Media please contact:
Chris Romoser, Iomega Corporation, (801) 332-3678 romoser@iomega.com
Julie Miller, Intuit Inc. (858) 784-4469; julie_miller@intuit.com
Analyst/Investors, please contact:
Jim Recob, Iomega Corporation, (801) 332-4430 recob@iomega.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Revolutionary Style and Ease of Use
For Home and Business
ROY, Utah,
November 8, 2000 - Iomega Corporation (NYSE:IOM),
a global leader in data management solutions, today
unveiled the new shape of CD-RW: the Iomega® PredatorTM
external CD-RW drive.
Iomega's new PredatorTM CD-RW drive
will debut at the Comdex technology trade show this
November in Las Vegas and is expected at retail in the
U.S. in January 2001. The Predator CD-RW drive combines
breakthrough design, interchangeable interfaces, and
a comprehensive software bundle to deliver outstanding
value to consumers.
The new Iomega® PredatorTM external
CD-RW drive is compatible with Macintosh® and PC
platforms and sets a new standard of sleek functionality
for external CD-RW drives. Iomega has discarded the
shoe-box dimensions of typical CD-RW products and trimmed
away the excess bulk and weight. The result: an exciting
new low-profile design of sculpted curves and rounded
edges. In another departure from the bland styling of
competing products, the Predator drive's case is finished
in a textured cobalt-blue with silver accents. The drive
also replaces the motorized front-loading drive tray
of most other external drives with a top-loading design
similar to that of portable CD players. The new design
is quieter, mechanically simpler and treats CDs more
gently than front-loading players, which can pinch an
improperly inserted disc.
"Iomega is making big gains
in CD-RW sales by identifying and meeting emerging consumer
needs," said Doug Collier, vice president of product
management and business development, Iomega Corporation.
"The CD-RW market is expected to more than double
this year, and yet the number of computers sold without
a CD-RW drive is projected to continue growing. Our
position as the number two brand in U.S. retail CD-RW
sales tells us that there is a huge opportunity to meet
the consumer need for style and simplicity in an easy-to-use
external drive, and that's exactly what we have created
with the Iomega Predator drive."
The PredatorTM CD-RW drive, which
has a rated performance of 8X4X32X (8X write-once, 4X
rewrite, 32X read), supports popular interfaces by using
detachable and interchangeable adapters. The Predator
drive will begin shipping in late December bundled with
a USB 1.1 adapter offering 4X4X6X performance, and in
early 2001 the drive will be bundled with a FireWire®
adapter offering 8X4X32X performance. With additional
options planned for release in 2001, users will be able
to easily switch among any of four hot-swappable connection
types: USB 1.1, FireWire®, PCMCIA, and USB 2.0.
These choices will give Predator owners the freedom
to transform their drives as needed for different desktop
and laptop interfaces, so they are ready for the future.
The PredatorTM drive's installation
is as simple as installing the software and plugging
in the drive; new users will be up and running in minutes.
The software suite includes Adaptec®Easy CD CreatorTM
4.0, Adaptec DirectCDTM 3.0, Adaptec ToastTM, MusicMatch®
JukeboxTM Plus, MGI PhotoSuite, Iomega Quik Sync 2 software
(30-day Trial Version) and Adobe® ActiveShareTM
software. Also included in the package are two CD-R
discs and one pre-formatted CD-RW disc, audio cables,
data cable, external power supply and a third-party
bonus software offer.
The Iomega® PredatorTM external
CD-RW drive in USB 1.1 configuration is expected in
U.S. stores in January of 2001 for $269.95 (U.S. estimated
retail price). The Predator drive with FireWire(r) support
will be available in U.S. stores in the first quarter
of 2001 for $349.95 (U.S. estimated retail price). To
purchase from Iomega directly, visit www.iomegadirect.com.
About Iomega
CD-RW Drives
Iomega began marketing optical drives in August 1999
with the introduction of the PC-compatible internal
4X4X24X ATAPI CD-RW drive. In December 1999, Iomega
followed up with the PC-compatible external USB CD-RW
drive, adding Macintosh(r) software drivers and support
in March 2000. Iomega added an 8X4X32X internal CD-RW
drive, a 12X4X32X internal CD-RW drive, and a 12X10X32X
internal CD-RW drive to its product line earlier this
year.
About Iomega
Iomega Corporation (NYSE:IOM) manufactures and markets
the award-winning Zip(, Jaz( and PocketZip( drives and
disks, the HipZip(tm) digital audio player, the FotoShow(tm)
digital image center, and Iomega Quik Sync 2 software;
Iomega also markets Iomega CD-RW drives and discs. Iomega's
products help people to save, share, manage and create
important information such as Internet downloads, audio
files, personal photographs, spreadsheets, and slides,
while protecting that content from viruses and hackers.
Used in homes, businesses, government and educational
facilities and by creative professionals everywhere,
Iomega storage solutions are the enabling technologies
preferred by millions. The Company can be reached at
1-888-4-IOMEGA (888-446-6342), or on the Web at http://www.iomega.com.
# # #
Copyright (c) 2000 Iomega Corporation.
Iomega, Zip, Jaz, HipZip, FotoShow, and PocketZip are
either registered trademarks or trademarks of Iomega
Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries. Macintosh and FireWire
are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple
Computer, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries.
Adaptec, Easy CD Creator, DirectCD, and Toast are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Adaptec Inc.
in the United States and/or other countries. Adobe and
ActiveShare are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or
other countries. Certain other product names, brand
names and company names may be trademarks or designations
of their respective owners.
# # #
Special Note: The statements
in this release relating to the announcement of Iomega's
Predator External CD-RW drive include forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties,
and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those referred to in this press
release. Such factors include, but are not limited to,
retail market acceptance of and demand for the Company's
existing and new products, general market demand for
PCs and consumer electronics products, the Company's
success in timely producing and marketing its products,
ability to maintain stringent quality assurance standards
and enhanced customer service, availability of critical
product components, success of the Company's new marketing
initiatives, manufacturing and inventory issues, dependence
upon third-party providers, intellectual property rights,
competition, litigation, general economic and/or industry-specific
conditions and the other factors described in Iomega's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1999, and its most recent quarterly reports filed
with the SEC. Iomega disclaims any intention or obligation
to update any formal statements as a result of developments
occurring after the date of this press release.
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