Hitachi Introduces Bright Ultra-Portable SVGA Projector for Educators

Brisbane, CA, April 2, 2002 - Hitachi America, Ltd. (www.hitachi.com), a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan (NYSE:HIT), today announced the CP-S370W, a bright ultra-portable projector designed for educators and budget-conscious consumers. In order to capture the interest of today's highly visual and technically savvy students, schools must provide the equipment that supports a varied and creative curriculum, while meeting extremely tight budget constraints. The CP-S370W meets this need with versatile connectivity and brightness that make it a powerful multimedia tool. Its compact, seven-pound body ensures easy transport between classrooms, and its tremendous brightness ensures eye-catching visual support for lessons.

"The education market continues to be an important part of Hitachi's customer base," said Pete Denes, director of sales for Hitachi America, Ltd., Computer Division, Multimedia Presentation Products. "The CP-S370W gives teachers the brightness and features they desire, at a price point that doesn't break the school bank."

Bright, Vivid Image

The CP-S370W features an impressive 2,200 lumens, ensuring a bright, vibrant image for ease of viewing, even from the rear of the classroom. Whether projecting simple data slides or high-definition video, the CP-S370W enables educators to present lessons with strong visual supplements that help engage students' attention. At the same time, the CP-S370W's SVGA resolution allows schools to meet the multimedia needs of its students at an affordable cost, making the most of limited budgets.

Exceptional Connectivity

The CP-S370W features two RGB inputs, as well as component, composite and S-video inputs, ensuring maximum flexibility for presentations. This connectivity enables presenters to use a variety of multimedia equipment, including PCs, DVD players and more, providing an enhanced educational experience for students. The multiple inputs help minimize transition time for reconfiguration, to help keep students focused. The CP-S370W also features an RGB output, allowing teachers to view presentations on a desktop monitor, without turning away from the classroom. This wealth of connectivity is even more impressive given the compact, seven-pound chassis, which is easily transported between classrooms.

Quiet Operation

The CP-S370W features Hitachi's Whisper Mode, a standard on all new Hitachi projectors, allowing users to reduce the fan noise to near-whisper levels, with a slight reduction in brightness. This feature strengthens the projector's suitability for classrooms, where distractions such as ambient noise need to be kept to a minimum. The CP-S370W operates at 34 decibels in Whisper Mode, reduced from 40 decibels in standard mode.

Priced at $6,995, the CP-S370W is 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/mmpp, or call 1-800-225-1741.

About Hitachi

Hitachi America, Ltd., Computer Division, supplies high-performance computer storage products and multimedia products to OEMs, value-added resellers, system integrators and distributors. The division's products include high-capacity hard disk drives, LCD/LCOS projectors, CRT monitors, color laser beam printers and flat panel and plasma displays.

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 http://www.hitachi.com.

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2000 (ended March 31, 2001) consolidated sales of 8,417 billion yen ($67.9 billion¹). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com.

¹ At an exchange rate of 124 yen to the dollar.

Key Features and Specifications

• Native SVGA Resolution (800 x 600 color pixels)
• Versatile connectivity -- Component, Composite, S-Video, two RGB inputs; one RGB output
• High Contrast Ratio -- 350:1 Digital Keystone
• Correction Brightness -- 2,200 lumens (1,760 lumens in Whisper Mode)
• Quiet Operation -- 40 decibels (34 decibels in Whisper Mode)
• Lightweight -- 7 pounds
• HDTV-ready
• Anamorphic 16:9 aspect ratio
• FCC Class B Compliant
• Wireless Remote Control
• Built-in Speaker (1W x 2 stereo)
• Warranty -- 2 years parts and labor, 90 days for the lamp

CONTACT:
Hitachi America, Ltd.
Gerard F. Corbett, 650/244-7900
gerard.corbett@hal.hitachi.com

or

Weber Shandwick Silicon Valley
Kerstin Barr, 650/532-4033
kbarr@webershandwick.com