Epson Introduces $1,299 Home Theater Projector with Widescreen Display

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2003-- Epson America Inc. continues to expand its presence in the home theater market with the introduction of its EPSON PowerLite Home 10. This projector enters a new market segment by delivering a dramatic 16:9 widescreen cinematic experience in any home for only $1,299.

"This product opens the door to a new and exciting product category for Epson and represents a great value for the home theater market," said Jodi Maugham, product manager, Epson. "The seemingly endless growth of widescreen video content from DVDs and a steadily growing wave of HDTV broadcasting is dramatically increasing consumers' demand for entry-level 16:9 display devices -- and especially for products that produce extremely large images in the living room. We believe Epson's reputation for outstanding digital imaging solutions combined with our latest advancements in video display technology will help make this new and affordable projector an extremely popular addition to home theaters everywhere."

Advanced Digital Video Performance
The PowerLite Home 10 projects high-resolution video at 480p native resolution (854 x 480) and in a 16:9 wide aspect ratio used in nearly all of today's major motion pictures. Users also have the ability to switch between three aspect modes, Normal, Squeeze and Zoom for viewing 4:3, 16:9 and letterbox material. The projector is also HDTV-ready and supports other popular digital video signals such as 480i, 720p and 1080i.

The PowerLite Home 10 uses a specialized video processor to clarify and sharpen video content in addition to a built-in cinema filter that enhances the colors and tones found in dark scenes. Users can also choose between four specific projection modes that automatically adjust the display to match different room environments and source materials -- these modes include: Dynamic, Living Room, Theater and Theater Black.

The PowerLite Home 10 is built on Epson's renowned 3-LCD display technology, resulting in high levels of image quality, such as brightness distribution (illumination ratio), color saturation, color accuracy and efficiency. These newly designed 0.55-inch wide LCDs create varying shades of red, green and blue that blend to produce a projected image with brighter, richer, truer colors and sharp black text. Furthermore, its 700:1 contrast ratio (in Theater Black Mode) makes it possible for shadows to stand out more from their backgrounds and ensure a sharp, rich image at every level of brightness.

Easy Setup and Operation
The PowerLite Home 10 features an attractive silver and soft-white design to blend in with nearly any living room's decor, while its compact 7.9-pound body and ergonomic shape make it easy to place and operate on a coffee table or shelf. With the projector's newly developed 1.54x optical zoom lens, users have more flexibility in positioning the projector in a variety of room sizes and can display an 80-inch image on a screen or wall from only six feet away, all the way up to a 300-inch image from 24.9 feet. No installation is required, and setup is simplified with a set of color-coded interfaces on the rear of the unit, making it quick and easy to connect components such as a TV/HDTV tuner, DVD player, camcorder, PC, video game console and more.

Once the power button has been pressed, the projector gives an audible tone that confirms the power is running. In about 10 seconds, the projector reaches full brightness and maintains a whisper-quiet level of fan noise. Its digital keystone adjustment (+/- 15 degrees) also gives users the ability to easily adjust the shape of the image to compensate for the angle in which the projector is positioned. When it's time to power off the projector, the cool down period lasts for approximately 20 seconds and the projector's slim, multi-function remote control can be stored conveniently inside the unit itself.

Epson Support
Epson's PowerLite projectors come with a two-year limited warranty that includes two elite technical support services -- Epson's Private Line(SM) and Home Service Program. Through the Private Line service, projector owners can directly access an exclusive expedited support telephone line (typically in about one minute) by using a card with a PIN that is included with the product. In the event that a projector should need to be repaired, Epson's Home Service Program can replace the product usually within 48 hours in the United States and Canada. International Warranty makes repair service available in 45 countries worldwide. These services are available for the full two years of warranty coverage.

For more information on Epson's current projector product line, customers can call 800-442-1977 or visit the company's website at www.epson.com.

About Epson
Epson also offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business, photography and graphic arts markets. The company is a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) printers and transaction terminals. Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, 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. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif. -