(Wood Dale, Ill., May 5, 1992) -- NEC Technologies, Inc. today set a new
standard in CD-ROM computing by introducing a new line of InterSect CD-ROM
readers. Already known as the leader in speed with a 280 millisecond
access time in the M Series of CD-ROM readers, NEC has raised the bar by
arming its new readers with unique MultiSpin technology and additional
safety and upgradability features.

NEC's new CD-ROM line includes the InterSect CDR-74 (external), CDR-84
(internal) and CDR-37 (portable) CD-ROM readers. Specifically designed for
unparalleled performance in multimedia computing, the new readers offer
multi-platform versatility and value as well.

NEC Drives Lead the Way With MultiSpin Technology

NEC is the first to introduce MultiSpin technology in its CD-ROM drives.
MultiSpin technology gives the InterSect CDR-74 and CDR-84 the
differentiating ability to spin at 300KB/second when retrieving text,
graphics and video information -- twice as fast as the industry standard
rate of 150KB/second. When playing only audio, the drives automatically
adjust to spin at 150KB/second.

In addition to MultiSpin capabilities, the InterSect CDR-74 and CDR-84 are
the fastest in the industry, boasting a lightning-quick access time of 280
milliseconds. End users will immediately notice the smooth motion video
NEC CD-ROM drives deliver with MultiSpin technology, fast access times and
a 64K cache memory.

New Features Add Value

NEC's InterSect CDR-74 and CDR-84 with MultiSpin technology are also
equipped with a new protective double dust door and easily upgradable
socketed firmware, creating a line of Multimedia PC (MPC) compliant CD-ROM
drives that are not only the fastest on the market, but reliable as well.

"In addition to providing end users with performance enhancing MultiSpin
technology and the most advanced CD-ROM drives available, NEC is committed
to developing well-designed technologies that add value to our products,"
explained Marc Miller, vice president and general manager of NEC's Optical
Media and Multimedia Group. "End users will benefit from the new secure
dust door and the ability to upgrade their drives to future technologies
with our easily upgradable socketed firmware.

NEC InterSect CDR-37

NEC's new InterSect CDR-37 portable CD-ROM offers excellent
price/performance value in a small form factor. With an access time of 450
milliseconds and data transfer rate of 150KB/second, the 2.2 pound MPC
compliant CDR-37 is packed with power. Its optional battery pack and new
switchable termination feature bring added value and flexibility to CD-ROM
computing.

NEC's complete line of CD-ROM readers allows users to tailor CD-ROM
solutions to their individual needs. NEC Interface Kits provide
multi-platform flexibility and are available bundled with NEC drives for
XT/AT, Mac, PS/2 or Parallel to SCSI platforms.

Shipping and Pricing Information

The new NEC InterSect CDR-74, CDR-84 and CDR-37 CD-ROM readers are
currently shipping and can be purchased individually or bundled with other
NEC products such as the NEC Multimedia Upgrade Kit and CD Gallery. All
NEC drives come with a two-year limited warranty and are available through
NEC's network of authorized dealers.

The suggested retail prices of NEC's new InterSect line of CD-ROM readers
and Interface Kit bundles are as follows:

InterSect CDR-74 External CD-ROM Reader     $675
InterSect CDR-84 Internal CD-ROM Reader      599
InterSect CDR-37 Portable CD-ROM Reader      449
Optional Battery Pack for CDR-37              99
InterSect CDR-37 with XT/AT Interface Kit    539
          CDR-37 with Mac Interface Kit      485
          CDR-37 with PS/2 Interface Kit     598
          CDR-37 with Parallel to SCSI
          Interface Kit                      559
InterSect CDR-74 with XT/AT Interface Kit    765
          CDR-74 with Mac Interface Kit      712
          CDR-74 with PS/2 Interface Kit     824
InterSect CDR-84 with XT/AT Interface Kit    689
          CDR-84 with PS/2 Interface Kit     749

NEC Technologies, 1414 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough, MA 01719
508-264-8000
--------------------------------------------------------
(Wood Dale, Ill., May 5, 1992) -- Until recently, the speed of a CD-ROM
reader was measured solely by the time it took to access information. With
the launch of the NEC InterSect M M Series of CD-ROM readers in January
1992, NEC Technologies, Inc. created a new CD-ROM performance standard by
being the first company to dramatically improve the data transfer rate as
well.

