June 25, 1998

Toshiba Welcomes Microsoft Windows 98 Release; New Operating System Brings Unprecedented DVD Support

IRVINE, Calif., June 25, 1998 - Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. Disk Products Division (TAEC DPD) today heralded the release of Windows® 98 for its support of DVD technology. "Windows 98, as the first operating system with inherent support for DVD, is an enabling technology that will further establish DVD as the industry standard," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president marketing TAEC DPD.

Windows 98 Provides Native Support for DVD
According to Brzeski, Windows 98 from Microsoft® Corp. contains device drivers for Toshiba's DVD-ROM drives, allowing quick and easy installation into computer systems, since the operating system recognizes the device instantly. Windows 98 also offers copy protection and regional coding in the operating system, eliminating the need for a secondary driver.

Windows 98 Enables Content Developers and Solutions Providers to Deliver Full DVD Functionality

Windows 98 features the robust Direct Show application programming interface that will be used by content developers and DVD solutions providers to bring full DVD functionality to computer systems. Through Direct Show, content developers now have a common command set for creating applications that take advantage of DVD's capabilities such as pause, playback, scaling and branching. This command set will be universally recognized by all systems running Windows 98 to ensure optimum application performance. Previously, content developers created applications using different implementations of MCI commands as necessitated by each DVD controller solution.

Windows 98 eliminates the proprietary driver approach through Direct Show. DVD solutions providers, like the content developers, now have a single common command set that they can use to bring full DVD functionality to computer systems. Through Direct Show, DVD solutions providers will be able to offer a range of capabilities including easy computer playback of DVD-ROM, CD-ROM and audio CDs plus playback of MPEG-1 DVD movies with all the functionality and interactivity found in standard DVD-Video players.

"DVD Content developers and solutions providers will take advantage of the strengths of Windows 98 so they can bring new, more powerful DVD applications and products to market as soon as possible," said Brzeski. "We anticipate that Windows 98 based applications and solutions will hit the market as early as Fall 1998. Already there are more than 100 DVD-ROM titles and 650 DVD movies available."

About Toshiba
TAEC brings to market the industry's most comprehensive offering of components for the manufacturing of desktop and portable computers. As the North American manufacturing, sales and marketing arm of one of the world's largest suppliers of semiconductors, integrated circuits, storage devices and electronic components, TAEC's product offerings account for more than 30 percent of the total possible components used in desktop and portable computers. This broad product offering, which includes industry-leading semiconductors, integrated circuits, hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM drives, color picture tubes, display monitor tubes, liquid crystal displays, medical tubes, rechargeable batteries, microwave components, laser diodes and optical transmission devices, positions TAEC as the ideal business partner for system manufactures.

TAEC DPD is a technology and market leader with a well established reputation for delivering high performance, highly reliable 2.5-inch hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, DVD-ROM drives and DVD-RAM drives. For additional product information, contact Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., Disk Products Division, 35 Hammond, Irvine, CA 92618; telephone (714)457-0777, or on the World Wide Web at:http://www.toshiba.com/taecdpd.

Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft® Corp.

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