AST lets business users have their cake and eat it too with new Pentium Pro processor-based commercial desktops; new aggressively priced Bravo PCs propelled by latest Intel technology supercharge mainstream office applications.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 1996--Flexing its hardware muscle as it continues to reinforce its first-to-market strategy, AST Computer today announced it is now taking orders for its next generation of Pentium Pro processor-based Bravo commercial desktop minitowers, designated Bravo MS-T 6180 and 6200.

Positioned as the new standard in power performance for mainstream business applications, this latest crop of Bravo minitowers provides users with the headroom necessary for environments of today and tomorrow.

"Let's take a Pentium Pro processor-based 180MHz system and compare it to today's Pentium processor-based 166MHz system," said AST's Laura Raybin, director, commercial desktop marketing. "Now, let's assume that both systems are equivalently configured and are running Microsoft Windows(r) 95. The Pentium Pro 180MHz processor-based system will run as much as 64 percent faster than the Pentium 166MHz processor-based system -- at a slight cost incremental of about ten percent!"

Combining the latest in Intel processor technology, with its best- of-breed Bravo minitowers, AST is enabling business users to supercharge their business applications today while providing them a technology for tomorrow.

The new Bravo minitowers pack a powerful punch with Intel's fastest Pentium Pro 180- and 200MHz processor engines and Intel's 440FX PCIset letting users take advantage of today's hardware advances.

The latest Bravo Pentium Pro processor-based systems bundle Microsoft(r) Windows NT Workstation 3.51 for today's demanding and data-intensive 32-bit applications. Preloaded with Windows NT Workstation 3.51, the latest systems come bundled with a coupon good for a free upgrade to Windows NT 4.0, expected to be available by the end of the summer.

"We are pleased to see AST, with these latest Bravo PCs, provide the power, security and reliability to allow Windows NT Workstation to deliver maximum performance to business customers," said Jonathan Roberts, Microsoft director of product marketing, Desktop and Business Systems Division.

Meeting Corporate Needs Head-On

AST has designed its Bravo MS-T 6180 and 6200 desktops to take advantage of 32-bit applications, and to address the needs of corporate users looking to make the transition to Windows NT Workstation and Pentium Pro processor technology.

According to research house Computer Intelligence Infocorp (CII), Pentium Pro technology combined with Windows NT will make full use of 32-bit codes and applications. Deployment of the technology will begin to rapidly grow in the second half of 1996.

"We are primed to take advantage of this powerful combination of Pentium Pro technology with Windows NT and are right now providing our end-users and resellers with the best in cutting-edge technology -- giving them an advantage over their competition," said Raybin. "You could say that we are allowing our customers to have their cake -- and eat it too!"

Performance For Data-Intensive Environments

The Bravo MS-T 6180 and MS-T 6200 represent some of AST's most advanced business desktops and are designed for use in performance- intensive environments, including financial, statistical and scientific applications. With aggressive street pricing ranging from $2,650 to $3,300, the latest Bravo PCs are leading the way in price performance in the technically advanced business desktop arena.

"With these new Bravo Pentium Pro processor-based systems, AST is continuing its commitment to the latest technology at truly aggressive prices," stated Intel's Kea Grilley, director, Business Desktop Marketing. "Combining the latest in Intel core logic and processor technologies with AST's innovative hardware and software solutions gives users highly competitive performance."

A New Level of Desktop Scalability

AST has incorporated the new Intel 440FX PCIset into its newest Bravo personal computers, further pushing the limits of PC performance by bringing a new level of scalability to the desktop.

"Our customers are migrating to 32-bit software environments such as Windows NT Workstation for higher performance and greater network control and manageability," Raybin noted. "Commercial users are hungry for maximum performance and features such as increased bandwidth, improved video and audio performance, as well as disk system throughput; Intel's 440FX PCIset helps deliver this performance."

AST-IntraAccess -- Sharing Made Easy

Effective information sharing is becoming the next revolution in business tools. Staying on the leading-edge of information is critical to making successful and important business decisions, and AST has taken communication to new heights with its first-of-a-kind network browsing/Web authoring software bundle. AST-IntraAccess includes all of the software that one needs to make sharing data via a company Intranet a breeze.

"We have taken the commercial PC to the next dimension by incorporating software that will be critical for conducting business in an increasingly Web-centric environment," stated Raybin.

Standard on Bravo MS-T 6180 and 6200, AST-IntraAccess provides its commercial customers with access to the Internet through NETCOM, a full service Internet provider offering the link between the company and the world. With NETCOM's NetCruiser(tm), direct Internet access is made easy.

Network browsing and information sharing are facilitated through the Internet Factory's Communication Builder, critically acclaimed software that provides the Windows NT and Windows(r) 95 Internet and Intranet Web server for business and enterprise computing. Authoring Web Internet/Intranet pages is painless with SoftQuad's HoTMetaL(tm) Light authoring tool, helping users to be creative and get their message out in new and clever ways.

Surfing the Internet for the latest stock information and technology trend watching is quick and hassle-free with Netscape's Navigator(tm), widely recognized as the best Web browser available.

Paving The Way

In addition to providing a painless and streamlined upgrade path for its Windows NT users, AST is moving beyond the competition to insure that the education and understanding of the migration to the world of 32-bit applications and Pentium Pro processors is complete.

