Developer Depot Announces First-Quarter 1999Results.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 1999--

-- Quarterly Sales Revenue Grow 45%
-- Quantity of Orders Increases by 52%
-- New Shopping Basket Rivals the Fastest Ones on the Net
-- Depot Announces New Expanded Hours for Live Customer Service

Developer Depot, the

First-quarter 1999 net sales grew 45 percent compared with the first quarter of 1998. Quantity of orders processed for the same period was up 52 percent compared with the first quarter of 1998. This quarter, the Depot introduced a new shopping basket that rivals the fastest ones on the Net.

Neil Ticktin, CEO of Developer Depot's parent company Xplain Corp., stated: "I am very pleased with our results for the quarter. Our plan to give Mac OS developers the best selection of tools, at the best prices and with the service they deserve, is working. During this quarter, we launched our fourth-generation online shopping basket, which rivals the fastest sites on the Net.

"The new online store allows users to track orders, see up-to-the-minute inventory status, and search and compare over a thousand products to find exactly the tool they need. Our goal has been to be the source of Mac OS developer tools in a customer-focused, quality of service environment -- we've done that."

First-Quarter Highlights

When compared with the first quarter of 1998, the first quarter of 1999's sales revenue grew 45 percent. In addition, the quantity of orders increased by 52 percent during the same period. Developer Depot's management attributes the increase to the returning health of the Mac OS market, decreases in pricing of developer tools and an increase in the number of products available.

In February 1999, the Depot began public testing of new online shopping basket software and servers. The response to the new Depot Online Store has been overwhelming -- especially in regards to comments on the speed of the system. The system completed testing and was released in April.

This fourth-generation Depot Online Store dynamically links inventory, order processing, shipping and product acquisition systems into a single, fully integrated electronic store. Featuring state-of-the-art proprietary technology, the new store allows customers to scan thousands of developer tools, compare and explore the features of each, and find exactly the right solution for them.

"Developers work long hours; when they need tools, they need them immediately," Neil Ticktin said. "With the Depot's new online store, developers have one place to go to find the tool they need, and order it any time of day or night."

Customers have one place to find all the tools they need, they can see if the tools are in stock, and if not, when they are expected. Once an order is placed, customers can track that order, any time of night or day, until it arrives at their front door.

Developer Depot, part of the Depot group, is also announcing new expanded service hours. Starting May 3, customer service representatives will be answering phones from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific Time, ready to help callers find exactly the tool for their needs. The Depot's staff has always prided itself on providing some of the best customer service in the business -- and now they can serve customers at times that may be more convenient for some people.

About Developer Depot

Developer Depot is the source for Mac OS developer tools. Shipping to 130 countries, with world-renowned customer service, lowest prices guaranteed and overnight delivery to most locations, Developer Depot carries more than 1,000 Mac OS developer, Web-content-developing and system-development tools. Developers produce the solutions that make computers worth using; Developer Depot provides the tools that let developers get the job done.

To find out more about Developer Depot, contact:

Web site: http://www.devdepot.com;

e-mail: mailto:info@devdepot.com;

Toll-free phone: 800/MACDEV-1;

Outside U.S./Canada: 805/494-9797; and

Fax: 805/494-9798.

About Xplain

Xplain is privately held and has three divisions -- publishing, mail order and custom services. The publishing division includes MacTech(r) Magazine (http://www.mactech.com/), NetProfessional(tm) Magazine (http://www.netprolive.com/) and THINK Reference(tm). The mail order division operates Developer Depot(r) (http://www.devdepot.com/), Depot Store(sm) and the Depot(sm). Custom services provides custom publishing and tradeshow services including such projects as Developer Central(tm) and fulfillment services.

Founded in 1984, the company has its offices in Westlake Village. For more information on Xplain or any of its products/services, visit (http://www.xplain.com/), call the main offices at: 805/494-9797, fax: 805/494-9798, send e-mail to: mailto:info@xplain.com, or overland mail to: P.O. Box 5200, Westlake Village, Calif. 91359-5200.

Note to Editors: All rights reserved. MacTech, Developer Depot and Sprocket are registered trademarks of Xplain Corp. Xplain, Depot, The Depot, Depot Store, Video Depot, Movie Depot, Palm Depot, Game Depot, Explain It, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, NetProLive, JavaTech, WebTech, BeTech and the MacTutorMan are trademarks of Xplain. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders.

With the exception of the historical information contained herein, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties.