Canon Introduces S450 Color Bubble Jet Printer; Key Features Include Increased Print Speeds and Built-in USB.

Business/High Tech Editors

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2000

Note To Editors:

The S450 Color Bubble Jet Printer features:

-- Increased Speeds

-- Canon Individual Ink Tanks

-- USB for MAC and Windows

-- New Industrial Design

Canon Computer Systems Inc. (CCSI) introduced today, the S450 Color Bubble Jet Printer, the smart choice for small office/home office (SOHO) users. Increased print speeds in both color and monochrome, built-in USB and Canon's exclusive individual ink tank system are key features of the S450 printer which has an estimated street price of $149(a).

"The S450 printer continues our strategy of providing customers with individual ink tanks -- an important feature for SOHO users that Canon pioneered," said Ned Bunnell, director of product management at CCSI. "As the ink jet industry has achieved parity in print quality and speed, Canon continues to lead the industry in focusing attention on cost savings by providing the Canon Think Tank System."

The S450 Color Bubble Jet Printer, which replaces the BJC-6000 printer, features increased speeds with crisp, fast monochrome output at up to 10 ppm and up to seven ppm (pages per minute) high quality color printing performance. In addition, the S450 printer is the first in a series of printers to use Canon's new "e" series ink tanks. This new ink formulation features increased optical density and produces printout with brighter colors and richer blacks.

Other key features of the S450 printer include built-in Universal Serial Bus (USB) and parallel connectivity for compatibility with both Windows and Macintosh computers. In keeping with the millennium trend toward sleeker product design, the S450 printer has a new industrial look with duo-tone color as well as a 20 percent decrease in body volume further enhancing Canon's reputation for space-saving printer designs. At only 45dB, the S450 also offers extremely quiet operation and the printer's new paper roller and automatic sheet feeder (ASF) has been improved for optimum ease-of-use operation.

Another exclusive Canon feature of the S450 printer, is the optional scanning capability. For just $69(a), the unique Canon IS-32 Color Image Scanning Cartridge easily replaces the print cartridge to instantly transform the S450 printer into a 720 dpi color sheetfed scanner.

"The new S450 printer is economical in many different ways," said Gary Peterson, senior analyst with ARS Inc. "The printer builds upon Canon's very popular Think Tank System that is designed to save consumers money. The faster and more compact S450 printer also saves users time and space on an already crowded desktop."

Optimal Color Output

The S450 printer features 1440 x 720 dpi color output quality which is optimized by Canon's proprietary Drop Modulation Technology, an advancement in Bubble Jet technology that allows the printhead to create both regular and half-size ink drops in the same scan line using the same printhead. This provides greater tonal expression and a smoother transition between colors for photo quality output. The end result for users is the delivery of the most detailed, vivid color output.

The Canon Think Tank System

In addition to the new dual printhead design for increased speed and output quality improvements, the S450 printer includes the individual color ink tanks. The Canon Think Tank System eliminates waste by letting the user replace only the color of ink that has run out. Canon pioneered the use of individual ink tanks on its popular BJC-600 series Bubble Jet printers in 1993 and offers this advanced feature on the majority of Bubble Jet printers in its desktop line including the BJC-3000, BJC-8200, BJC 8500 and the new S450 printers.

The S450 printer individual ink tanks mean SOHO users no longer have to throw away the entire ink cartridge just because one color has run out. In addition to saving money with the individual ink tanks by only replacing the ink tank color which has been depleted, the Canon Think Tank System includes an advanced optical low-ink sensor technology -- an outstanding feature for an ink jet printer under $250. The ink sensor monitors the ink levels through optical detection and dot counting and alerts users when the supply of any color ink is low.

S450 Software

Featuring many of the industry's award-winning software, the S450 software includes Canon Photo, OfficeReady, Textbridge Pro, PrintMaster SE, and American Greetings CreataCard SE. All current Color Bubble Jet printers come with a one-year limited warranty with Canon's SelectExchange program(b). CCSI offers a full range of live customer technical support options as well as automated technical support help through its Web site and a 24-hour, toll-free Fax On Demand System.

About CCSI

Canon Computer Systems Inc. (CCSI) is a subsidiary of both Canon USA Inc. (Lake Success, N.Y.) and Canon Inc. (Tokyo). Headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., CCSI was founded in 1992 to market Canon-branded computer peripheral products in the United States, including Color Bubble Jet printers, the MultiPASS line of multifunction printers, FAXPHONE facsimile machines and CanoScan color flatbed scanners.

Customers are reached via the mass-market channel -- a network of computer dealers, superstores and mass merchants. For more information, customers can call 1-800-OK-CANON or visit the CCSI Web site at www.ccsi.canon.com. Canon has also created a special Print Planet Web site, www.canonprintplanet.com, a universe of creative projects that allow end-users to download, personalize and print from a color printer.

Canon is recognized as the world's largest computer printer manufacturer, a leader in imaging technology and a top worldwide patent holder. As a global technology leader, Canon achieved $25.7 billion in worldwide sales in 1999.

(a) Prices are estimates only, subject to change. Actual prices determined by individual dealers and may vary.

(b) SelectExchange warranty program subject to restrictions and limitations. See warranty card for details. Specifications subject to change without notice. Print speed based on high-speed draft mode. Print speed will vary depending on system configuration, software, document complexity, print mode and page coverage. High-quality color and photo-realistic print samples also available upon request.

Canon Computer Systems, Inc., Canon, Bubble Jet Canon Think Tank System, CanoScan, Drop Modulation Technology, Faxphone, and MultiPass are trademarks of Canon Inc. Office Ready is a trademark and Print Planet is a service mark of Canon Computer Systems, Inc.