Features - Storage Innovations:

EXABYTE ANNOUNCES NEW VALUE-ORIENTED AUTOLOADER

Exabyte Corporation, a performance and value leader in tape backup systems, has announced the availability of the new AutoPak 1x10 autoloader with VXA-2 tape drives. With an MSRP of $3,499 and a total capacity of up to 1.6TB packaged in a compact 2u (3.5") rack-mount form factor, the VXA-2 AutoPak 1x10 leads in price/performance over any other autoloader or stand-alone tape drive. Featuring award-winning VXA technology, the AutoPak 1x10 with VXA-2 is the ideal automated storage solution for users with space and budget constraints.

For tape users seeking an alternative to DDS technology, VXA-2 tape drives offer dramatic increases in capacity and performance at price points similar to DDS for drives, automation and media. With one VXA-2 drive and up to 10 VXA-2 cartridges, the AutoPak 1x10 autoloader provides an unprecedented 1.6 TB of data storage at a data transfer rate of 43.2GB/hr, out-pacing all other entry-level automation solutions. With an average cost of $2 per GB, the AutoPak 1x10 is less than half the cost of other tape autoloaders and stand-alone tape drives currently on the market.

The AutoPak 1x10 is designed to address the storage requirements of:

• Low-profile 1u and 2u rack mount servers manufactured by such OEMs as IBM, HP/Compaq and Apple that need automated storage solutions that can accommodate the growth of server capacities while remaining very cost-effective.
• Small and medium-sized businesses that want easy-to-use automated storage at a price that fits within their tight IT budgets.
• Regional offices of large businesses that have space and budget constraints but need to maintain storage compatibility with the larger storage systems in central offices.
• State and local governments and educational organizations that are facing decreased funding while their data storage needs continue to grow.

"Exabyte's next-generation tape automation products solve the three main storage challenges frustrating IT managers: the rapid growth of enterprise data, shrinking IT budgets, and limited space for storage equipment," said Kelly Beavers, VP of Marketing at Exabyte. "The AutoPak 1x10 addresses these problems by providing the high-value performance and capacity of VXA-2, with the added savings of a very small footprint and unprecedented value."

The AutoPak 1x10 with VXA-2 is the newest addition to Exabyte's growing family of ultra-high density storage automation products. Exabyte's line of automation products featuring the award-winning VXA tape drive technology include:

• The AutoPak 1x7 desktop autoloader, providing over 1TB of hands-free automated storage on the desktop. Accommodating a VXA-2 drive and seven data cartridges in a removable magazine, the AutoPak 1x7 delivers over 1TB of storage capacity at transfer rates up to 43.2GB/hr for an MSRP of $3,299.
• The AutoPak 1x10 2u rack-mounted autoloader with VXA-1 tape drives. Still providing the affordability and low-profile packaging advantages of the AutoPak 1x10 design, this configuration offers less capacity (660GB) and slower transfer rates (21.6GB/hr) at a very affordable price ($2,995) for less capacity-intensive, more cost-sensitive applications.
• The Exabyte 430 tape library with VXA-2 is a powerful automated storage system designed for mid-range applications limited by budgets and network bandwidth. With a transfer rate of up to 173GB/hr, the 430 provides the necessary performance for data center backups without charging users for speed their networks are not capable of supporting. The 430 with VXA-2 accommodates up to four VXA-2 tape drives and 30 data cartridges, offering Exabyte's customers the flexibility to configure the tape library to meet their specific storage needs.

For more information about the Exabyte AutoPak 1x10 with VXA-2 and Exabyte's other VXA-2 automation products, visit www.exabyte.com/products/.

Pricing & Availability

The AutoPak 1x10 with VXA-2 has an MSRP of $3,499, and is available through Exabyte's extensive network of resellers and distributors.

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 successive generations into VXA-4, ensuring long-term protection of users' investments in drives and media.

About Exabyte Corporation

Exabyte Corporation provides innovative tape storage solutions to customers whose top buying criteria is value -- maximum performance, quality and ease-of-use at a price they can afford. Exabyte is a recognized value-leader in tape storage and automation solutions for workstations, midrange servers and enterprise storage networks, and has been an industry innovator since 1987. Exabyte's high-performance Mammoth-2 (M2) tape drives for the mid-range market have a strong performance-price ratio, Exabyte's VXA-2 tape drive technology provides DDS users with significantly higher capacity and performance at a similar price point, and Exabyte's storage automation products are rugged, reliable automation solutions for users of VXAtape, MammothTape and LTO (Ultrium). Exabyte has a worldwide network of OEMs, distributors and resellers that share Exabyte's commitment to value and customer service, including partners such as IBM, Compaq, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Bull, Toshiba, Apple Computer, Tech Data, Digital Storage Inc, Ingram Micro and Arrow Electronics.

For additional information, call 800-EXABYTE or visit www.exabyte.com. For investor relations inquiries, e-mail investor@exabyte.com.

Contact: Kelly Beavers, VP of Marketing of Exabyte Corporation, 303-417-7225, kjb@exabyte.com.