Adaptec Partners with MP3.com to Promote Downloadable Music.

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 1999--

Adaptec, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADPT) today announced an exclusive marketing alliance with MP3.com, a leading source for digital music downloaded from the Internet. Under the terms of the agreement, Adaptec and MP3.com will promote each other's products and services, and offer technology that will allow consumers to easily download MP3 music to make their own CDs.

"MP3.com is a premier source for top-name and new music artists, ranging from the Beastie Boys to Mojo Honey," said Dave Ulmer, general manager of Adaptec's software products group. "The combination of CD-Recording with MP3.com's extensive music collection is just one more step in bringing Internet music to the masses."

"MP3.com is in the midst of revolutionizing music, and the global nature of the MP3 movement will enable us to provide millions of consumers a new channel to explore, find, and record music," said Michael Robertson, chief executive officer of MP3.com.

Web-based music sales are projected to match the exponential growth of the CD-Recorder market. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry expects that by the year 2002 Internet music delivery could account for 15%, or about $2.0 billion, of traditional music store business. During the same time period, International Data Corporation predicts that over 25% of all PCs will have the ability to record CDs.

Safe Harbor Statement

Some statements made by the company are forward looking and preliminary. Actual results could differ materially depending on a number of factors, including market transition to CD-recordable technology, fluctuations in operating results, changes in the high performance microcomputer market, risk associated with the computer peripherals market, reliance on industry standards, dependence on new products, competition, risks associated with acquisitions, certain issues related to distributors, intellectual property protection and disputes, and customers need for interoperability. For a more detailed discussion of factors that affect the company's operating results, interested parties should review the company's SEC reports, including Adaptec's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1998.

About Adaptec, Inc.

Adaptec moves the world's information with host bus adapters, RAID, and software products that speed data to and from computers, peripherals, and networks. Founded in 1981 and with headquarters in Milpitas, Calif., Adaptec is a global design, manufacturing, sales, service and distribution company. More information on Adaptec's CD-Recordable software is available at http://cdr.adaptec.com or other Adaptec products at http://www.adaptec.com.