Toshiba's "Back-to-School" Solutions Raise the Bar On Computing Value.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 26, 1999--

As the industry leader in portable PCs for students, the Computer Systems Division (CSD) of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS) is underscoring its commitment to the education market with affordable products and comprehensive programs.

Designed to meet the technology and budget needs of students and teachers, Toshiba is offering value-priced desktop and notebook PCs, and bundled software, just in time for the "back-to-school" season.

"Toshiba believes that by providing students access to technology today, we can help them succeed in the business world tomorrow," said Dan Rosensteel, vice president of public sector, TAIS, CSD. "By offering education discounts with the latest technology, Toshiba continues to raise the bar on computing value without sacrificing performance. Students and teachers will benefit from the increased productivity that computers afford."

New Satellite Notebooks and Equium Desktops Provide Students Maximum Bang for the Buck

Offering the latest portable technology at industry-leading prices, Toshiba has expanded its Satellite 2590 series and Satellite 2060CDS to include an impressive combination of powerful processors, large hard drives and brilliant displays at competitive prices.

The Satellite 2590 series offers DVD-ROM as an option, and has an integrated V.90/K56flex modem and easy access Internet button to simplify remote communication for on-the-go users. For as little as $1,399, the Satellite 2060CDS provides a sleek, all-in-one design with a 24X CD-ROM, diskette and 4.3 billion byte hard drive.

In addition to the new Satellite series, the Equium 7100 series of desktops, renowned as the industry's lowest-maintenance computers, are available at campus resellers at special value prices. Prices start as low as $969 for a Pentium(R) II 350MHz system with a 6GB hard drive and 64MB of memory. The Equium's patent-pending one-touch Instant Access door enables processor and memory upgrades within seconds, so students and teachers can keep up with technology advances without having to buy a new system. The Equium 7100 series is available in a full-size, mini-tower or slim-line chassis to maximize space in cramped dorm rooms and small apartments.

The Equium desktop line as well as the new Satellite products are available now and are sold through Toshiba's campus resellers.

Notebooks for Schools Program Provides K-12 Students Around-the-Clock Tutoring and Custom Software From Chumbo.com

Acknowledging the unique needs of K-12 students and teachers, Toshiba also offers the new Satellite series to schools participating in the Notebooks for Schools (NfS) program. NfS provides K-12 students, teachers and administrators with their own specially bundled notebook computers. A complete educational solution, NfS features preinstalled Microsoft(R) Office(R) software, customized carrying cases and a variety of accessories and products designed to significantly enhance the integration of technology in the classroom.

Through Toshiba's new Educhoice Software Program, a co-branded website with Chumbo.com, Notebooks for Schools customers can also select from a variety of value-oriented software at discounted prices (www.educhoice.com).

"The co-branded website helps ensure that teachers and students have access to the software they need, not pre-installed software packages they won't use," said David Prais, CEO of Chumbo.com. "Toshiba and Chumbo.com are enabling NfS participants to tailor their notebook PCs, giving them a greater technological experience in their formative years."

Students participating in Toshiba's NfS program can also receive the benefit of Homeworkhelp.com, where they can get assistance in almost any subject area. This award-winning online service from The Super Tutor Company provides students and teachers in middle and high school access to more than 1800 tutorials, lessons, animations and videos 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. The interactive content was designed to enhance teachers' existing curriculum by bringing textbooks to life and leverage visual, auditory and kinetic methods to better educate the various types of students.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.

Toshiba continues to be the world's leading vendor for portable computers with 17.6 percent market share worldwide in Q4 '98 according to International Data Corp. The company offers portable, desktop and server computing solutions for business customers under the Toshiba brand name. For dealer referral and product literature, call 1-800-TOSHIBA, or visit the company's World Wide Web site at http://www.toshiba.com.

Headquartered in Irvine, California, with annual sales of approximately $3 billion, TAIS is comprised of nine divisions, organized into three business groups, which manufacture and market a wide range of business and information-oriented products in the United States and Latin America and one wholly owned subsidiary which operates a network of copier/fax dealers. Products include portable and desktop computers; PC servers; plain-paper copiers; facsimile systems; toner products; voice mail systems; digital business telephone systems; interactive voice response systems; network systems and digital cameras.

TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of the $42 billion Toshiba Corp., the seventh largest computer and electronics company and the world's 26th largest industrial corporation in terms of sales. Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high-technology products with over 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide.

About Chumbo.com

Chumbo.com provides a channel of distribution for independent software vendors (ISVs), an optional distribution method for PC OEMs and is a 24-hour resource for consumers and corporate clients to purchase software, DVDs and computer-related books. Chumbo Holdings Corporation, an Internet commerce company, is the parent of Point Group Corp. and Chumbo.com. Zomax Optical Media (Nasdaq:ZOMX) holds an equity interest in Chumbo Holdings Corporation. Chumbo.com can be found on the World Wide Web at www.chumbo.com.

Note to Editors: Equium and Satellite are registered trademarks of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. All other products mentioned are trademarked and/or registered by their respective companies.