News Releases

11/15/1999

Hitachi America Ltd., Computer Division

Corporate Background

November 1999

As the pace of global business accelerates the corresponding expectation for excellence multiplies. In order to compete successfully in today’s business climate, professionals need to distinguish themselves by presenting information in more creative and media-rich ways. They need to capture data accurately in real-time and have the ability to share this data with others quickly and easily using computer-based technology. With tight deadlines and time constraints, they need to work smarter and make better use of limited time. To achieve superior quality, today’s business needs to work with robust, user-friendly technology that assists them in creating their multimedia content.

Hitachi America, Ltd., provides all the hardware essential for creating leading-edge multimedia content for day-to-day business operations. Whether there is a need to prepare a video presentation, document an event in the field, or record an important meeting, customers in many industries can benefit from a wide array of Hitachi products designed to address their multimedia business needs.

Hitachi’s latest innovation, the M2 multimedia recorder, is a specialized computer peripheral that offers complete multimedia functionality.

Designed to meet the needs of mobile professionals for on-demand access to information, Hitachi’s tablet-style handheld PC, the ePlate, couples desktop power with portable convenience.

Since its debut, Hitachi’s ePlate has become a popular computing solution for travelling professionals. The ePlate supports a number of industries, with target applications for field sales service, health care systems, inventory management systems, delivery tracking systems and GPS management systems. Weighing under two pounds, the ePlate is the lightest tablet-style handheld PC in its class and offers key features such as a super-bright, resistive touch and easy-to-view 640x480 65,536-color screen display, a built in 56k modem, and 32MB ROM, 32MB RAM. A transflective LCD display and ruggedized rubber grip allow for ease of use outdoors, and a built-in back-light enables users to operate the device when a light source is not available.

Developing and revising documents, spreadsheets and presentations is simple with built-in software as part of the Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 package. Incorporating a flat-screen panel with handwriting recognition and an "Instant On/Instant Off" capability for instant access to applications, the package includes Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket PowerPoint, Pocket Internet Explorer and Pocket Outlook.

The M2 Formerly known as the MPEGCAM, the M2 is a 3-in-1 multimedia digital tool that records full-motion video with audio (MPEG-1 format), still photos (JPEG format), and still photos with audio (JPEG with MPEG audio). With the ability to record up to 27 minutes of MPEG-1 video and up to 3,000 JPEG stills, the M2 is ideal for any business that demands computer-ready video and still files. Some of these many industries are law enforcement, insurance, real estate, travel and photojournalism. Weighing only 1.2 pounds, the M2 recorder is portable, powerful, and reliable. Video and still image files are stored on the M2’s 260-megabyte hard drive and can immediately and easily be transferred to a computer. Furthermore, the M2 can be connected directly to a TV for viewing on screen or a multimedia projector for on location business presentations.

The M2L is the most recent arrival to Hitachi’s family of M2 digital recorders, designed to put M2 technology into the hands of all levels of users. Hitachi’s M2L can be taken anywhere, and is an ideal way to record holidays and special occasions, travel and vacations, sporting events and informal social gatherings. Up to 1_ minutes of VHS-quality video footage or 200 still images can be stored on a 16-MB PC card, which quickly and easily transfers the images to a computer. Images can then be emailed to friends and family, or uploaded to a personal Web site.

The M2 and M2L can be easily upgraded to higher storage capacities. For users who develop and edit high levels of multimedia content, such as Web developers, graphic designers and multimedia production specialists, the M2L can be upgraded to a 260-MB or one-gigabyte PC card. The 260-MB PC Card is capable of 27 minutes of full-motion video, 3,000 still images and four hours of audio. The one-gigabyte PC Card is capable of up to two hours of full motion video, 12,000 photographs and 16 hours of audio.

Hitachi’s LCD Projector line combine clear pictures and easy operation for versatile presentations with style. Hitachi’s LCD Projectors’ crisp images, excellent video performance and high color saturation provide exceptional presentation displays in board rooms, conference rooms and lecture halls. Key features include a remote control with mouse function, stereo speakers and 2,000 hours of lamp life. Light in weight and easily transported with a carrying case and portable screen, Hitachi’s LCD Projectors offer a total mobile presentation solution on the cutting edge of digital technology.

Hitachi America, Ltd.’s superior multimedia hardware line, including the ePlate handheld PC, the M2 multimedia recorder family and the LCD Projector, are fully compatible with one another to offer a total multimedia solution. For example, a business professional could create, edit and present an entire PowerPoint presentation complete with video and audio narration in any location–at home, in the field, on the road or back in the office. In using any combination of the three products, traveling professionals in an array of markets can incorporate new media dimensions into everyday business.

Hitachi America, Ltd., Computer Division, supplies high-performance computer storage products and multimedia products to OEMs, value-added resellers, system integrators and distributors. The division's products include high-capacity hard disk drives and optical drives, digital multimedia recorders, hand-held computers, LCD projectors, color laser beam printers and flat panel displays.

Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Japan, markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems, consumer electronics and semiconductor products, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout the U.S. Additional information is available at Hitachi America's web site at http://www.hitachi.us/.

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 1998 (ended March 31, 1999) consolidated sales of 7,977 billion yen ($65.9 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi’s Web site at http://www.hitachi.co.jp.

*At an exchange rate of 121 yen to the dollar.