ANYWHERE' DISKETTE ENHANCES RELIABILITY FOR MOBILE COMPUTING AND
DATA TRANSPORT

NEW YORK, NY (June 28, 1994) -- Recognizing the diverse conditions in which
today's PC users work, 3M is introducing a 3.5-inch 2 megabyte (MB) "go
anywhere" diskette here this week in Booth 2152 at the PC Expo computer
trade show.

3M enhanced its 2 MB diskettes by incorporating several design features to
improve their reliability in a wide variety of office, industrial and
field conditions.

"The significance of the mobile user is not so much the actual location of
the computer but how workers get access to -- and transport -- the
information they need to do their job," said Karyn Greco, marketing
development manager, 3M Data Storage Markets Division.

"A recent report by IntelliQuest (Austin, Texas) showed 67 percent of those
surveyed use their diskettes for data transport -whether it's moving
information from one office to another or bringing data files on the road
for business trips."

Features of 3M's "go anywhere" diskette include:

* Anti-static diskette to help protect against static buildup during
operation -- a 40 percent reduction vs. ordinary diskettes.

* A high-performance wiping fabric that helps provide trouble-free
computing by reducing the amount of dust, lint and other airborne debris
that collects on the media surface, prolonging diskette life.

* Climate-adaptive media to help prevent data loss under extreme
temperature and humidity conditions; in tests of hot, humid conditions
after 10 days -- 95 percent reduction in fungus and mold coverage on
diskette recording media vs. conventional diskettes.

* A new lower-torque design that reduces friction while the diskette is in
use, resulting in cleaner and smoother media rotation -- up to 20 percent
reduction in torque vs. conventional diskettes.

* New removable write-on labels that makes it easier to relabel and reuse
diskettes, with no label buildup to jam diskette drives.

* A visual write-protect icon system that helps users easily identify and
understand the write-protection mechanism on the diskette -- this visual
system is found only on 3M diskettes.

* An all-metal shutter to enhance the ruggedness of the diskette on the
move.

The new 3.5-inch, 2 MB high-density, double-sided diskette is available now
through authorized 3M distributors in unformatted, IBM formatted and
Macintosh formatted versions. They are certified by 3M to be 100 percent
error free for reliability and also feature a lifetime-of-the-product
warranty.

Users will find that although 3M is significantly raising the value of its
"go anywhere" diskettes, there is no change in cost. Suggested list price
for a 10 pack of 3M 3.5-inch, 2 MB, high-density, double-sided,
unformatted diskettes is $15.89. Retail prices may vary.

Computing On The Move

In a recent study carried out by Dataquest, San Jose, Calif., sales of
portable computers increased by more than 60 percent during 1993.

Recent focus groups conducted for 3M by Mobile Computing Insights,
Cupertino, Calif., revealed that a growing number of users put
environmental stress on their computers and peripheral products. And that
number is increasing rapidly, according to Dr. Gerry Purdy, editor of
Mobile Letter, who designed the focus groups.

"As mobile computing expands, challenging environmental situations will be
common," said Purdy. "Manufacturers of products must raise their
sensitivity to these new applications to meet user needs.

"The growth in worldwide portable computer sales coincides with the
increased mobility of today's workers. Research from BIS Strategic
Decisions, Norwell, Mass., revealed that 74 percent of those surveyed work
away from their desks during a substantial portion of the day -- even
though they may still be in the office.

This data was supported by the recent focus study conducted by The Pacific
Group, which showed data transfer was by far the most common use for
diskettes.

"The barriers -- both man-made and environmental -- that once determined
how and where people could work have been removed through mobile computing
technology," added Purdy. "Users now have the ability to stay in touch
with their office network and e-mail, making them as productive on the
road as in the office."

"The 'go anywhere' nature of today's workers calls for them to use
computers at any time, in almost any place, under increasingly challenging
conditions," said 3M's Greco. "Even conditions in a commercial office or
home office can be hard on computers and diskettes, so our new diskette is
designed to 'weather' wide fluctuations in operating and storage
conditions, wherever today's business person goes."

Reliability

"Diskette reliability has always been the most important criteria for 3M,"
said Greco. "The 'go anywhere' diskette is another step in anticipating
the changing needs of our customers."

Reliability is key for diskette users, according to IntelliQuest research
which found that 3M diskettes are the most preferred in the U.S. --
three-to-one -- over the next brand. IntelliQuest also found that 3M is
considered to be the most reliable brand by more than twice the percentage
of responses for the next brand.

Another indicator of reliability is the fact that recently, 3M became the
first flexible magnetic media manufacturer in the United States to earn
the prestigious ISO 9002 designation. This means that all of 3M's U.S.
Data Storage plants producing flexible magnetic media have met worldwide
production quality standards set by the International Organization of
Standardization (ISO).

3M also is the first diskette manufacturer to win quality certification for
its 3.5-inch double density and high density diskettes from the
prestigious Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), a federal agency that
develops national and international standards for government, industry and
consumers.

3M is the world's largest supplier of diskettes for data storage
applications.

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