Proxima announces industry's brightest portable multimedia LCD projector; compact projector delivers unsurpassed image quality, flexibility and multimedia capabilities.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 1995--Proxima Corp. (NASDAQ:PRXM) Wednesday announced the Desktop Projector 5100, the industry's brightest portable, data-and-video LCD projector and the company's first entry in the three-panel polysilicon class.

At the same time, Proxima continues to lead the industry in price performance by reducing prices on much of its line of desktop projection products.

The Desktop Projector 5100

Combining a highly efficient optical system with a 250-watt metal halide lamp, the Desktop Projector 5100 projects an image that is rated at more than 300 ANSI lumens. In addition, it's the only projector in its class to offer both exceptional brightness and the optimum flexibility of a motorized zoom lens for use in nearly any location.

"The DP 5100's combination of superior image quality and flexible image size raises desktop projection performance to a new level," said Mary Zoeller, Proxima's vice president of marketing. "In fact, not only is it significantly brighter than any other projector in its class, but it's bright enough to be used with the room lights on."

Zoeller said that users have long requested a system whose images can be viewed in a lighted room. "It's not just a matter of being able to read and take notes," she explained. "When making a presentation or collaborating on a workgroup project, people need to be able to make eye contact and interact with each other in order to be most effective."

The DP 5100's high-aperture, three-panel polysilicon projection engine not only contributes to its superior brightness rating, but also enables it to display exceptionally sharp images in up to 16.7 million colors. Dichromic color separators further enhance the projected image by allowing the DP 5100 to display accurate, fully saturated colors.

In addition to its motorized 1.6-to-1 zoom lens, the DP 5100 incorporates several other features that further enhance its flexibility. These include a vertical-and-horizontal inversion function for ceiling installation (upside down) and a mirror-reverse image capability for rear projection. Moreover, both of these features can be controlled by the projector's full-featured remote control.

With motorized focus and a wide projection angle, the DP 5100's zoom lens can project an image larger than 30 feet diagonally. To support multiple users, the projector offers multiple computer and video inputs, each with its own stereo sound input. This allows simultaneous connection of a Macintosh and a PC, as well as simultaneous connection of different video sources, such as a laser disc and a VCR.

In addition, the DP 5100 projects exceptionally sharp, uniform video images, thanks to state-of-the-art analog video processing circuitry. It displays NTSC and PAL video signals, as well as S-Video.

The DP 5100's user-replaceable metal-halide lamp provides an exceptionally long life, along with superior color rendition. Because it eliminates the yellowish tint that is common with halogen lamps, the metal-halide lamp produces crisp, clear images with a high contrast ratio (200:1).

With its compact design, light weight (23 pounds), rugged construction, and convenient built-in carrying handle, the DP 5100 is an all-in-one, portable multimedia solution for a wide range of applications. These include business presentations, field sales presentations, corporate training, education, government and such workgroup applications as engineering design reviews, spreadsheet analysis and project management.

Moreover, its ability to be placed unobtrusively anywhere in the room, its plug-and-play design and its ease of transport and storage make the DP 5100 ideal for use in conferences, meeting rooms and large auditoriums where its high luminosity really shines. For multimedia presentations that incorporate sound, it comes with a built-in three-watt speaker and amplifier, as well as stereo, video and computer audio inputs.

Compatible with virtually all popular IBM compatible and Macintosh computers, the DP 5100 comes with all the required inputs for connecting to a user's existing video and computer equipment. In addition, a backlit remote control ensures that presenters are always in full control of their presentation.

Available through Proxima's value-added resellers and distribution channels, the Desktop Projector 5100 is priced at $9,495 (U.S. suggested retail). It will begin shipping in North America in June 1995, with shipments outside North America set for August 1995.

Price Reductions

In concert with the release of the DP 5100, Proxima reduced prices on all three of its active-matrix product lines. For example, the active-matrix models in the company's market-leading Desktop Projector line now start at just $6,795 (U.S. suggested retail).

Prices for the Proxima Ovation+ line (840, 842, 846) of high-performance LCD panels begin at just $4,495 (U.S. suggested retail). The high-resolution Proxima Ovation+ 920 for workstations has also been reduced. And the popular Proxima Ovation family (810, 820, 822), already an exceptional value, begins at a low $3,695 (U.S. suggested retail).

"Thanks to ongoing technological advances and improved manufacturing efficiencies, we continue to offer our customers the best price performance in the industry," said Zoeller. "This can only help to make desktop projection technology affordable to more people, thereby accelerating the growth of the market and strengthening Proxima's position."

Proxima is a leader in desktop projection for large-screen, interactive presentations and workgroup sessions. With headquarters in San Diego, the company designs, manufactures and markets color and monochrome LCD projection panels, LCD projectors and interactive presentation control systems. -0-

NOTE: The information contained in this news release should be reviewed in connection with the company's Annual Report and Form 10K and other publicly available information regarding the company, copies of which are available from Proxima upon request.

CONTACT: Proxima Corp., San Diego

Todd Savitt, 619/457-5500, ext. 208