MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Aug. 31, 1999--Panasonic Industrial Company announced today
that it has signed Fantom Drives Inc., a leading value-added
distributor of mass storage solutions, to distribute its LF-D101
DVD-RAM drive.
Headquartered in Los Angeles,
Calif., Fantom Drives focuses on solving storage requirements with
multimedia and mass storage solutions that combine advanced
technology with superior customer service and support.
The Panasonic LF-D101 is an
internal SCSI-II DVD-RAM drive that provides a removable,
rewritable storage capacity of 2.6GB on a single-layered disc and
5.2GB on a double-layered disc. Surpassing the capacity and
delicate nature of traditional magnetic storage media, the drives
combine the durability of optical storage, the flexibility of
ultra-high capacity removable storage and outstanding
price/performance.
The LF-D101 is ideal for storing
graphics, scanned photos, illustrations, and animated designs, as
well as real-time videos, commercials, Web sites and large data
files. With a storage cost of $.008 to $.009/MB, the rugged,
removable media can also be used for backup and low-cost
distribution of large files such as catalogs, service manuals,
data bases or training films.
"We strongly believe that DVD will
be the optical storage medium of choice for the information age,"
noted Rezza Zaimi, Fantom Drives General Manager. "We're seeing a
dramatic increase in the demand for DVD-RAM drives as a new set of
interactive and video-enabled applications begin to emerge.
Individuals and organizations are using rewritable DVD for digital
content development, backup, graphic design, illustration and
effects programs as well as multimedia, prepress and printing
solutions. With rewrite capabilities as well as its removability,
resistance to rough handling and long data life, DVD-RAM is ideal
for these demanding applications."
Zaimi also attributes the
increasing demand for the Panasonic DVD-RAM drive to the fact that
it combines high capacity and a low storage cost with broad
support for CD and DVD technology. The LF-D101 drive can read from
discs currently accepted by CD-ROM, CD Audio, CD-R, CD-RW and
video CD drives, as well as DVD-ROM, DVD video, and DVD-R drives.
"Fantom Drives has years of
experience in providing the service and support that are needed to
succeed in today's complex computing arena," said Jeff Saake,
Group General Manager, Panasonic Industrial Co., Computer
Technology Group. "Their support and commitment to customer
service are key differentiators." Saake added that Panasonic has
already provided Fantom Drives' sales and support staffs with
training so they can provide their customers with immediate
assistance.
Saake noted that Fantom Drives are
also helping the market realize the benefits of the convergence of
personal computing and home entertainment with enhanced Fantom
Drives DVD Home Theater kits. The kits include a DVD-RAM drive and
a high-quality MPEG-2 decoder card. Compatible with any PCI-based
Mac computer, the DVD-Video kit can play DVD movie titles in a
window on the desktop, full screen (up to 1600x1200) or on an
NTSC/PAL TV.
The DVD-Video kit also includes
line-doubler technology used in high-end projection TV circuitry
and full-frame, letterbox and "pan & scan" video modes as well
as Dolby Digital AC-3 audio, multiple language/subtitle support
and the ability to play both MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 titles.
Corporate Profiles
Headquartered in Los Angeles,
Fantom Drives is a data storage company dedicated to extending the
reach of computer technology. The company's current product line
includes CD duplication, CD-ROM, CD-R/RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, hard
drive, magneto-optical, RAID, removable storage, tape and
USB-based storage solutions. For more information on the Panasonic
DVD-RAM and Fantom Drives DVD-Video solution, call 310/474-1685,
fax 310/441-9320, email [email protected]
or visit www.fantomdrives.com.
The Panasonic DVD-RAM OEM drive is
manufactured by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (MEI)
(NYSE/PCX:MC), one of the world's leading producers of CD-ROM and
DVD-ROM drives and other digital electronic products. The drives
are marketed by the company's principal North American subsidiary,
Matsushita Electric Corp. of America.
For more information on the
Panasonic DVD-RAM OEM drive and media, contact Panasonic
Industrial Company, 1600 McCandless Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035;
408/945-5600, FAX 408/262-4214, E-mail [email protected].
Or, visit the company's Web site at www.panasonic.com/oemdvd-ram.
For Panasonic-brand DVD-RAM drives
and media, contact Panasonic Document Imaging Company, Two
Panasonic Way 7D-9, Secaucus, NJ 07030; 201/348-7282, E-mail [email protected].
In Canada, contact Panasonic
Canada, Ambler Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 2T3, Canada;
905/238-2254, FAX 905/238-2414, E-mail [email protected].
Fantom Drives Corporation is not a
part or in any way legally affiliated with Panasonic Industrial
Company. Panasonic Industrial Company assumes no responsibility
for the performance of or customer satisfaction with Fantom Drives
products. All company and/or product names are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers. Features,
pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change
without notice.
Contact:
For Panasonic
Andy Marken, 408/986-0100
[email protected]
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