Dataproducts Announces New Typhoon 40 MDX600 Workgroup/Production Printer; The Typhoon 40 MDX600's Unique Productivity Features Are Tailored Toward Today's Business Environment.

SIMI VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1997--Dataproducts, a leading developer and marketer of high-performance network and office imaging products, Monday expanded its midrange printer family with a ``Best in Class,'' new 40-page-per-minute printer.

The new Typhoon 40 MDX600 increases workflow productivity and improves the office-document print quality by combining the features of a printer and copier into a single, connected digital product. In addition, the Typhoon 40 MDX600's proven reliability and high duty cycle confirm the Typhoon 40 is also an excellent choice for production printing environments.

The new Typhoon 40 MDX600 is the only printer in its class to offer a versatile printing solution called Digital printCopies. This breakthrough technology allows users to increase output performance when printing multiple-document sets. Users will find this state-of-the-art approach toward printing multiple original documents a true performance boost over common MOP techniques.

In addition, the Typhoon 40 MDX600 offers an optional finishing solution that is attractive to both the office environment and production printing houses. High-volume users will find this world- class engine not only to be the most reliable available, but also delivering the lowest cost at under a penny per page.

The Typhoon 40 MDX600's robust printing technology, optional finishing and low cost of ownership combine to offer users a powerful tool for today's challenging printing requirements.

Digital printCopies

The Typhoon 40 MDX600 is a true document printer, not just a page printer. It works with entire documents, not just single pages. This results in increased efficiency for workstations and networks and better output performance when printing multiple- document sets.

On the Typhoon 40 MDX600 a multiple-set print job is processed within the application program and sent as a single print job. Use of the workstation returns to the user faster, allowing him/her to go on to other tasks. The network is not burdened with long transmissions, making it more efficient.

The printer processes the print file only once and stores the rasterized image for later printing. This increases the productivity of the printer. As the Typhoon 40 MDX600 processes each page of the first document set, it saves a copy of the rasterized page on the hard drive. Subsequent copies print at engine speed from the saved raster image.

Not all mopiers have this capability. Some must reprocess the entire print file for each copy, and others process the print file into an intermediate format for repeated processing. The new Typhoon processes the print file into a bitmap once. There is no need to process the file again.

Single processing guarantees Digital printCopies at engine speed -- not image controller or network speed.

Finishing

The Typhoon 40 MDX600 offers a high-capacity finisher option that allows the user to produce multiple, stapled document sets for distribution from his/her desktop. No trips to the copier are needed! The finisher also provides offset stacking for up to 1,500 unstapled sets.

The printer's paper-handling system offers versatility for workgroups and high capacity for production printing. The printer ships standard with two input hoppers of 250 sheets each and one high-capacity hopper of 2,000 sheets. An optional 500-sheet side hopper is also available.

In addition, the printer offers two face-down jogging output trays, and an optional 1,500-sheet open stacker with offset. Each of these paper-handling features is easily controlled at the desktop by Dataproducts' advanced, new graphical drivers, which merge printing and copying functionality.

Print Quality

Typhoon 40 MDX600's new, higher resolution means even crisper, clearer print for every document distributed! Today no other printer in this speed range offers this exceptional level of print quality. In the workplace, users demand a superior print-quality solution to copied document originals. Users will find the Typhoon 40 MDX600's print quality superior, with exceptional 600 dpi, laser- print clarity.

The Typhoon 40 MDX600 delivers sharp gray scales and clear, concise graphical detail. In addition to outstanding print quality, the Typhoon 40 MDX600 also allows users to increase workflow productivity by enhancing workplace efficiency.

Network Connectivity Tools

The new Typhoon drivers are software that allow applications running on a host system to use the printer's features. Drivers are available in different formats to work with different host systems -- PC, Mac or Unix.

When the user chooses to print a document, the Typhoon driver controls a variety of printing options such as which input hopper to pull paper from, stapling/offset stacking or page orientation.

These drivers feature bidirectional communication between the printer and each user's PC. Through this advanced technology, each user can see the current configuration and status of the Typhoon each time a document is printed.

The driver also provides embedded PostScript or PCL page description language generation and an intuitive, graphical interface.

Adding to the Typhoon 40 MDX600's ease of use is Dataproducts' Virtual Printer Technology (VPT). VPT is Dataproducts' intelligent network connectivity tool. This software enables a single printer to offer up to 64 print services, or ``virtual printers,'' each of which is individually configured by the network manager to meet the specific needs of users.

VPT resides on the printer and offers network managers increased printer-configuration flexibility to match users' diverse printing needs.

VPT provides high-performance Ethernet or Token Ring connectivity to most popular host systems. Concurrent support is available for Apple EtherTalk, Novell, IPX (PSERVER and RPRINTER), TCP/IP (including lpd) and Digital Equipment LAT (Ethernet Only).

More than 20 host operating systems are supported, including VMS, Novell, LAN Manager, Mac OS, Windows, Windows NT and 12 versions of Unix. VPT supports all of these environments without changes to the user's host software. No other printer can match this level of connectivity.

Dataproducts' PrintWatch software serves the needs of system managers who install and manage laser printers, providing remote control and status reports for all Dataproducts' printers on the network. It also offers a powerful, easy-to-use graphical interface to VPT.

Standard Features

The Typhoon carries three standard input trays (2,500 sheets) and two face down jogging trays (1,000 sheets total). This solution accepts statement-, executive-, letter-, legal- and ledger-sized papers.

Other standard features are duplexing, connectivity via a Centronics parallel port, Digital printCopying, crisp 600 dpi resolution, paper and toner change on the fly, and Dataproducts' robust printer-management software, PrintWatch.

Availability

The Typhoon 40 MDX600 will be available January 1998, exclusively through Dataproducts' Digital Partners. It will retail for $27,995.

Dataproducts is a subsidiary of Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd., a member of the global industrial leader, The Hitachi Group. Dataproducts is one of the world's leading developers, manufacturers and marketers of high-performance network and stand-alone printers, digital document servers, imaging supplies and services.

Products range from personal laser printers to some of the fastest laser and impact output devices available. Dataproducts has headquarters in Simi Valley.

CONTACT: Dataproducts Corp., Simi Valley

Davina Greenstein, 805/578-4371