Epson Unveils the Industry's Lightest Three-LCD Projectors to Date

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1999 -- Epson America Inc., the world leader in high-performance projectors, today unveiled a full line of the industry's lightest three-LCD superportable projectors to date.

The new Commuter Series includes: the PowerLite(R) 710c, the PowerLite 700c, and the PowerLite 500c. Weighing only 5.8 pounds, the PowerLite 710c is also the industry's first three-LCD XGA (1024 x 768) resolution superportable projector to achieve an amazing 1000 ANSI lumens, by employing Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology.

All three projectors deliver exceptional brightness, efficiency, and image quality for today's business travelers and road warriors who require increased flexibility and more compact size.

"Epson has redefined the quickly evolving sub-six-pound category with these new breakthrough superportable projectors," said Mark Pickard, product manager, projectors, Epson. "In a category previously defined by single-chip DLP projectors, three-LCD technology takes this category to a new level. The PowerLite 500c, PowerLite 700c and PowerLite 710c provide mobile presenters with superior image quality without compromising weight, size or affordability."

Superportables That Sacrifice Nothing

Epson's new superportable projectors boast superior brightness with the PowerLite 500c and PowerLite 700c delivering 800 ANSI lumens each. Utilizing MLA, the PowerLite 710c achieves an incredible 1000 ANSI lumens, setting a new standard for projectors under six pounds. With this level of brightness, these new superportables offer a flexible and powerful solution that delivers exceptional quality in the most challenging lighting conditions.

The PowerLite 500c offers true SVGA (800 x 600) native resolution, while both the PowerLite 710c and the PowerLite 700c offer top-of-the-line XGA native resolution. Each new projector will also feature the latest generation of Epson's exclusive SizeWise(TM) resizing technology. SizeWise technology gives the projector excellent versatility by allowing it to accept every major notebook resolution.

For example, SizeWise resizing technology in the PowerLite 710c and PowerLite 700c allows for compatibility with resolutions from VGA (640 x 480) up to UXGA (1600 x 1200) with virtually no picture content loss.

Most Powerful Feature Set of Any Superportable

All three projectors are enhanced with several advanced features including picture-in-picture technology, 15 degree digital keystone correction, electronic zoom, improved remote control, lockable screen menus, on-screen help features, in addition to many others.

Additionally, the Commuter Series offers the most powerful feature of all -- outstanding image quality in a tiny package. Several new technological advancements contribute to the superior image quality and efficiency of Epson's newest superportable projectors. The PowerLite 500c and PowerLite 710c are Epson's first projectors to offer increased contrast, featuring a typical 400:1 contrast ratio, the highest of any LCD projector.

All three projectors feature a miniaturized optical mechanism, smaller circuit board and a newly developed small-sized high efficiency 120W UHP lamp. Plus, Epson has added new retractable projection lenses for added protection during transport.

Advantages of Three-LCD Technology Over DLP Technology

Each new superportable projector utilizes Seiko Epson's own three-LCD projection system, achieving high ratings in the critical areas of image quality -- brightness distribution (illumination ratio), color saturation, color accuracy and efficiency. Epson's three-LCD projection system produces superior image quality when compared to single-chip digital light processing (DLP) and other single-imager projection technologies.

Three-LCD projectors utilize separate LCDs to create the varying shades of red, green and blue that blend to produce a projected image. With a separate LCD panel for each of the three colors, the result is brighter, richer, truer colors and sharp black text. In contrast, DLP projectors use a spinning wheel technique, displaying colors in high-speed sequence so a person perceives all colors at once. Through this technology, it is more difficult to produce vibrant colors.

Additionally, three-LCD projectors have fewer moving parts and run more efficiently. With greater efficiency, the lamp in three-LCD projectors runs cooler and can last up to 2000 hours. DLP projectors, by contrast, have lower efficiency, resulting in a decreased lamp life of 1000 to 1500 hours.

Raising performance to yet another level, the PowerLite 710c also combines Micro Lens Array technology with Epson's revolutionary three-LCD system, producing brighter images. With MLA, a microscopic lens is placed in front of each pixel of each 0.9-inch LCD to increase light throughput for brighter and more vibrant images.

With three LCDs inside the projector, there are nearly 2.4 million microscopic lenses in every PowerLite 710c. MLA allows more light to pass through each pixel, projecting images with rich, vibrant colors, blacker blacks and crisp, clear detail.

Price, Support and Availability

The PowerLite 500c, PowerLite 700c and PowerLite 710c will be available the first quarter of 2000 through authorized pro audiovisual dealers, national distribution, catalog and direct PC dealers for $5,999 MSRP, $6,999 MSRP and $7,999 MSRP, respectively.

Epson's Commuter Series projectors come with a two-year limited warranty. Also, Epson provides PowerLite customers with three elite technical support services -- Epson's Private Line(SM), Road Service Program and International Warranty. Through the Private Line, projector owners can directly access an exclusive expedited support telephone line (typically in less than 45 seconds) by using a phone card that is included with the product.

In the event that a projector should need to be repaired, Epson's Road Service Program can replace the product usually within 24 hours in the United States and Canada. International Warranty makes repair service available in 45 countries worldwide.

This service is available for the duration of the warranty coverage.

Presenters will find additional value when they visit Epson's Presenters Online(SM) Web site (www.presentersonline.com) for immediate access to presentation tips, tools and techniques, innovative templates, useful clip art, and links to services especially suited for today's busy road warrior. For more information on Epson's current projector product line, call 800/442-1977 or visit the company's Web site at http://www.epson.com.

Global Leader in Projector Sales

Since Epson's launch into the branded multimedia projection market, its parent company, Seiko Epson Corp., has continued to bring forth award-winning, high-performance projectors featuring outstanding image quality, superior brightness and incredible efficiency.

In 1998, Seiko Epson Corp.'s sales revenue for projection-related products was more than 25 percent greater than the projector industry's former leader, making Seiko Epson the number one projector company in the world. Seiko Epson has 59 sales and manufacturing affiliates in 28 countries worldwide.

About Epson

Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) solutions for the retail market.

Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corp., a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. Epson America Inc. has headquarters in Long Beach, Calif.

Note: Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corp. PowerLite is a registered trademark, SizeWise is a trademark and Private Line and Presenters Online are service marks of Epson America Inc. Third-party brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT:
Epson America Inc., Long Beach
Kristine Snyder, 562/290-4026
kristine_snyder@ea.epson.com
 or
Walt & Company
Merritt Mazzera, 408/496-0900, ext. 2979
mmazzera@walt.com