Smart and Friendly Reduces Pricing on CD-Recorders UpTo 20 Percent.

CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 1999--

Smart and Friendly, an industry leader in CD-Recordable technology, announced extensive price reductions of up to 20 percent, effective immediately, on its line of CD-Recorders with CD-RW ReWritability.

This latest price reduction

Dedicated to driving market demand for a greater number of CD-Recorders and CD-Recorders with CD-RW ReWritability, Smart and Friendly has expanded its production capacity and distribution. These efforts have been instrumental in making this technology broadly available -- from leading computer retail stores, to mass-merchandisers, to online stores and catalogs.

"Manufacturers must make every effort to make removable optical storage solutions affordable to the mass market," said Perry Solomon, President and CEO of Smart and Friendly. "We understand the demand for this technology and are dedicated to ensuring that price is no longer a barrier to purchase."

Shipping now, the CD Rocket RW was reduced from an estimated street price (ESP) of $499 internal and $599 external (models SAF796 and SAF797) to $399 and $499, providing a savings of up to 20 percent. The CD TurboWriter RW has been reduced from an ESP of $349 internal and $449 external (models SAF758 and SAF759) to just $299 and $399, an average 12 percent reduction. Smart and Friendly's internal CD(SpeedWriter Plus (model SAF798), which was previously $199, now has an ESP of $179, nearly an 11 percent drop. The popular internal CD Racer (model SAF792) was also reduced by 11 percent, from $179 to $159 ESP.

Emphasizing its ultimate "out-of-box" experience, Smart and Friendly's entire line of CD-Recorders with CD-RW ReWritability comes with all the software and accessories needed to begin recording CDs immediately, including a comprehensive software suite, all necessary cables, and a free piece of blank media.

"We are committed to providing users with a broad range of solutions and price points so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of removable optical storage," added Solomon.

About Smart and Friendly: Smart and Friendly, Inc. is recognized as the industry's largest privately held manufacturer of CD-Recordable, CD-ReWritable, CD-ROM, and optical storage technology. The company was recently named the country's Number One Supplier to Retail of CD-Recorders and CD-ReWritable products by Personal Technology Research (PTR), publishers of the HOT Market Monitor USA. Smart and Friendly was also selected by NewMedia Magazine as one of the digital media industry's most influential suppliers, and placed on the NewMedia 500 List. Smart and Friendly President and CEO Perry Solomon was recently named to the Board of Directors of the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) and is Chairman of the Market Development Committee.