AST Computer breaks $1,000 Windows 95, multimedia price barrier with special PCs made exclusively for Wal-Mart.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 1996--AST Computer today announced it has begun shipments of custom-configured PCs to Wal-Mart, thus becoming the first PC manufacturer to deliver multimedia computer systems priced below $1,000 and configured with 8 MB of memory and the Windows 95 operating system.

The special AST Advantage! Adventure systems, which will be marketed exclusively by Wal-Mart, feature several popular technologies, including CD-ROM drives, sound card, integrated stereo speakers and multimedia application software programs. Terms of the agreement between AST and Wal-Mart were not disclosed.

"Once again, AST is first-to-market with custom-designed systems to fulfill a growing market need," said Ian Diery, AST president and chief executive officer. "With today's announcement, we have strengthened our strategic relationship with Wal-Mart, the world's largest and most successful retailer, to jointly deliver exceptional computing value for home-office and education consumers."

The sub-$1,000 Advantage! Adventure systems feature 66MHz, 486-class processors; 8 MB RAM; 540MB hard drive; Sound Blaster-compatible audio; 4X CD-ROM drive; 14.4 kbps fax/data modem; stereo speakers; and a 14-inch color monitor. Software offerings include the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system, as well as several beneficial applications for home-office and education enhancement featuring Microsoft Works 4.0 (word processing, spreadsheet, database and more); Microsoft Encarta 96 encyclopedia; Microsoft Money 4.0 financial planner/organizer; Microsoft Fury 3 Special Edition multimedia adventure game; and Microsoft Golf 2.0 multimedia game. Each system is backed by a one-year warranty provided by AST.

"The time is now right for consumers to purchase multimedia PCs priced under $1,000," said Chuck Kerby, Wal-Mart vice president, divisional merchandise manager. "Computer products have become one of the fastest-growing categories throughout our nationwide network of stores and AST has played a major role in our success. Expanding our relationship to target the sub-$1,000 price point allows Wal-Mart to deliver on our promise of providing superior value that is available every day at low prices."

Wal-Mart will begin selling the AST Advantage! Adventure multimedia systems later this month in all of its more than 2,200 stores, supported by local high-impact advertising campaigns.

Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer with sales of more than $93 billion annually. The company operates more than 2,200 stores worldwide, including locations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, Brazil and Argentina.

AST Research Inc., a member of the Fortune 500 list of America's largest industrial and service companies, is one of the world's leading personal computer manufacturers. The company develops a broad spectrum of desktop, mobile and server PC products that are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. AST systems meet a wide range of customer needs, ranging from corporate business applications to advanced home and home office use.

Corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, P.O. Box 57005, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7005. Telephone [phone] or 800/876-4278. Fax: [phone]. Information about AST and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ast.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

AST and Advantage! are registered trademarks, and AST Computer and the AST logo are trademarks of AST Research, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft. All other products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Emory Epperson

714/727-7958