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COLUMBUS, Ohio--September 8, 1997--WinBook Corporation announced today an all-new series of full-featured presentation notebooks, the WinBook XL series. These high-end portable computers offer a level of performance formerly found only in powerful desktop systems. Yet WinBook XL is affordable to a wide range of customers with prices starting at just $3599.
All WinBook XL models feature Intel®’s new 233MHz Pentium®processor with MMX Technology running at 1.8 volts, 256Kb of L2 cache, 32MB of EDO RAM expandable to 128MB, large 3.0 GB hard drive, integrated 16-bit stereo audio and 20X variable CD-ROM. Utilizing an "All-in-One" design, the new WinBook XL incorporates both the 20X variable speed CD-ROM and floppy drive in the unit at once. The WinBook XL is offered with a 13.3-inch XGA (1,028-by-768) active-matrix color screen for $3,999, or 12.1-inch SVGA (800-by-600) active-matrix color screen for $3,599. The new WinBook XL models went on sale today and will begin shipping later this month.
Performance
The new WinBook XL is the fastest WinBook yet. Designed to take full advantage of Intel®’s new 233MHz Pentium®processor with MMX Technology (up to 40% faster than the 166MHz Pentium®processor with MMX technology), the WinBook XL’s blazing performance distinguishes
It as one of the fastest notebook computers available today. In addition to the 233MHz Pentium®processor with MMX Technology running at 1.8 volts, the new WinBook XL features Intel®’s 430TX PCI chipset, 32MB of EDO RAM expandable to 128MB, and 256 Kb L2 Syncburst (pipeline-burst) cache.
Keyboard and Pointing Devices
Like previous WinBooks, the new WinBook XL was designed for superior typing comfort. Its 84-key Windows95 keyboard provides full-sized 19 mm. keys and 3 mm. of up-and-down keyboard travel.
WinBook Corporation pioneered dual pointing devices in 1994. Now, with the WinBook XL, WinBook is making dual-pointing devices standard. All WinBook XLs come equipped with both a pointing stick embedded in the keyboard and touchpad in the palmrest as standard equipment (the touchpad is a $79.99 option on WinBook FX and WinBook XP5 Pro series). Like all previous WinBooks with dual pointing devices, both the pointing stick and touchpad can be used simultaneously.
Multimedia
The top-of-the-line $3,999 WinBook XL provides a massive 13.3-inch XGA (1,028-by-768) active-matrix color screen ideal for on-the-road presentations or graphics-intensive operations. WinBook XL models with large 12.1-inch SVGA (800-by-600) active-matrix color screens are available for $3,599. All models include 2 MB video RAM, Zoom video support, software MPEG support, NTSC video-out capability, and Soundblaster Pro 16-bit stereo audio with built-in speakers and microphone.
The Zoomed video port provides users with the ability to transfer video data from a port built into the PCMCIA slots directly to the display screen, bypassing the processor and system bus. In addition, MPEG I support furnishes users with full-screen, full-motion video playback at near standard VHS resolution (MPEG I achieves resolutions of 352 x 240 @ 30 frames/second). Users may also display presentations on large screen television monitors using NTSC video-out capability.
Communications
WinBook XL offers mobile professionals the latest communications technology for greater productivity while on the road. The optional internal 56K fax/modem leaves PCMCIA slots available for other uses, and is priced at just $159. The PCMCIA card slot will accommodate one Type III or two Type II PC cards.
Battery
The new WinBook XL provides impressive battery performance with a standard 45 Watt/hour, 9-cell Lithium ion Smart Battery. Battery-life is also enhanced through the use of low-voltage, high performance components and an advanced power management system that includes LCD and hard-drive power-down functions, plus standby, suspend-to-disk, and suspend-to-RAM modes with automatic resume for fax/modem activity.
Ports
All WinBook XL models include the following ports:
Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports ensure compatibility with faster peripherals and components that will be available in the future.
Options
WinBook XL models offer the following options: