Stac Unveils Stacker for Windows and DOS
New Release Provides Tools for Monitoring and Tuning Performance Enhancements
 
CARLSBAD, Calif., October 26, 1992 - Stac Electronics (NASDAQ:STAC), the
leading supplier of high performance data compression for IBM PCs and
compatibles, today announced the availability of Stacker for Windows and
DOSTM, version 3.0. This new version, which installs from Windows or DOS,
enhances Stackers disk doubling capabilities with increased performance, data
security and new tools that enable users to monitor and tune the compression
and performance of their systems.
 
"Stacker has been designed for the Windows user who isn't necessarily out of
disk space," said Gary Clow, Stac's president and chief executive officer.
"By installing  Stacker from the start, Windows users get the benefit of 
using our new monitoring tools that function like the gauges on a car 
dashboard to keep tabs on the disk drive."
 
Monitoring Gives Insights into Drive Performance:  Stackometer (TM)
 
Windows users can monitor their systems with the new Stackometer, a set of
real-time gauges showing disk capacity, compression ratio and fragmentation
levels.  The Stackometer can display any or all of a user's drives
simultaneously, providing useful feedback at a glance. DOS users can get
information on their systems with a new tool that gives drive statistics
based on the compression ratios of various file types.
 
Flexible Setup for Less Technical and Advanced Users Alike
 
"Stacker for Windows and DOS caters to the needs of a full range of users,"
said Anne Galdos, Stacker product manager.  "We've made installation much
easier for less technical users who simply want to double their disk capacity,
and we provide the tools and functionality for advanced users who want to
customize and maximize system performance."
 
Stacker now offers an Express Setup that Stacks a system with minimal user
interaction.  This can be accomplished from either Windows or DOS.  In
addition, Stacker provides comprehensive, context-sensitive on-line help in
both Windows and DOS. Stacker's Custom Setup offers the more experienced user
a host of configuration options for maximum control These options include
expected compression ratio, cluster size, EMS support, and path
statement modification.  Custom Setup also provides users the ability to tune
their systems from maximum speed or maximum compression.
 
Tuning:  Customizing Compression for Optimal Performance
 
Stacker now allows users to maximize the performance of their systems by
tuning the speed and compression ratio.  The default setting gives the fastest
performance and uses the least amount of memory.  By changing the settings,
users can opt for more compression - up to 10 percent - with  and only a small
decrease in speed.  This means that on a 200 MB drive, users can gain up to 40
MB of additional space.  In a typical Windows environment, this might
mean being able to add two new applications.  In addition, users of faster
machines may wish to maximize their systems for compression, since for them
the speed tradeoff is likely to be imperceptible.
 
Password Protection
 
Users can password-protect Stacked drives for either read-only or read/write
access.  This feature offers security for all files on a Stacked drive.  By
choosing read-only, users can allow others to read files but not to alter the
data.  Read/write access allows users full access to the data providing they
know the password.
 
Read and Write Stacked Floppies on Any System:  Stacker Anywhere (TM)
 
Stacker for Windows and DOS allows users to both read and write Stacked
floppies, Bernoulli disks, Syquest cartridges, Flopticals or any removable
media on any PC, even one where Stacker is not installed.  With Stacker
Anywhere, data can truly be shared across all PCs easily and transparently.
 
Support for 2 Gigabyte Disk Drives
 
Stacker for Windows and DOS now supports Stacked drives up to 1 gigabyte in
size, yielding 2 gigabyte Stacker drives.  Previous versions of Stacker were
limited to 512 megabytes per Stacker drive.

Faster and More Flexible Stacker Optimizer
 
Stacker's disk optimizer has been improved to provide a substantial increase
in speed.  In addition, the optimizer has been enhanced, providing visual
representation of the defragmentation process on screen, similar to popular
disk utility products. A new quick defragmentation option has been added to
speed the process even further.
 
 
UnStack (TM)
 
With Stacker for Windows and DOS, users now have the ability to UnStack
compressed disks. Designed primarily for corporate software evaluators, the
UnStack command automatically returns the system to its original state.
 
Transparency
 
Stac has made several enhancements to make Stackers operation even more
seamless than before.  Stacker Setup recognizes Windows permanent swap files
and handles them automatically.  The Automount feature means that Stacked
removable drives are immediately ready to use.  Improved synchronization means
Stacker detects changes to a user's configuration, and automatically updates
system files.
 
Compatibility
 
As with all Stacker products, Stacker for Windows and DOS is compatible with
all standard disk drives, utilities, applications, memory managers and caching
programs.
 
Price and Availability
 
Stacker for Windows and DOS will begin shipping October 30.  The suggested
retail price is $149.  An upgrade release is available at a suggested retail
price of $49.95 through retail channels and direct from the company.  The
upgrade release requires that an earlier Stacker version be previously
installed.  Stacker for Windows and DOS version 3.0 is fully compatible
with all Stacker hardware.
 
 
The Company
 
Stac Electronics is the leading supplier of high-performance data compression
product for IBM PCs and compatibles.  The company's products, implemented in
software and silicon, are sold direct form the company and through traditional
retail and OEM sales distribution channels worldwide.
