SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 5, 1996 -- Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc., a leading supplier of computer peripherals including scanners, storage and printer products, today raised the bar for hard drive design and performance with the introduction of two new state-of-the-art ATA-interface drive families for desktop and portable personal computers. The latest head and read channel technologies enable these drives to pack more capacity into smaller form factors, increasing drive reliability, and fulfilling the rapidly increasing need for desktop storage.

The new M16xx series 3.5-inch hard drives enforce Fujitsu's application of its advanced third-generation magneto-resistive (MR) head technology and partial response/maximum likelihood (PRML) read channel breakthroughs to the capacity-hungry desktop computing market.
MR head and PRML read channel technologies are also inherent in the new portable drive family, the 2.5-inch, 12.5mm high Fujitsu M272x series.

"Fujitsu's breakthroughs in MR head and PRML technologies are enabling the next generation of hard drives to meet rising capacity and performance needs," said Ken Spear, senior director of product management at Fujitsu Computer Products' rigid disk drive division.
"Our experience with these technologies allows us to be one of the few manufacturers to offer highly reliable solutions to the cost-sensitive desktop and portables markets."

High Performance For The Desktop
Fujitsu's 3.5-inch M16xx series features popular 1.2GB, 1.7GB, 2.1GB, and 2.5GB capacities, including the highest-capacity, two-disk hard drive available (the 2.5GB M1638). The increased performance and larger capacities allow these new ATA-2 drives to handle larger, more sophisticated applications for all ranges of desktop computers.

The M16xx series raises the standard for performance, offering highly reliable and a fast 10ms seek time at rotational speeds of 5,400 rpm and data transfer rates of up to 16.7MB/sec. The new drives also feature the advanced Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) detection system to give users data-saving advance warning of any disk drive operation inconsistencies. Fujitsu's Intelligent Power ManagementTM technology in the M16xx drives provides power consumption savings by automatically putting the hard drive into a power save mode of 1.8 watts when not in use.

Highest Areal Density 2.5-inch Drive for Portable Computers M272x series drive models provide the highest areal densities on the market of up to 1.3 Gbits/sq. in. allowing Fujitsu to offer 1.2GB and 1.6GB (the highest capacity, two-platter 2.5-inch drive available) capacities. These ATA-3 interface drives are designed especially for the tough and unpredictable portable environments with features including Intelligent Power Management for 2.19-Watt read/write and 0.98-Watt idle operations, SMART detection and read-ahead and write cache.

MR Head & PRML Technologies
MR read/write technology allows a drive to read bits of data that are many times smaller than those read by previous head technologies and designs. This ability and a three-fold increase in signal output enables Fujitsu to dramatically improve disk capacity, while at the same time, improving the drive's ability to separate real data from "noise." Complementing MR technology, PRML read channel technology makes reading data on drives with higher areal density more efficient by digitizing incoming signals, yielding improved signal-to-noise ratio.

Fujitsu M16xx series drives are available now. Volume shipment of the M272x series drives are scheduled to begin in September. All Fujitsu hard disk drives are available through OEM, distributor, reseller, and system integrator channels.

About Fujitsu Computer Products
Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. is part of $36 billion Fujitsu Limited, the world's second-largest computer company.
Primarily responsible for input, storage and output solutions in the United States, Fujitsu Computer Products is part of Fujitsu's worldwide design, development, manufacturing and marketing operations.

The company of 850 employees encompasses research and development operations in Longmont, Colo.; manufacturing in Hillsboro, Ore.; marketing in San Jose, Calif.; and sales operations throughout the United States. Fujitsu Computer Products of America is based in San Jose, Calif. and is located at 2904 Orchard Parkway, San Jose, Calif.
95134. For more information about Fujitsu Computer Products of America, see our Internet Web site at http://www.fcpa.com/. The company can also be reached by phone at 800/626-4686 or 408/432-6333 or by email at info@fcpa.fujitsu.com

Fujitsu is a trademark of Fujitsu Limited. Intelligent Power Management is a trademark of Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks of their respective holders.