Canon brings ''big color'' to notebook category, offers largest screen available for mobile professional; Canon also upgrades popular NoteJet, unique notebook printer-in-one.

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 1995--Canon Computer Systems Inc. (CCSI) Wednesday introduced the latest in its line of high-performance notebooks, the Innova Book 200LS, featuring the largest color screen available for a color portable computer.

The new 200LS series includes two models, IB100/520LS and IB66/340LS, which offer multimedia-ready stereo sound and enhanced graphics capabilities in a 6.7-pound book, with a dual-scan color screen of 11.3 inches that is more than 40 percent larger than the standard 9.5-inch LCD screen. The 200LS' wide range of capabilities and ease of use are specifically designed for today's 5 million mobile professionals.

``As the SOHO (small-office/home-office) customer strives to keep up with today's fast-paced business environment, they require more sophisticated and full-featured products,'' said Peter Bergman, CCSI vice president of marketing. ``The Innova Book 200LS series fulfills mobile professionals' needs for desktop performance in a 6.7-pound package -- it's basically a desktop-to-go.''

The latest entries in the Innova Book series are designed for maximum price/performance value. The IB100/520LS features an advanced 100MHz 486DX4 microprocessor, 32-bit Local Bus Video, full-sized 85/86-key keyboard, 8MB expandable main memory, standard 3-1/2-inch floppy drive, 520MB removable hard drive and one PCMCIA Type III or dual Type II slots.

Both models are built around a sharp, bright 11.3-inch dual LCD color screen. Buyers can also select from a wide range of customizing options; 4-, 12- and 16-MB memory-expansion modules; additional NiMH batteries; AC/DC and 12V car adapters; and a battery charger.

``Even configured with a 10.3-inch LCD, current notebooks to date offer very small screens when compared to a desktop. This limitation has been one of the major constraints on the mobile professional,'' said Bergman. ``The 200LS comes much closer to bridging that gap, giving our customers a close equivalent to their desktop in a convenient portable package.''

Configured with full audio capabilities, both Innova Books boast a full sound system with a built-in microphone and two speakers for on-the-spot recording and playback, 16-bit Sound Blaster-compatible stereo sound and external microphone and speaker jacks to drive even the most sophisticated multimedia presentation.

All of Canon's Innova Book models ship with MS-DOS 6.22, Windows 3.11, CompuServe, City Streets, SideKick for Windows and Official Airline Guide software preloaded on the hard drive.

MSRP for the IB100/520LS is $3,633, and $2,959 for the IB166/340LS, with estimated street prices of $3,199 (a) and $2,599 (a), respectively.

Bigger Hard Drives for Unique NoteJet

The latest versions of CCSI's unique NoteJet computers, the Intel DX4/100MHz and DX4/75MHz microprocessors, combine the best in computing and printing in one compact package. The newest NoteJet is more than just the only notebook computer on the market that prints.

In addition to the built-in high-resolution monochrome Bubble Jet printer that allows the mobile user to print out laser-quality letter- and legal-size documents and transparencies -- anytime, anywhere -- the most recent models boast a sharp increase in expandable memory up to 24MB, in contrast with their earlier 4MB RAM counterparts.

With the addition of the optional fax/data modem, the Canon NoteJet also lets the consumer send, receive, store and print out plain-paper fax, giving users the ability to take their office on the road.

The NoteJet Intel DX4/100MHz microprocessor comes with 8MB RAM that can be easily expanded to 24MB. The NoteJet Intel DX4/75MHz microprocessor also comes with the 8MB RAM expandable to 24MB. Both NoteJets are equipped with two PCMCIA Type II slots or one Type III slot to plug in network-interface cards and other options that make the NoteJet models a portable as well as a computing solution.

The NoteJets feature a Windows accelerator chip and 512KB of Video RAM, resulting in a noticeably faster Windows performance. The MSRP for the Intel DX4/100MHz is $4,599 and the Intel DX/75MHz is $4,299, with estimated street prices of $3,999 (a) and $3,799 (a), respectively.

``The NoteJet remains Canon's unique solution to mobile computing and printing,'' added Bergman. ``Whether we're talking about a home-office user or a salesperson making a presentation on the road, the NoteJet is the all-in-one product that lets you take all of your office functions with you.''

Every Canon notebook and NoteJet is covered by a one-year warranty that offers a choice of roadside or mail-in service. With the roadside option, users can get a replacement system in 24 hours anywhere in the continental United States. One- and two-year extended warranties are also available.

Since 1992, Canon Computer Systems has led Canon's activities in the U.S. computing market with Bubble Jet and laser printers, scanners, desktop and notebook computers, as well as the unique integrated notebook computer/printer products, the NoteJet. Small-office/home-office -- SOHO -- customers are reached via the mass-market channel, a network of computer dealers, superstores and mass merchants who represent more than 6,500 storefronts nationwide.

Canon is recognized as the world's largest computer-printer manufacturer and leader in imaging technology, with more than 9,500 worldwide patents. For more information, customers can call 800/848-4123. -0-

(a) Estimated street prices may vary. Final prices are determined by individual dealers. Canon and BJ are registered trademarks and Bubble Jet is a trademark of Canon Inc. All other product names are registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Canon Computer Systems Inc., Costa Mesa

Sherri Snelling, 714/438-3075

or

SHANDWICK/Los Angeles

Cheryl Cooper, 213/627-3800