AST is one of six industry partners invited by Intel to participate in a 15-city roadshow promoting Pentium Pro processor technology and Windows NT solutions. Teaming up with the industry leaders in both hardware and software, AST brings to the table a deep knowledge and understanding of issues facing commercial desktop users today.

Scheduled to kick off later this month, this 15-city tour will help raise awareness and understanding of the emerging world of Pentium Pro systems and the importance of Windows NT Workstation to this migration.

Revolutionary Desktop Management: New Heights With AST-CommandCenter

AST pushes the boundaries of desktop management with a suite of software utilities called AST-CommandCenter that is available on all new Bravo MS-T Pentium Pro processor-based models. With AST-CommandCenter, software utilities are not just good for the user, they benefit the whole company.

Complete with hardware and software-based virus protection, stringent security, DMI asset management, as well as remote diagnostic capability, AST-CommandCenter adds up to reduced cost of ownership and increased business efficiency.

AST-CommandCenter represents the company's third generation of desktop utilities and provides unparalleled control through:

-- AST-VirusShield, utilizing McAfee Associates (NASDAQ:MCAF)

technology and offering immunization against boot-sector and

other viruses,

-- AST-SystemGuard, providing security against unauthorized

access,

-- AST-AssetPak, enabling users to browse valuable configuration

information, and

-- AST-RemoteQuery allows for remote DMI-management of network

PCs via a remote access protocol.

Conforming to the industry's DMI specification, AST-AssetPak eliminates the time and expense of going from desk to desk to conduct asset and configuration inventories. AST-AssetPak(tm) features Intel's LANDesk(r) technology, Networked Software Inventory, which identifies up to 4,000 titles.

"Imagine that you are an IS manager, responsible for the maintenance of 4,000 systems and you need to upgrade all of them to Windows NT. Using AST-RemoteQuery, you can get a real-time listing of all systems for example, that currently have only 8MB of RAM, and which version of Microsoft Windows is installed - and simplify your life in a matter of minutes," noted Raybin.

Available as an option on all new Bravo MS-T 6180 and 6200 minitowers commercial desktops, is AST-LifeLine, an innovative, interactive technical support system that incorporates Radish Communications System's VoiceView integrated voice and data protocol with custom AST technical support software.

Attachment I provides a complete list of product specifications for the new desktops.

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, 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, its products and services can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ast.com.

Note to Editors: AST is a registered trademark, AST-CommandCenter, AST-AssetPak, AST-IntraAccess, AST-RemoteQuery, AST-VirusShield and AST-SystemGuard are trademarks of AST Research Inc. Intel, Pentium and LANDesk are registered trademarks of Intel Corp. Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. McAfee is a registered trademark of McAfee Inc. SoundBlaster is a registered trademark of Creative Technology Ltd. HoTMetaL Light is trademark of SoftQuad. Matrox MGA is a registered trademark of Matrox Electronic Systems, Ltd. All other products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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                      Bravo Product Pricing
                            June 1996

                           Bravo MS-T

Model         5100      5133      5166        6180         6200

Processor   Pentium   Pentium   Pentium   Pentium Pro   Pentium Pro

Speed         100       133       166         180          200

HDD          1.2GB     2.0GB     2.0GB       1.6GB        2.5GB

RAM           16MB      16MB      16MB        16MB         32MB

Cache        256KB     256KB     256KB       256KB        256KB

Video RAM  1MB SGRAM 1MB SGRAM 1MB SGRAM   2MB SGRAM    2MB SGRAM

Headset/Mi-
crophone/
Mouse         yes       yes        yes        yes          yes

CD-ROM      option    option        6X         8X           8X

Estimated
Street
Price       $1,780    $1,890    $2,470     $2,650       $3,300

OPTIONS
Add CD-ROM    $160      $160       N/A        N/A          N/A
Add 1MB
Video RAM      $75       $75       $75        N/A          N/A

                  AST-CommandCenter Software Utilities

    AST-VirusShield(tm) -- ROM-based virus protection software using
McAfee technology, providing hardware and software virus protection
with scan and clean functionality for Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and
Windows(r) 95.

    AST-SystemGuard(tm) -- Advanced security features designed to
provide multiple levels of protection.

    AST-AssetPak(tm) -- DMI-based asset tracking with ASTAppView(tm)
helps track computer equipment and over 4,000 software titles.

    AST-VoiceCommand(tm) -- Verbex's Listen-For-Windows voice
recognition software and Centigram(r) TruVoice(r) Text-to-Speech
software read documents aloud.

    AST-AudioWorks(tm) -- Audio software applications to make
manipulating sound easier than ever.

    AST-RemoteQuery(tm) -- Part of Intel LANDesk technology, this
software allows the remote monitoring and querying of networked PCs.

    AST-LifeLine(tm) -- Voice and data remote diagnostics over a
standard phone line allow "real time"  solutions, often during a
single call.

    Additional Software Titles Included with Bravo MS-T models 6180 and
6200:

Soft Quad HoTMetaL(tm) Light
NetCom NetCruiser(tm)
Netscape Navigator(tm) for NT
Communication Builder

CONTACT: Camerone Welch-Thorson, 714/727-8858

[e-mail]

or

Morag Rich, 714/727-8858

[e-mail]