News release

Industry Support for DVD+RW Grows as Products Hit Retail Shelves Worldwide

DVD+RW Alliance Celebrates Momentum with New Products and New Members

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 12, 2001

Dell, Hewlett-Packard Company, Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, Philips Electronics, Ricoh, Sony, Thomson and Yamaha today announced increasing industry support for DVD+RW as the premier choice for consumers seeking rewritable DVD. During an event scheduled today at Comdex 2001, the DVD+RW Alliance - a group of companies committed to the benefits of the DVD+RW standard- will offer attendees a chance to test retail-available DVD+RW products.

Keynote speakers including John C. Dvorak, Tech TV host and PC Magazine columnist, will discuss the consumer benefits of rewritable DVD products, state of the rewritable industry and future DVD+RW Alliance activities. Providing an Alliance update, John Hamlin, vice president and general manager of consumer business, Dell, will disclose future plans for the DVD+RW Alliance.

"DVD+RW was designed to provide consumers with an easy to use rewritable DVD standard with broad applications in video and data," said Hamlin. "Today, we want you to see and test for yourselves the benefits we've worked hard to perfect and establish as a long-term rewritable DVD solution for beginners and experts alike."

According to industry analyst Wolfgang Schlichting, research manager of International Data Corporation, "The DVD+RW format addresses compatibility with other DVD devices, a key attribute for a successful rewritable DVD format. The format's emphasis on video recording and editing will be attractive for consumers looking to purchase a recordable DVD product."

DVD+RW Alliance Executive Member Products

• Dell - Dell will ship DVD+RW drives later this year in Dell Dimension desktops and Dell Precision workstations, providing both consumer and professional users the ability to record and playback their digital media.

• HP DVD-Writer dvd100i - HP is now shipping the HP DVD-Writer dvd100i, a super combination drive that allows consumers to create custom CDs and DVDs using one drive. Additionally, HP will begin shipping the first DVD+RW drive in a pre-configured PC, the new HP Pavilion 9995 home PC, on Nov. 18. The drive is also available now through HP's build-to-order program. HP DVD+RW discs are also available in retails stores with 4.7GB storage capacity.

• Philips DVDRW208 DVD+RW PC drive - Philips has started shipment of its DVDRW208 DVD+RW PC drive, a combination drive that is optimized for both video and data storage, allowing customers to read and write CDs and DVDs. In addition, Philips already introduced DVD+RW 4.7GB discs and its award-winning DVDR1000 DVD+RW video recorder, a device that makes it easy for consumers to create digital-quality video recordings in the living room. It includes a time-shift recorder for TV programs and is an ideal solution for those who want to enjoy and preserve their own movies on a reliable and user-friendly platform.

• Ricoh MP5120A - Ricoh is shipping the Ricoh MP5120A, PC drive, which has DVD+RW and CD-R/CD-RW writing capability. Additionally, Ricoh 4.7GB DVD+RW discs are shipping for use with video and data storage.

• Sony Corporation - Also showing its support for the DVD+RW format, Sony today introduced a combination DVD+RW/CD-RW internal drive (model DRU110A/C1) that can be easily installed inside a desktop PC, and 4.7GB DVD+RW disc media (DPW47) optimized for both video/audio and data storage applications. The new Sony drive and media will be available this month through nationwide retailers, mail order catalogs and select online shopping sites including SonyStyle.com.

• Verbatim DVD+RW - Verbatim Corporation is selling 4.7GB DVD+RW discs around the world for the PC and consumer electronics markets.

• Yamaha Corporation - Yamaha Corporation announced that it will release a DVD+RW CE recorder in 2002.

According to Peter Esser, executive vice president, volume products and supply operations of Fujitsu-Siemens Computers, the company joined the Alliance because, "DVD+RW is the only technology that offers the right level of compatibility and performance that our customers demand."

About DVD+RW

The DVD+RW format is capable of recording up to 4.7 gigabytes of digital video, images or data. This equates to the storage capacity of seven CD-R/RWs and the potential to store thousands of digital photographs or approximately two hours of digital video. According to the DVD+RW Alliance, the primary benefit of DVD+RW is its two-way compatibility, meaning that DVD+RW media can be played in most DVD-Video players and DVD-ROM drives in use today. In addition, the DVD+RW format supports write once DVD+R capability.

About The DVD+RW Alliance

Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HWP), MCC/Verbatim, Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG), Ricoh Company Ltd. (ADR: RICOY), Sony Corporation, Thomson Multimedia (NYSE: TMS) and Yamaha Corporation, the developers, promoters and leaders in CD-R and CD-RW technology, are developing the next generation of optical storage technology with the DVD+RW format. The companies promote the universally compatible, rewritable DVD format that enables true convergence between personal computing and consumer electronics products. DVD+RW and DVD+R discs written on a DVD+RW recorder can be read and played in most DVD-Video players and DVD-ROM drives. More than 40 additional companies have formally pledged support for DVD+R and DVD+RW technology. Further details about the DVD+RW Alliance and supporting companies can be found at www.dvdrw.com.