Autodesk Incorporates MS-Windows NT 4.0 Into Product Strategy; Strategic Relationship Between Industry Leaders Grows Stronger.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 1996-- Microsoft-Windows NT 4.0 got a large boost today from Autodesk, the leading supplier of design and drafting software and one of the largest providers of software for the Windows NT(R) operating system (OS).

With the full support of its virtual corporation, Autodesk announced its plans to deliver a family of Autodesk products for the Windows NT 4.0 operating system.

The relationship between these industry leaders flourishes as hundreds of thousands of Autodesk customers' prefer 32-bit Windows over other operating systems. "We expect Windows NT 4.0 to be a strong product for the design and drafting software community," said Jim D'Arezzo, vice president of corporate marketing at Autodesk. "As a strategic partner, Autodesk has been working closely with Microsoft to ensure that future versions of our products take full advantage of the 32-bit environment of Windows NT 4.0, increasing design and drafting professionals' productivity. 32-bit Windows is where a bulk of Autodesk customers experience increased performance, therefore we expect a strong adoption of Windows NT 4.0."

AutoCAD(R) customers using Windows NT or Windows(R) 95 experience a 20-25% speed increase over Windows 3.1. Using AutoCAD software on Windows NT 4.0 lets customers utilize many ease of use features found in Windows 95 and provides users with the reliability and security of Windows NT.

Autodesk is well ensconced in Windows NT 4.0, recently receiving Windows NT 4.0 logo-certification AutoCAD R13 and AutoCAD LT for Windows 95 software from Veritest, an independent logo-certification organization approved by Microsoft Corporation.

AutoCAD Release 13, the latest version of the world's leading industry design and drafting software, provides users with powerful 2D and 3D design and drafting capabilities. This version of AutoCAD R13 lets users develop web-enabled files using AutoCAD R13 software and the WHIP!(TM) plug-in for the Internet/Intranet. This object-oriented release also provides a new generation of applications programming interfaces (APIs), AutoCAD Runtime Extension (ARX), that give developers the ability to create fast and easy-to-use applications.

AutoCAD LT for Windows 95, which recently shipped in June 1996, is a leading low-cost, 2D drafting package that provides a powerful feature set and 100% compatibility with AutoCAD R13 software. With its powerful feature set and intuitive user interface, AutoCAD LT for Windows 95 is suitable for a wide range of users, from seasoned drafting experts to paper-based drafters moving from the drafting board to drafting software for the first time.

Other products from Autodesk that are expected to support Windows NT 4.0 include AutoCAD Map, WorkCenter(R), Autodesk Mechanical Desktop(TM), and 3D Studio MAX(TM) from Kinetix, the new multimedia division of Autodesk.

AutoCAD Map, which is scheduled to be released this summer, is a new version of AutoCAD software that lets users create, view, present and distribute maps and other geographic data. Users of this product include engineers, planners, utility managers and technicians who create and maintain their own maps for applications such as facilities management, telecommunications, environmental analysis, resource allocation, and a wide variety of other uses.

Autodesk WorkCenter is a networked technical document and workflow management system for the AutoCAD-based extended design team that lets designers and other employees easily manage drawings and related documents. WorkCenter helps organize projects by giving teams control of how project documents are accessed, updated, cataloged, viewed, tracked and distributed throughout the entire design team.

The Autodesk Mechanical Desktop is a tightly integrated software application that unites advanced 2D and 3D mechanical design and drafting functions on desktop systems. Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, in combination with programs developed by more than a dozen industry-leading partners in the most important mechanical market segments, provides complete design-through-manufacturing solutions for Autodesk customers.

3D Studio MAX was created by the leader in PC-based 3D animation and modeling software, Kinetix, a division of Autodesk. 3D Studio MAX software was specifically designed to take advantage of the Windows NT OS -- including symmetric multiprocessing, protected address space and integrated networking. The software features an extensible architecture that makes plug-in application development easy. As a result, 3D Studio MAX is attractive to a variety of industries and is capable of providing workstation-class 3D graphics and animation features on the personal computer (PC).

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These include the timely development and acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and the other risks detailed from time to time in Autodesk's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-Q filed in June 1996.

Autodesk is the world's leading supplier of PC and UNIX-based design and drafting software and multimedia tools. The company's 2D and 3D products and data management tools are used in many industries for architectural design, mechanical design, mapping, film and video production, video game development and Web content development. Its Kinetix division is the leader in PC-based 3D modeling and animation software, providing a full range of products for digital media and design professionals.

The fourth largest PC software company in the world, Autodesk has three million customers in nearly 130 countries. Autodesk products are sold through Autodesk Systems Centers, dealers and distributors worldwide.

For more information on Autodesk, please call 415/507-5000, type GO ADESK on CompuServe, or visit its World Wide Web site at http://www.autodesk.com. Kinetix can be reached by calling 800/879-4233 or through its World Wide Web site at http://www.ktx.com. Autodesk shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ADSK. -0-

Note to Editors: Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, and AutoCAD are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. Mechanical Desktop, WorkCenter, Kinetix, WHIP! and 3D Studio MAX are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of H & R Block. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Autodesk, Inc.

Jennifer Reidy, 415/507-6536

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