Features - Storage Innovations:

EXABYTE ANNOUNCES SECOND GENERATION 160 GB VXA TAPE DRIVE

The VXA-2 dramatically increases the capacity and performance available to tape users who seek an alternative to DDS technology at similar pricing for drives and media. In addition, VXA-2 delivers full read and write compatibility with VXA-1, protecting the investment of users who have already chosen VXA technology. Shipments to select channel and OEM customers began this month, and general availability to all customers is expected by September this year.

The VXA-2 drive can record 160 GB to a single cartridge at a data transfer rate of 12 MB/sec (at an average 2:1 data compression ratio). VXA-2 delivers at least twice the data rate and four times the storage capacity of DDS-4, and is competitively priced at $999 (MSRP) for an internal unit. Three interface options will be available including Ultra2 Wide SCSI, IDE/ATAPI, and FireWire, providing support for a wide range of computing platforms and operating systems.

VXA-2 is positioned to replace DDS technology for users who are outgrowing the limited capacity and performance of DDS tape drives. The maximum capacity of a DDS-4 drive is only 40GB (with data compression), and is inadequate to meet the backup requirements of most servers and workstations shipping today. DDS manufacturers discontinued development of new products beyond the current generation DDS-4, leaving millions of installed base users facing growing capacity and performance needs without a compatible solution priced below $1,000.

"Exabyte's VXA tape technology offers excellent value and great performance," said Robert Amatruda, Research Manager at IDC. "VXA is a compelling alternative to DDS tape technology with two generations selling below $1,000."

Commenting on the competitive pricing of the drives and tape cartridges, Tom Ward, president and ceo of Exabyte, stated: "Historically, users have looked to DDS for drives that deliver performance and reliability at the right price. And, they have always rejected the option to purchase more expensive tape drives. But VXA-2, just like DDS-4, is priced below $1,000, and VXA media pricing is also very affordable. VXA-2 is the only drive in the market with the ideal combination of value, performance and reliability to replace DDS."

Four cartridge capacities are available for VXA-2, giving users a range of options to match their storage needs and manage their costs of ownership. Compressed capacities of 40GB, 80GB, and 120GB are achieved with the same V6, V10, and V17 VXAtape brand cartridges available for use with the VXA-1 today. A new V23 cartridge for use only with the VXA-2 drive features a compressed capacity of 160GB, and is ideal for users who require very high capacity on a single cartridge. The MSRP for the V6 is $26.95, placing it in the same price range as DDS cartridges of similar capacity. VXAtape media pricing for all cartridge capacities maintains a price per gigabyte very close to $0.50, well within the budget of DDS users.

Exabyte recently published its roadmap for VXA technology, which reveals the next two generations beyond VXA-2. The third generation VXA-3, already in development, will deliver cartridge capacity of 320 GB at a data transfer rate of 16 MB/sec (with data compression). The compressed capacity and transfer rate for VXA-4 will be 640 GB and 32 MB/sec. Introductory pricing for VXA-3 and VXA-4 will be below $1,000, keeping VXA technology within the price range of DDS users through the end of this decade and into the next.

About VXA Tape Technology

First introduced in 1999, award-winning VXA tape products offer a unique combination of reliability, performance, and value. VXA drives are the ideal replacement for drives based on the popular DDS tape technology, which has reached the end of its product roadmap. The ending of the DDS roadmap means that millions of DDS users must migrate to alternative tape backup technologies. VXA offers them the ideal solution with higher capacity and performance at the same price point as DDS. VXA also offers superior reliability, based on an innovative read/write architecture with a highly reliable Internet-like packet format, designed for 100% data restore. The published VXA roadmap extends through several generations into VXA-4, ensuring long-term protection of users' investments in drives and media. Higher capacities and unattended backup are available with Exabyte's VXA AutoPak product line, a family of low-cost entry-level tape automation devices featuring the VXA AutoPak 1x15 autoloader, the VXA AutoPak 2x30 mini-library, and the newly announced VXA AutoPak 1x10, a 2U rack mount autoloader. VXA-1 tape drives are certified for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and VXA-1 is an ECMAcertified tape standard. Computer manufacturers who have chosen VXA include Apple, Compaq, Fujitsu, Logitec, and Toshiba.

About Exabyte Corporation

Since 1987, when it introduced the world's first 8mm tape drive for data storage, Exabyte Corporation has been recognized as a leading innovator in tape storage and automation. Exabyte tape solutions offer value, performance and reliability for midrange servers, workstations and computer networks. Exabyte products include Mammoth-2 (M2, the first 8mm native Fibre Channel tape drive; VXA-1, the first packet format tape drive; and the 110L autoloader, one of the first tape automation units for LTO (Ultrium. Exabyte markets VXA, 8mm and MammothTape drives and automation for MammothTape, VXA, and LTO (Ultrium). Exabyte's worldwide network of distributors, resellers and OEMs includes IBM, Compaq, Fujitsu-Siemens, Bull, Apple Computer, Tech Data, Ingram Micro and Arrow Electronics.

For additional information, call 800-EXABYTE or visit www.exabyte.com.