Don't Buy a Second PC; Clone Your First With a $149 'Buddy'.

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1999--

New technology creates multiple virtual PCs that can share software and hardware from a primary PC simultaneously; just

add a monitor, keyboard and mouse

Why shell out as much as $2,000 for a second PC when you can clone your first for just $149.95?

With the new Buddy PC from Vega Technologies, all you need is a second monitor, keyboard and mouse, plus the easy-to-install Buddy system. Two users can then use word processing, spreadsheets and other everyday applications from the primary machine simultaneously. They can also surf the Web and access e-mail at the same time, cutting costs even further by sharing the same modem, phone line and Internet connection. Add a second Buddy system, and three users can share one PC.

Designed for small businesses, families, schools, libraries and similar settings, the Buddy PC utilizes new "concurrency" technology that takes advantage of the super-computing power of today's PCs and the multitasking capabilities of Windows 95/98/NT. Buddy takes whatever application the second or third user wants, treats it like another Windows screen, and transfers that screen via cable to the requesting user's monitor, keyboard and mouse.

In effect, Vega's concurrency software creates a second or third PC as powerful as the first, with the ability to run multiple virtual sessions in the host computer. For all but the most graphic-intensive applications, there is no noticeable effect on processing or surfing speed because the system simply draws on computing resources that are otherwise unused.

This not only eliminates the need to purchase a second or third PC. Users save hundreds or even thousands of additional dollars because:

- There is no need to purchase multiple copies of needed

applications. Two or three users can use programs like Word,

WordPerfect, Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Eudora, Outlook, Photoshop,

Quicken, TurboTax or even encyclopedias at the same time. For

small offices using accounting software like Peachtree or

QuickBooks, three users can even process invoices, cash receipts

and cash disbursements simultaneously. Users can also use

different programs concurrently.

- There is no need to purchase multiple peripherals. Multiple users

can share the same printer, CD-ROM drive, scanner, modem, Zip

drive or other hardware device.

- There is no need to install multiple phone lines or pay for

multiple Internet accounts through an Internet Service Provider.

All users can simultaneously and independently browse the Web,

send and receive e-mail, chat, and download files with just one

modem, one phone line and one ISP connection.

Each Buddy PC station can be located up to 50 feet away from the home or office's primary PC, allowing additional users to be situated at adjacent desks or in offices or bedrooms down the hall. Each user can set up his or her "system" according to personal preference, including screen colors, wallpapers and desktops customized to suit individual needs. The more powerful the primary PC, the more the Buddy PC can do.

"There are a number of home networking products on the market that allow multiple PCs to be connected to each other for resource-sharing, but Buddy PC is the first and only system that completely eliminates the need to buy a second PC," said Bill Berdux, Vega's vice president of sales and marketing.

"You get the full benefits of a second PC without spending money on the processor, you can share applications for the first time, and you get all the cost-saving advantages of networking as well," Berdux said. "It's the world's first PC cloning device, and it's simply the most efficient and least expensive way to add a second or third user in the home office, small office or family environment."

Requirements, Availability and Pricing

Each Buddy PC kit consists of Vega's concurrency software, a VGA card that plugs into the primary PC, a 15-foot cable, and a mouse-sized connector box for attaching the extra monitor, keyboard and mouse. The system also accommodates a 50-foot cable for longer distances. One Buddy PC kit allows a second user to access the primary PC; two kits permit the addition of a third user.

Minimum requirements for a two-user system include a Pentium 100MHz or equivalent, Windows 95/98/NT, 16MB RAM (32MB recommended) and an available ISA slot. A 166MHz processor and 64MB RAM are recommended for a three-user system. Each Buddy PC station also requires its own VGA monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Buddy PC carries an MSRP of $149.95 and is available at select retail stores as well as direct from Vega Technologies at 888/654-5415, 510/654-5650 or www.vegatechnologies.com.

Vega Technologies is a privately held California corporation founded in 1998. The company specializes in concurrency and home networking applications.