Company Leads Industry With Introduction of "Sweet 16"

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2000--Pioneer New Media Technologies Inc., a leading manufacturer of DVD technology- based products, Tuesday announced the industry's first 16X (max.) DVD-ROM drive, "Sweet 16."

As with its introduction of the 10X drive, Pioneer is again the first to bring the fastest DVD-ROM drive to market.

Offering speeds that are 16 times faster than first generation DVD-ROM technology, the 16X DVD-ROM/40X CD-ROM is compatible with single and dual layer DVD-ROM and DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA, Video CD and Photo CD media, preserving compatibility with conventional CD formats.

Pioneer's most advanced drive to date, the 16X DVD-ROM offers:

• Random seek times of less than 85 msec for DVD-ROM (70 msec for CD-ROM)
• Access times less than 95 msec (80 msec for CD-ROM)
• ATAPI interface
• Horizontal or vertical mounting capabilities

"Pioneer's expertise in drive manufacturing, combined with its leadership in DVD technology, allows us to push the limits of single drives to unprecedented performance marks," said Paul Dempsey, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Pioneer New Media Technologies. "The introduction of Sweet 16 once again reinforces our position as an industry leader in optical technology."

Pioneer's DVD-ROM drive features a 512 KB buffer memory, audio output, a front panel headphone jack and volume control knob. Compatible with the Windows 9X Plug and Play standard, the drive is easy to install and use. The 5.25-inch half-height drive measures 148x207.5x42.3mm (WxDxH) and weighs 1.0 kg.

The current version (DVD-115) features a tray-load and will be available in March 2000 through OEM and distribution channels. The slot-load (DVD-105S) version will be available in April 2000.

Pioneer New Media Technologies

Pioneer New Media Technologies is dedicated to bringing the very best of leading-edge technology to market. Pioneer invented the world's first multiple-disc CD-ROM changer and offered the first multifunction optical drive capable of reading and writing to both MO and WORM.

The Optical Division's products include first to market DVD-R and DVD-ROM drives; CD-ROM drives, changers and jukeboxes; optical drives; MO, WORM and DVD-R media for a wide range of storage solutions in the education, government, legal, banking, medical, insurance, finance, industrial and general business markets. The company is a leading supplier of optical drives to the majority of first tier OEM PC manufacturers.

For more information, contact Pioneer New Media Technologies Inc. at 2265 E. 220th St., Long Beach, Calif. 90810; phone 310/952-2111 or 800/444-6784; URL: www.pioneerusa.com.