IBM ANNOUNCES a NEW LINE of INNOVATIVELY DESIGNED PC's Submitted By: Pleon Friday, 12 May 2000

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IBM ANNOUNCES A NEW LINE OF INNOVATIVELY DESIGNED PC'S Submitted by: Pleon Friday, 12 May 2000

...Brings Sleek Black IBM Design to A New IBM Desktop Brand - NetVista... IBM, the company whose ThinkPad defined the standard in notebook computer design, today announced two new computers that extend those standards for ergonomics and ease-of-use to the desktop - the IBM NetVista all-in-one and NetVista legacy-free computers. The first two sleek, black desktop computers in the new NetVista family, both deliver on IBM's "Edge of Network" (EoN) business strategy - to simplify computing for businesses and individuals. Fewer cables and smaller sizes make the IBM NetVista products easier to carry and to set up; new drives, keyboards and Access IBM buttons make them easier to use; and new networking and security features make them easier to do e-business. "IBM has led the way in industrial design and ergonomics, and were leveraging that expertise even further with our new line of NetVista desktop computers, says Harry Nicol, general manager, IBM desktop systems. These computers feature some of the most advanced technologies on the market, but that wasn't the hardest part. Making them easier to use was the real challenge", says Nicol. To create the new NetVista family, IBM turned to its Personal Systems industrial design team and to design consultant Richard Sapper, whose original design for the IBM ThinkPad is one of 15 Sapper designs in the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art. IBM's design approach, Sapper says, is to view the computer as a tool. "We think that the computer should work properly and should not invade your life," Sapper says. "That's a reason for our products to be calm. At the same time our design has an element of surprise and detail, so that you might find something new to discover even if you've had it for months. This is the way we create discreet interest. We don't think the computer should be shouting 'here I am.'"

Page 1 Beyond thoughtful designs, the new NetVista PCs enable users to easily transfer data between computers with the optional new IBM Portable Drive Bay 2000. This option allows people to reduce the number of hard drives or CD-RW drives they need by offering a single, swappable drive that works in both ThinkPad notebook computers and NetVista desktop computers. And features such as the embedded Security Chip, available on select models of the legacy-free NetVista S40, provide 256-bit encryption for extremely secure network and Internet transactions, and demonstrates IBM's commitment to providing stronger levels of security as people do business in a networked world. The All-in-One IBM NetVista X40 The IBM NetVista X40 is 75 percent smaller than the typical home or office PC -- about 40 centimetres by 40 by 25 centimetres in a sleek, space-saving design. The CD/DVD-ROM and floppy drive fold neatly away underneath the monitor, and a unique neck design allows the keyboard to free up desk space by sliding underneath the foldaway drives. The NetVista X40 features a bright, 15" flat panel monitor and built-in speakers. An "Access IBM" button provides easy access to IBM information, service and support. And an optional radial arm saves even more desk space by allowing the system to be mounted to a wall or clamped to the edge of a desk. The NetVista X40 is fully expandable with two low-profile PCI slots and five or seven USB ports that enable easy connection to printers, modems and other plug and play devices. It also features wireless networking options for home and business, eliminating awkward cables and wires. The NetVista X40 features or Intel Pentium III 600 MHz (1) and 667 MHz processors, with 64 MB or 128 MB of SDRAM standard (up to a maximum of 512 MB). It comes with integrated Intel 10/100 Ethernet, making networking configurations easier. The NetVista X40 includes a 10 GB (2) or 20 GB (2) hard disk, 24X-10X (3) CD-ROM drive or 6X (3) max DVD-ROM, and integrated AGP graphics. Preloaded software (4) includes Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional or Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition; Lotus SmartSuite and

