Apple Announces the MessagePad 130 With Backlit Screen

Customers Now Have A Choice Between the Popular MessagePad 120 and the High-End Option, the MessagePad 130

CeBIT/Hannover, Germany -- March 14, 1996 -- Continuing the momentum of the Newton platform, Apple Computer, Inc. today announced the Apple MessagePad 130 at CeBIT, the largest computer trade show in the world, being held through March 20th in Hannover, Germany. The MessagePad 130 is the first Apple MessagePad to offer user controllable back lighting for on-demand use and a new durable, nonglare screen for viewing and entering information in any lighting condition.

"As pioneers in the PDA market, we're listening closely to the market to ensure that we deliver products that meet our customers' needs," said Sandy Benett, acting vice president of Apple's Newton Systems Group. "The MessagePad 130 is the result of this feedback and proof that Apple continues to forge ahead in the evolution of its own Newton-based products."

Based on the award winning Newton 2.0 operating system, the MessagePad 130 enhances mobile productivity by allowing customers to organize important information, integrate this information with both Windows- and Mac OS-based personal computers and communicate with others via fax, email, beaming (infrared) and wireless paging. In addition, with the new backlit screen, critical information can be accessed in almost any working environment.

The MessagePad 130 is targeted towards both mobile professionals as a high-end solution and towards the specialized vertical markets as an entry level product where product ruggedization is not a key requirement. Mobile professionals include corporate executives, small business owners, consultants and sales/marketing professionals who perform a significant amount of their work away from the office. Vertical market usages where the backlit screen would be of benefit include the health care, field services, sales force automation and transportation industries where nighttime or darkened working conditions are common.

MessagePad 130 Features

Key features in the MessagePad 130 include:
-- New transflective LCD with EL backlight for on-demand use in any lighting condition.
-- Non-glare more durable writing surface for easier viewing and a more robust mobile forms/data capture tool.
-- 512K additional system memory for better performance with new Internet solutions and improved multi-tasking.
-- 8MB ROM, 2.5MB RAM (1,361K nonvolatile user RAM)

MessagePad 130 Retail Offer

The following products are expected to be bundled with the MessagePad 130 (U.S. customers only):
-- Newton Backup Utility for Windows- and Mac OS-based PCs
-- Serial cables for Windows- and Mac OS-based PCs
-- Pocket Quicken 1.2
-- Compuserve mail client (Spring 96)
-- Newton Tour reference software
-- Handwriting Instruction reference demo

Pricing and Availability

The Apple MessagePad 130 is expected to be available worldwide beginning in April through Apple authorized resellers, VARs and SIs at a price of U.S.$799.00. Pricing will vary outside the United States; international customers should contact their local Apple dealer or reseller for specific pricing information. Three versions of the MessagePad 130 with Newton 2.0 are expected to be available: U.S., International (English) and German.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions, products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer, entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in over 140 countries.

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Customer Information Contact:
If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800-462-4396 in the U.S. or 1-800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call 1-800-538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local Apple representatives for information.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
Newton home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.info.apple.com/newton

Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Newton and MessagePad are registered trademarks and Mac OS is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. All other company and product brand names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.