AST REDUCES PRICES ON PREMMIA HIGH-PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS, LOW-RADIATION
MONITORS 

Sets New Price Levels for Premium Desktop Systems

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 2, 1993 -- AST Research Inc. today reduced prices on
its Premmia high-performance desktop systems by as much as 20 percent,
establishing new price levels for premium desktops within the computer
industry. At the same time, the company reduced prices on its line of
ASTVision color monitors.

AST's Premmia desktop systems feature an array of advanced technologies --
a sophisticated local-bus graphics design including LocalMotion video
acceleration, a 32bit EISA I/O bus, Pentium upgradeability,
zero-wait-state second-level cache and security features for both
individual and network computing environments.

"The Premmia PC, with its sophisticated feature set, is ideal for computing
in critical business environments," said Larry Fortmuller, AST's director
of high performance systems marketing. "AST is taking a leadership role in
establishing prices for this class of product to make this level of
performance more widely available to corporate end users."

Sufficient volume sales of the Premmia systems introduced in March 1993,
combined with increased efficiencies in manufacturing, allow price
reductions to be implemented at this time.

Premmia estimated sales prices now range from approximately $1,500 for a
base model Premmia 4/33s equipped with an Intel 486SX, 33MHz
microprocessor, to $2,800 for a fully configured Premmia 4/66d, featuring
a 486DX2, 66MHz CPU. This represents an end user savings from 9 to 20
percent. Prices are effective Aug. 2, 1993 and Premmia systems are
available in volume from resellers nationwide.

Premmia PCs are Intel-based and are equipped with 8MB of memory expandable
to 128MB, with the exception of the Premmia 4/33s and 4/33 Model 3 which
feature 4MB of RAM, 128MB maximum. Models 173W and 343W feature MS-DOS and
Windows 3.1 preinstalled, a mouse and mouse pad, with a 170MB hard drive
and 340MB hard drive, respectively.

AST Premmia PCs are backed by a full three-year parts and labor warranty,
including free one-year on-site and two-year carry-in. AST also has one of
the industry's most comprehensive service and support programs available
-- lifetime toll-free Technical Support via a hot line available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week; AST OnLine! bulletin board service and AST Info-FAX
also available 24 hours, 7 days a week providing access to a broad
selection of technical support documentation. 

ASTVision Low-Radiation Monitors

ASTVision high-quality color monitors are ideal for graphic-intensive
Windows-based applications. The multi-scanning operation delivers enhanced
flexibility in graphics resolution and refresh rates. Also, end users are
able to define horizontal and vertical image size through digital
controls. Formats range from 14 to 17 inches and meet the Swedish MPR II
low-radiation standard. AST also has lowered the price on its 14-inch
non-interlaced monitor.

New ASTVision estimated sales prices range from $365 to approximately $900
and are effective Aug. 2, 1993. This is from 4 to 45 percent lower than
estimated sales prices of comparable monitors offered by competitors. 

Corporate Background

AST Research Inc., a prominent market share holder in desktop, file server
and notebook computers, ranked No. 367 on the 1992 Fortune 500 list of
America's largest industrial companies. The company is represented in 100
countries and operates 41 international subsidiaries and sales offices.

In July 1993 AST acquired Tandy Corp's PC manufacturing business. According
to International Data Corp., a Framingham, Mass.-based market research
firm, the acquisition makes AST the No. 4 U.S. and No. 6 worldwide
personal computer company, based on the most current calendar year 1992
unit volume shipment data. These figures include Tandy and GRiD brands
manufactured by AST and encompass all domestic and worldwide distribution
channels.

AST's award-winning product lines include AST-branded desktop, file server
and notebook computers, as well as GRiD and Victor-branded desktop,
notebook and pen-enabled systems.

AST's 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.

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