Now, NEC's new InterSect CDR-74 external and CDR-84 internal CD-ROM readers
not only outperform the competition with an impressive access time of 280
milliseconds, they are the only drives on the market armed with NEC's
unique MultiSpin technology and a breakthrough data transfer rate of
300KB/second.

What is MultiSPin Technology?

NEC's MultiSpin technology enables the InterSect CDR-74 and CDR-84 to spin
at 300KB/second when retrieving test, graphics and video information --
doubling the industry standard rate of 150KB/second. When playing only
sound, the drives automatically adjust to spin at 150KB/second.

"Without a high-performance data transfer rate, users are not getting full
performance from their CD-ROM readers, regardless of how fast their access
times might be," explained Marc Miller, NEC vice president and general
manager of NEC's Optical Media and Multimedia Group. "NEC's MultiSpin
technology and significantly improved data transfer rate provide top
performance and the smoothest motion video available in CD-ROM multimedia
computing."

Why Do End Users Need MultiSpin Technology?

In the past when CD-ROM drives accessed mainly textual data, the old
standard of measuring CD-ROM drive speed by access time was sufficient.
With the development of the Multimedia PC (MPC) Marketing Council
specifications and CD-ROM applications offering motion video from a CD,
NEC realized that the performance standard needed to be raised in
anticipation of the progress and changes in the industry.

"We recognized early on that end users were requiring more performance from
their CD-ROM drives than just fast access times," explained Miller. "In
response to increasing performance demands, NEC is the first company to
develop double throughput capability and MultiSpin technology, eliminating
the time-lags once associated with CD-ROM computing and demonstrating our
commitment to providing our customers with state-of-the-art technology
solutions.

How Did NEC Do It?

Using part of the $3 billion NEC spends annually on new product research
and development, NEC engineers began their quest to double the
150KB/second data transfer rate over one year ago. Their first step was to
double the speed of the CD-ROM drive spindle motor, which in turn spun the
disc twice as fast. The engineers also had to speed up the transport motor
to work in sync with the faster spindle motor. The transport motor moves
the read head on the disc to locate desired information.

Spinning the disc faster sounds easy enough, but in order to fully realize
the true benefits of MultiSpin technology, NEC also had to find a way to
handle the information. While spinning the disc faster released twice as
much data from the disc, most existing CD-ROM drives were only able to
transfer the data at the old rate of 150KB/second. NEC engineers had to
develop a way for the CD-ROM drives to process the data twice as fast as
well.

NEC Team Improves Decoding Chip's Performance

To manage the increased amount of data, NEC had to dramatically improve the
performance of the Error Correction Code (ECC) decoding chip. If the ECC
decoder chip is not optimized, an information bottleneck occurs due to the
increased influx of information. Unless the information bottleneck is
addressed, simply spinning the disc faster will not improve drive
performance.

NEC's research and development team responded to the data transfer rate
challenge by developing the world's fastest ECC decoder chip to date. No
other company has been able to develop a decoder chip that can handle the
demands of double data throughput. While NEC's drives are capable of
spinning twice as fast as any other CD-ROM drive on the market, it is
NEC's ECC decoder chip that gives the InterSect CDR-74 (external) and
InterSect CDR-84 (internal) CD-ROM drives their 300KB/second data transfer
rate and true MultiSpin functionality.

NEC's Product Line Now Available With MultiSpin Technology

Starting May 1, 1992, NEC's entire product line including CD-Gallery and
the NEC Multimedia Upgrade Kit are available with the new NEC InterSect
CDR-74 and CDR-84 with MultiSpin technology.

NEC Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of computers and
peripherals for the North American market. Product lines include,
award-winning ProSpeed laptop computers, UltraLite notebook computers,
MultiSync monitors, Silentwriter and Colormate printers, PowerMate Image
and Express systems products, and InterSect CD-ROM hardware. NEC
Technologies, Inc. is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation.

NEC Technologies, 1414 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough, MA 01719
508-264-8000

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