AST announces new aggressively priced Bravo LC business desktops; fall line up packs powerful punch at a cost effective price.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 1995--Designed to be the first and last choice in business desktop value computing, AST Computer (NASDAQ:ASTA) Monday announced its fall lineup of new Bravo LC personal computers.

Editor's Summary:

o With estimated sales pricing starting at $1,360 for an 8MB Bravo LC P/75 with 1MB graphics RAM and a 420MB E-IDE hard drive, the Bravo LC -- priced as much as 14 percent below leading competitors -- is a value-leader for business users looking to maximize constrained computing budgets.

o Utilizing the latest generation of Cyrix(r) processors, the new Bravo LC P/75 and P/100 business desktops are equipped with dual-installed Windows(r) 95 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11, incorporate powerful graphics performance, PCI, Plug'n Play, 16550 Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitters (UARTs) up to 16KB primary cache and come with AST FlashBIOS.

o Advanced security features and enterprise asset management tracking capabilities are standard on all Bravo LC PC desktops as well as AST-CommandCenter(tm) software which comes complete with hardware and software-based virus protection equipped with scan and clean functionality for both Windows 95 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11.

With estimated sales prices starting at $1,360, the Bravo LC business desktop systems provide business users with more standard cache and greater expandability than other entry-level business PCs available today.

Featuring a PCI local bus, fast graphics, up to 256KB of cache, a new serviceable chassis and more expansion capabilities, this latest lineup of attractively-priced Bravo LCs delivers top notch performance for the most demanding of business applications.

"For business users constrained by today's increasingly tight computing budgets, the Bravo LC offers power, punch and performance -- at very aggressive price points," said AST's Dan Sheppard, director, business desktops. "We are as much as 14 percent below leading competitors with similarly equipped systems," he added.

AST recognizes that room for growth is essential to any long-term technology investment and has designed the Bravo LC family to enhance ownership value by offering bundled software and utility packages. Additionally, the Bravo LC desktop incorporates expansion capabilities to meet users' long-term needs.

Chock Full of Features

The Bravo LC uses the Cyrix 5x86(tm) and 6x86(tm)-based processors to provide value-oriented and cost-sensitive corporate users with high quality lower priced PCs.

These new systems offer extraordinary value with Pentium(r) processor class of performance and an advanced feature set that includes more standard RAM, AST-CommandCenter software, comprehensive virus protection, and a new chassis that enables quick access for system administration.

Comprehensive Utility Package

Representing the third generation of utilities software, Bravo LC systems include the AST-CommandCenter utility package that offers business users one of the industry's highest levels of system manageability, protection and optimization. The program provides unparalleled control via three components:

o AST-VirusShield(tm) that offers immunization against boot-sector and other viruses;

o AST-SystemGuard(tm) that provides security against unauthorized access on the P/100; and

o AST-AssetPak(tm) that enables users to browse valuable configuration information.

AST-VirusShield, utilizing McAfee Associates technology, provides the industry's leading immunization with AST-BIOShield(tm) that scans diskettes for boot-sector contamination before any harm can be done. Based on 32-bit technology, AST-VirusShield is designed for use with Windows 95, which means that customers will be spared the expense of having to replace existing 16-bit virus protection programs when migrating to Windows 95.

AST-VirusShield, equipped with AST-Systems Sentry(tm) that scans every program before execution, automatically detects up to 98 percent of all viruses before they strike. The program automatically loads and continually checks running software without user intervention.

AST-SystemGuard incorporates advanced security features that allows users to customize and secure their systems from various points during operation including bootup, login and real-time. Utilizing a "walk-n-lock" feature, a user can lock a screen that may contain sensitive or confidential information and walk away from the system confident that others cannot view or manipulate the data.

Conforming to the industry's DMI specification, AST-AssetPak streamlines asset management tracking by eliminating the time and expense of going from desk-to-desk to manage asset and configuration inventories. AST-AssetPak tags individual systems so that network managers can track unit transfers between departments and monitor installed peripherals in individual systems directly from their desks.

Investment In The Future: Expandability and Compatibility

To ensure that the system can accommodate future upgrades, the Bravo LC desktop has five drive bays, two 32-bit PCI slots and three 16-bit ISA slots.

In addition, the desktop has two asynchronous serial ports, one bi-directional parallel port, support for up to four enhanced IDE devices, and memory expandability to 128 MB RAM and 2 MB video RAM. The Bravo LC supports Plug and Play and DMI standards for easy installation of add-on devices, and features AST FlashBIOS for simple BIOS upgrades.

These and other features enable Bravo LC systems to take on a full range of general business applications, such as word processing, desktop publishing, graphics and spreadsheet calculations. The Bravo LC comes dual-installed with Windows 95 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 so that business users can choose the operating system that best meets their IS needs.

Worldwide Service and Support

Bravo LC systems are available now and come with a one-year on-site warranty and a one-year on-site or carry-in option.

AST backs all of its products with a host of multi-source support programs including a toll-free "hot" line for users in the U.S., AST InfoLine, an interactive voice response system with fax-response diagnostics and instructions, and Info-FAX, a 24-hour local and international voice-automated fax response product information source. Additionally, AST OnLine!, AST's own bulletin board service and Compuserve(r) and Prodigy(r) online forums are available.

Corporate Background

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 $2.468 billion 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].

Note to Editors: AST is a registered trademark of AST Research, Inc. AST-CommandCenter, AST-VirusShield, AST-SystemGuard, AST-BIOShield, AST-Systems Sentry and AST-AssetPak are trademarks of AST Research Inc. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corp. Microsoft, Windows and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. McAfee is a registered trademark of McAfee Inc. Cyrix is a registered trademark and Cyrix 5x86 processor and 6x86 are trademarks of Cyrix Corporation. Prodigy is a registered trademark of the Prodigy Service Corporation. Compuserve is a registered service mark of Compuserve, Inc. All other product service names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Camerone Welch-Thorson

714/727-8858

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