Maxtor introduces CrystalMax 1080 series.

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 1997--

Maxtor's latest family of hard disk drives feature increased

capacity and improved performance in value desktop line

Value and leading-edge technology come together in the CrystalMax(TM) 1080 series of hard disk drives, announced today by Maxtor Corp.

The CrystalMax 1080 series is the follow-on to Maxtor's CrystalMax(TM) series introduced in September 1996 and combines the successful technology of the original series with new technologies which increase capacity and performance.

Like its predecessor, the CrystalMax 1080 series is built on Maxtor's exclusive Formula4(TM) head disk assembly. Areal density has been increased in this series to 1,080 megabytes (MB) per disk for a top-end drive capacity of 4.3 gigabytes (GB). The series also includes 3.2 and 2.1GB models. Like the CrystalMax series, CrystalMax 1080 drives use proven thin-film head technology.

Several advances for this drive series have improved overall performance. Maxtor has added a digital signal processor-based architecture -- like the one used in Maxtor's DiamondMax(TM) series -- which has improved seek times to less than 11 milliseconds (ms) and incorporated PRML channels for maximum throughput.

"With this introduction, Maxtor delivers a value desktop drive designed specifically for users looking for the combination of solid performance and outstanding value," said William Roach, Maxtor's senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Marketing. "By combining proven designs with today's most advanced technology, the CrystalMax 1080 meets the needs of today's most demanding hard disk drive users," he added.

CrystalMax 1080 offers the following features at each of the family's three capacity points:

-- Maxtor's exclusive Formula4 HDA;

-- digital signal processor-based electronics architecture;

-- PRML technology;

-- ANSI ATA-3 Enhanced IDE compatibility;

-- PIO Mode 4/DMA Mode 2 transfer rates of 16.7 MBytes/second;

-- Compliance with the Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting

Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) system;

-- 256K cache buffer;

-- Custom on-the-fly Error Correction Code logic, capable of

correcting multiple error bursts without performance loss;

-- Low power consumption and ATA power-saving commands that support

EPA Energy Star "Green PC" standards;

-- 1.7 percent annual failure rate (AFR);

-- Start/stop cycle rating of 40,000.

Like all Maxtor drives, the CrystalMax 1080 series has a three-year warranty and is backed by our exclusive No Quibble(TM) Service policy, the benchmark for customer service in the hard disk industry.

In addition to the CrystalMax 1080 series, Maxtor also produces the DiamondMax line of high-performance EIDE hard disk drives, the CrystalMax series of desktop drives and the MobileMax(R) line of 2.5-inch drives for portable computers.

CrystalMax 1080 drives are currently being evaluated by many of the world's largest OEMs, with volume shipments to all channels scheduled to begin during March 1997. Estimated manufacturer's suggested retail price for the 4.3 GB drive is $399.

Maxtor Corp., headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., develops, manufactures and markets information storage products for desktop and mobile computer systems. Founded in 1982, Maxtor is a wholly owned, independently operated subsidiary of Hyundai Electronics America.

CONTACT: Maxtor Corp.

Doyle Albee, 303/678-2405

http://www.maxtor.com