Benchmark Tape Systems Launches DLT Product Family / DLT

Performance at DDS Price Establishes New Level ofPrice/Performance Boulder, Colo. (PROTEXT) - Benchmark Tape Systems Corporation(www.BenchmarkTape.com) today announced its family of DLTproducts, establishing a new level of price performance forserver backup. Debuting in booth 328 at Networld + Interop inAtlanta next week, Benchmark's product family consists of theBenchmark DLT1 tape drive, Benchmark DLT7 autoloader andBenchmark DLTtape(TM)IV media. First customer ship will occur inOctober. The Benchmark products will be available throughResellers and OEMs in the U.S. and Europe. (Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990907/LATU036 ) The Benchmark DLT1 tape drive offers a 40 GB native capacity(80 GB compressed) and a 3 MB/second native transfer rate (6MB/sec compressed), providing enterprise reliability andperformance at low-end server pricing. Along with leadingprice/performance metrics, the Benchmark DLT1 is read compatiblewith the DLT4000 utilizing DLTtape(TM)IV media. The BenchmarkDLT1 is available in internal and external configurations.Virtually all software packages are supported. Designed withautomation in mind, the Benchmark DLT1 features soft unloadcapability. The expected street price for the Benchmark DLT1 tapedrive is $1299. (U.S.). The Benchmark DLT7 autoloader boasts a seven cartridge 280 GBnative capacity (560 GB compressed) and a single driveperformance of 3 MB/second native transfer rate (6 MB/secondcompressed). Featuring an LCD display, clear menu-drivencommands, and sequential or random access capabilities, theBenchmark DLT7 autoloader is available in a desktopconfiguration. Expected street price for the Benchmark DLT7autoloader, including drive, is $4,179. Unrecorded Benchmark DLTtape(TM)IV media can be used in theDLT4000, DLT7000, and DLT8000 drives and libraries. BenchmarkDLTtape(TM)IV data cartridges are recommended for use with theBenchmark DLT1 tape drive and Benchmark DLT7 autoloader foroptimum reliability. "I am proud of our engineering team for accomplishingBenchmark's objective of a highly reliable, high performance, lowcost drive on schedule," said Jesse Aweida, chairman and CEO ofBenchmark Tape Systems. "We hand- picked the finest tapeengineers anywhere to join Benchmark, and they met thechallenge." "Benchmark's roadmap, anchored by the Benchmark DLT1, reflectsthe goal of the company's entire team to bring reliability andperformance at affordable pricing to the tape marketplace," addedLew Frauenfelder, president of Benchmark Tape Systems. Benchmark engineers are currently developing the company'snext two generations of tape drives. The Benchmark DLT2 andBenchmark DLT3 will come to market in the second half of 2000 andthe second half of 2001, respectively. These products and eachsubsequent generation will represent an approximate doubling ofcapacity and transfer rate. The Benchmark DLT2 will feature a5.25 inch half high form factor. Industry Comments

