Hitachi Broadens Plasma Display Panel Product Line.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 2003

Next-Generation 42-Inch Plasma Display Panel 

Offers High Resolution and VirtualHD 1080p

Technology for Ultimate Picture Quality

The Home Electronics Division of Hitachi America Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), www.hitachi.com/tv, today announced the availability of its next-generation 42-inch Plasma Display Panel (PDP). The CMP4201/4202U is a high-definition, 16:9 PDP featuring high brightness and contrast levels and Hitachi's own VirtualHD(TM) technology to provide optimal pixel conversion. The CMP4201/4202U offers incredible picture clarity and big-screen impact for use in a wide range of locations including corporate boardrooms, retail outlets, classrooms and trade show exhibits.

The CMP4201/4202U offers tremendous benefits for business applications with a stylish and eye-catching design and outstanding image quality. For business and institutional customers, the CMP4201/4202U PDP brings wide-screen viewing to conference rooms, reception areas and other locations that are too small for standard CRT monitors, projection TVs, or other outdated messaging systems. The CMP4201/4202U also features true HDTV compatibility, bringing a new level of definition to plasma displays designed for public spaces.

"Hitachi has a long-standing commitment to the PDP market and is continuing to evolve all of its products with the most advanced innovations available," said Bill Whalen, senior product and marketing manager, Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division. "As the professional plasma market continues to develop and the demand for PDPs in public spaces rises, Hitachi is pleased to lead the way with the introduction of the CMP4201/4202U -- a PDP setting the bar in terms of performance and design."

Brilliant Imaging

To provide its customers with the highest level of picture quality technology, Hitachi continues to improve its digital image processing technologies so that it can present images with a greater level of detail than ever before. The CMP4201/4202U features Hitachi's proprietary VirtualHD digital video processor to increase the resolution of all incoming non-HDTV signal sources up to 1080p. The processor features automatic 3:2 film correction, new 26-point advanced video processing and 1080i/720p/540p/ 480i input processing.

Flexible and Versatile

Boasting an impressive resolution of 1,024 x 1,024 and an outstanding contrast ratio, the CMP4201/4202U offers a number of features that raise the standard for overall image quality. Motion Adaptive Processing eliminates jagged edges, making the picture sharp and with fewer "edges." By utilizing multiscan technology, the CMP4201/4202U can automatically adjust to VGA, S-VGA, XGA, S-XGA or UXGA resolutions, enabling enhanced brightness and contrast. For added flexibility the CMP4201/4202U also accepts a wide range of video signal formats and can be connected to other home electronics devices as well as professional video cameras, digital broadcasting adapters and PCs.

At 68 pounds and less than four inches deep, the CMP4201/4202U is lightweight, sleek and easy to install. Giving customers added flexibility in placement; it provides a wide 160-degree viewing angle and can be hung on the wall or from the ceiling. The CMP4201/4202U also comes standard with a life extension mode that provides a longer life span for the plasma display without sacrificing brightness, picture-in-picture, a SleepTimer function and built-in screen savers.

The CMP4201/4202U is available in charcoal black and silver, respectively, and is priced at $7,999.00. Both are now available through Hitachi's network of nationwide resellers. For more information, or to locate a dealer near you, please visit http://www.hitachi.com/digitalmedia, or call 1-800-HITACHI.

About Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division

The Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division markets a variety of consumer electronics including rear projection high definition television monitors in both 16:9 and 4:3 configurations, plasma televisions, plasma display panels, DVD players, DVD camcorders and DVD recorders, as well as security and observation system products. The company's premium products are sold under the Hitachi UltraVision and UltraVision Digital brand names.

Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, consumer electronics and semiconductors and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit www.hitachi.com.

Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 340,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2002 (ended March 31, 2003) consolidated sales totaled 8,191.7 billion yen ($68.3 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com.

Note to Editors: VirtualHD is trademark of Hitachi Home Electronics, (America) Inc.