Page 2 Lotus Notes Client 5.0 licenses; and numerous anti-virus, configuration and diagnostics applications (5). The Legacy-Free IBM NetVista S40 The IBM NetVista S40 delivers the functionality of a conventional PC with the simplicity, reliability, security and high manageability of a thin client. It features a vertical, space-saving design, integrated Intel 10/100 Ethernet capability that simplifies network connections, and the Access IBM feature that provides machine-specific information with one touch. The NetVista S40 is expandable with two PCI slots, three bays, and five USB ports. Its optional NetVista S Cradle also enables integrated docking of an IBM WorkPad PC companion and other palm-sized organizers. Some models include IBM's embedded Security Chip, which enables 256-bit encryption for extremely secure network and Internet transactions. The NetVista S40 features Pentium III 667 MHz, 733 MHz or 866 MHz processors, with 128 MB of SDRAM standard (up to a maximum of 512 MB of SDRAM). It includes a 10 GB or 20 GB hard disk. Preloaded software includes Microsoft Windows 2000; Lotus SmartSuite and Lotus Notes Client 5.0 licenses; and anti-virus, configuration and diagnostics applications. In addition, the System Installation Toolkit simplifies migrations between desktops and adds remote manageability functions that help lower Total Cost of Ownership for the enterprise. Pricing and Availability The all-in-one NetVista X40 starts at around 1608 UK Pounds (6) and is available in June. The legacy-free NetVista S40 starts at 1036 UK Pounds (6) and is available in July. IBM Expands its TFT Portfolio IBM also announced today that it has expanded its Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Flat Panel Monitor portfolio to include a low-cost TFT monitor for the mainstream user as well as high-performance TFT monitors for advanced users deploying specialised applications.

Page 3 TFT Flat Panel Monitor for the Masses Designed for the mainstream user, the new IBM T54A 15-inch TFT Flat Panel Monitor is ideal for displaying common, corporate applications such as word processing, business graphics and basic spreadsheets. This flat panel monitor delivers a bright, flicker-free 15.0-inch (6) viewable image with low reflectivity and a resolution up to 1024 x 768 pels.The IBM T54A is IBM's most affordable and user-friendly TFT flat panel monitor, currently available in pearl white or stealth black. High-Performance TFT Flat Panel Monitors For advanced users, IBM has designed the new IBM T74A and IBM T86A TFT Flat Panel Monitors for specialized applications such as complex and over-sized spreadsheets, medical and scientific imaging, and advanced desktop publishing. The IBM T74A 17-inch TFT Flat Panel Monitor delivers a crisp, flicker-free 17.0-inch (7) viewable image with exceptionally wide viewing angle and low reflectivity and offers a resolution up to 1024 x 768 pels. The IBM T74A 17-inch TFT Flat Panel Monitor is currently available in stealth black and will be available in pearl white in late May 2000. The IBM T86A 18-inch TFT Flat Panel Monitor is high-performance monitor designed for advanced users that need superior display characteristics in a flexible and stylish, space-saving form-factor. Using the bundled Pivot Software**, the monitor and the image can rotate to either landscape or portrait screen positions to view an 8.5- x 11-inch document or most Web pages in full screen. An improved detachable base allows user to lift, tilt, rotate the monitor for greater viewing comfort and work layout. As a result of reducing the bezel width by 40 percent, the IBM T86A is ideal for those customers installing larger flat panel monitors for dual-monitor applications in space-constrained environments. With a 18.1-inch (7) viewable image size, the T86A offers flicker free images with a resolution up to 1280 x 1024 pels. The IBM T86A 18-inch flat panel monitor is currently available in pearl white and stealth black.

Page 4 Choice of Ergonomic Mountings All the IBM "T Series" Flat Panel Monitors can be mounted to most office furniture and walls. Customers can create more workspace in their office by using the IBM NetVista Radial Arm or IBM NetVista X Arm Mount kit to mount the flat panel monitor to office furniture or the wall. Customers benefit from flexible viewing angles and storage positions. Ref: 00/136 Notes to editor IBM, ThinkPad, and NetVista are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. AnyPoint, Celeron, Intel and Pentiumare trademarks of Intel Corp. Lotus Notes and Lotus SmartSuite are trademarks of Lotus Development Corp. Other trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective companies. For more information about the NetVista Products, visit: ww.ibm.com/pc/europe/netvista For more information about IBM Visual products, visit: http://www.ibm.com/options 1. MHz only measures microprocessor internal clock speed, not application performance.Other factors also affect application performance. 2. GB equals one billion bytes when referring to hard disk drive capacity. Accessible capacity may be less depending on operating environments. 3. Variable read rate. Actual playback speed will vary and is often less than the maximum possible. 4. Some software may differ from its retail version (if available), and may not include user manuals or all program functionality. Warranty, service and support for non-IBM products are provided directly to you by third parties, not IBM. IBM makes no representations or warranties regarding non-IBM products. For non-IBM software, applicable third-party software licenses may apply. 5. Diskettes and hard copy documentation are available at an

Page 5 additional charge. CD may be free of charge depending on country. 6. Estimated reseller price. Resellers set their own prices, so actual prices may vary. 7. Actual diagonal viewable image size. Media Contacts: Clare Behling UK PSG PR Manager 44 020 7202 3259 [email protected]

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