Analysts "With typical server capacities in the 30GB range and DLTcredibility at an all-time high, Benchmark's launch of a low-costDLT drive couldn't be more timely. If you are using DLT, you haveto look at this product." Michael Peterson, President of Strategic Research Corp. "Benchmark has locked in capacity, performance and pricelevels that aim their product squarely at a target market of twomillion units a year." Ray Freeman, Freeman Associates "The Benchmark DLT1 tape drive using DLTtape(TM)IV mediaoffers read compatibility with the DLT4000 at a competitiveprice. It is in a unique position in the mid-range tape storagemarket. Additionally, offering a low cost autoloader will enableBenchmark Tape Systems to gain an entree in to the fast growingentry level tape automation market." Bob Amatruda, Sr. Analyst Tape and Removable Storage, IDC "Benchmark is implementing a very sound media strategy byusing the established DLTtape(TM)IV tape cartridge. DLTtechnology has become a standard in the high capacity tapestorage market and Benchmark's 40 GB (native) offering providesan attractive value for potential customers." Dave Bunzel, Santa Clara Consulting Group "Worldwide shipments of workstations, entry level servers andmidrange servers are expected to increase significantly from 4.08million units shipped in 1998 to 8.44 million in 2003, creatingan excellent opportunity for tape storage. To competesuccessfully in these markets, price/performance, automation, anda solid roadmap are key." Fara Yale, chief analyst, Dataquest's Computer StorageService. Benchmark Partners "Due to the combination of high capacity, great performanceand very competitive pricing, Benchmark's product family willdeliver DLT technology to a wider base of users. BellMicroproducts is anxious to offer these improvedprice/performance capabilities to our customers." Phil Roussey, Senior Vice President, Bell Microproducts "Benchmark is providing a very attractive price performancepoint for resellers addressing low end to mid-range server backuprequirements. We see this as a strong addition to our currentline card." Dennis Maetzold, President, Consan "Network data is growing so fast that IT organizationsdesperately need new options to help them protect the integrityof their information. ADIC is pleased to be working withBenchmark as a partner to help ensure that the company'sinnovative drive, with its attractive price/performance ratio,will become widely available as affordable automated storage forsmaller sites and distributed networks with data growth that hasoutstripped their data protection technology." William C. Britts, Executive Vice President, Advanced DigitalInformation Corp. (ADIC) "Overland is in the process of testing and integrating theBenchmark drive into its award-winning automation products. Withour strong market share in the low to mid-range of the DLTmarket, the Benchmark tape drive will offer a newprice/performance alternative to our customers." Scott McClendon, President, Overland Data, Inc. "With the eminent launch of Breece Hill Technologies' new e-commerce site, Benchmark's timing of their new Benchmark DLT1introduction couldn't be more perfect. This tape drive with anenclosure is an ideal product for end-users needing attended databackup solutions with a cost-to-value found nowhere else." James Watson, President, Breece Hill Technologies "The price/performance point of the Benchmark DLT1 tape drivecertainly earned the interest of Qualstar, but the quality of thedrive is what prompted us to include it as part of Qualstar'sreputable TLS-6000 family." Bob Covey, Vice President of Marketing, Qualstar "The Benchmark DLT1 tape drive encompasses the rightcombination of performance and low price point, making it aperfect compliment for M4's future line of DLT tape libraries. Weare pleased to be a Benchmark Library OEM." Dr. Duke R. Ebenezer, President and CEO, M4 Data "CMS Peripherals is the largest independent, trade-onlystorage distributor in the UK and Ireland. Our ten-year focus onstorage has enabled us to capitalise on strong tradingrelationships with local storage customers. The company ispleased to have been selected as Benchmark's authoriseddistribution partner in the UK and Ireland. DLT tape productsare the fastest growing tape technology and we feel that the newBenchmark 'cost engineered' tape drives will open up an entirelynew market for DLT. With the uncertainty in the DDS roadmapbeyond DDS-4 the market is ready for alternative, suitably pricedbackup technologies and Benchmark is leading the way in thismarket. We are excited about the potential market for Benchmarktape drives and are sure we will meet the aggressive salestargets established for the coming year." Frank Salmon, Managing Director, CMS Peripherals, U.K. "Four Leaf is looking forward to distributing the newBenchmark product family of tape products. The specifications andprice indicate that we will receive strong interest fromResellers in the Nordic." Jorgen Winther, Managing Director, Four Leaf "The Benchmark DLT1 tape drive is an exciting new product thatwe expect to be received extremely well in the Australianmarketplace." David Davoren, General Manager, Digital Tape Solutions,Australia About Benchmark Founded in May 1998, Benchmark Tape Systems Corporation isdedicated to the development of tape backup and archive systemsthat feature simplified design, reliability, ease of use, andexceptional performance for small to medium size computernetworks and workstations at the most competitive prices in theindustry. The company is marketing its products through multiplechannels of distribution worldwide. Benchmark's web site iswww.BenchmarkTape.com. DLTtape is a trademark of Quantum Corp. ots Original TextService: Benchmark Tape Systems Corporation Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Marilyn R. Kroner ofBenchmark Tape Systems Corp., (USA) 720-406-5130,mkroner@BenchmarkTape.com; or Kathy Tanabe of Hi-Tech Ink, (USA)303-694-6411, ktanabe@hitechink.com; or Keith Mason of HarvardPublic Relations (U.K.), 011.(+44)(0)20.8564.6360,keith@harvard.co.uk Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990907/LATU036 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.orgNEWSdesk: http://www.newsdesk.com PRN Photo Desk, (USA) 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467 Web site: http://www.BenchmarkTape.com

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