BACKGROUNDER AND FACT SHEET

CONTACT: Marilyn Nix (650)856-2271 [email protected] Gary-Paul Prince(510) 524-2178 gary-paul@peachpit.com

Peachpit Press: The Visual QuickStart Online Library Overview

The Visual QuickStart Online Library (www.quickstartonline.com) from Peachpit Press is a quick- search, quick-find online library of Web and graphics software how-to's for new users and professionals alike. It includes the complete contents from 25 top-selling Visual QuickStart Guide Web and graphics books published by Peachpit Press and is now available to subscribers on the Web. The limited time charter subscription price is $49.95 per year. Collectively, over 1.3 million Visual QuickStart Guides were sold during the past year alone. Peachpit Press is currently offering free seven day trial subscriptions for a limited time.

The Visual QuickStart Online Library highlights:

• all the steps needed to easily accomplish thousands of Web and graphics tasks using a wide variety of the most popular tools, including HTML, XML, Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver and more • a task-based, show-and-tell, visual format. • a proven visual learning method for new users learning new software and technologies • a quick reference for experienced users and professionals who need immediate answers • advanced search collaboration and personalization tools which will improve the way Web and graphics professionals and novices work

The Visual QuickStart Online Library benefits:

• the very best content available on Web and graphics topics from best-selling, award-winning books • proven learning method, tasked based with step-by-step instructions and plenty of screenshots • clean design, completely free of distracting ads • affordable subscription price for individuals and discounts for multiple users • the ability to create and share bookmarks and lookups • advanced workgroup collaboration and personalization tools

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Visual Quickstart Online Library Titles

This list includes titles currently available in the Visual QuickStart Online Library; new titles and revisions will be added as they are published.

Web Titles:

HTML 4 for the World Wide Web, 4th Edition: Visual QuickStart Guide DHTML for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide Perl and CGI for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide JavaScript for the World Wide Web, 3rd Edition: Visual QuickStart Guide Java for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide Dreamweaver 3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide Flash 4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide Adobe GoLive 4 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide LiveMotion for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide Fireworks 3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide FrontPage 2000 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide Claris Home Page 3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide PageMill 3 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide AppleScript for the Internet: Visual QuickStart Guide BBEdit 4 for Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide The GIMP for Linux & Unix: Visual QuickStart Guide

Graphics/Multimedia Titles:

Photoshop 5.5 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide Illustrator 8 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide FreeHand 9 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide DeBabelizer for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide CorelDRAW 9 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide Director 8 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide Premiere 5.1 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide QuickTime Pro 4 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide Paint Shop Pro 5 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide Page 3

General Background

Peachpit Press— Visual QuickStart Guides

Peachpit Press was started in 1986 by Ted Nace in Berkeley, CA. Peachpit has been committed to publishing top-notch books covering the latest in graphic design, desktop publishing, multimedia, Web publishing, and general computing topics.

• Visual QuickStart Guide books have been a hit with readers everywhere. Savvy users turn to this series because it solves a modern conundrum: People want to keep up with the latest technology, but don't have a lot of time to devote to learning complex programs.

• Visual QuickStart Guide books are what computer books should be: clear, visually-oriented guides that walk users step-by-step through the most practical tasks they need to know how to do in their software. Once users learn the ropes, they keep turning back to these books to refresh knowledge and reference specific topics as they work.

Among Peachpit Publishing’s Awards

• Graphic Design Network “Designer’s Bookshelf” Editor’s Choice Awards: Photoshop 5.5 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas, and Eudora 4.2 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide by Adam C. Engst

• Best of the Year Honors—Amazon.com’s Computer and Internet site honored Peachpit author Elizabeth Castro’s best-selling HTML 4 for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide as one of its “Best of the Year” books.

• Top 10 Best Graphics Books—Amazon.com Editor’s Choice Award: Flash 4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide by Katherine Ulrich Page 4

Markets

The Visual QuickStart Guide Online Library is a higly effective online learning tool for a variety of markets. Using a proven learning method, it contains collaboration tools that make it the ideal solution for creative workgroups in companies. The collaboration tools include shared bookmarks and comments, and group-wide email blasts that can be sent when users come across a technique they wish to share with the work group.The online library is the perfect solution for trainers, coporate works teams, and individuals. In the same way the Visual QuickStart Online Library collaboration tools work well in corporations, they also will work just as well in the classroom, making this the perfect solution for school adoption.

Creatives of all persuasions who need to be proficient in a wide array of graphics and Web tools will appreciate having real-time access to all this content for quick reference. The ability to share information will revolutionize the way users and corporate work groups interface and share information in the future.

Target markets

• Corporate work groups • Web building teams • Art departments • Marketing communications teams • Corporate training departments • Schools • Graphics, Web, creative and training consultants • Individuals like Webmasters, graphic designers

Strategic Alliances/Partners

The key partnership on the content side are the Peachpit Press authors, who are enthusiastic about lending their support to this new online publishing venture. Books24x7.com is the online library tech- nology partner. They convert the books, provide the tools, and host the site. Their electronic library platform is the best available for this kind of online information delivery. Pearson Education's various channel sales groups will support the online library sales and marketing efforts; Peachpit Press is a subsidiary division Pearson Education. (NYSE :PSO) Page 5

Key Executive Bios

Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel is the publisher of Peachpit Press, which she joined in 1996. Previously, she was the publisher/editorial director of Step-By-Step Publishing, publishers of Step-By-Step Graphics magazine, the internationally recognized how-to magazine for graphic designers, Step-By-Step Electronic Design, the award-winning newsletter for desktop designers, Dynamic Graphics magazine and Step-By- Step Books. She also served as group president of all graphics products/services, new media and training at Dynamic Graphics, Inc., Step-By-Step's parent company. Aldrich-Ruenzel has served on the boards of international graphics organizations, chaired and presented at graphics and electronic design conferences, and judged traditional and electronic design and illustration competitions. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Masters degree at Indiana University.

Paula Baker is online publishing manager at Peachpit Press. She joined the company in 1991 as a “marketeer” and later became associate publisher. In her current position she has led the creation of the Visual QuickStart Online Library. In 1995 she helped launch Peachpit's Web site, which has earned many industry awards and honors, and she led its re-design in 1999. Baker graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in history. After college, she worked at the start-up International Computer Science Institute, a joint project of UC Berkeley and a consortium of international research organizations. Baker, a Bay Area native, is also a volunteer reading teacher, working with first graders in a Berkeley elementary school.

CONTACT INFORMATION Peachpit Press 1249 Eighth Street Berkeley CA 94710 (510) 524-2178 fax (510) 524-2221 www.peachpit.com

To set-up and interview or more information please contact:

Marilyn Nix Gary-Paul Prince (650) 856-2271 (510) 524-2178 FAX (650) 320-9321 FAX (510) 524-2221 [email protected] (800)283-9444 [email protected]