S3 Powers Toshiba Top-of-the-Line Tecra Notebooks
Design Win with World's Largest Notebook PC Manufacturer Highlights S3's Rapid
Emergence as a Leader in Multimedia Acceleration Technology for the Notebook PC
Market
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- S3(R) Incorporated (Nasdaq:SIII) announced today that the Computer
Systems Division of Toshiba America Information Systems -- the world's largest manufacturer of notebook PCs* -- has
selected S3 to provide the graphics and video capabilities of its new Tecra(TM) 750CDT notebooks. Utilizing S3's
ViRGE(R)/MX accelerator, the Tecra 750CDT is the industry's first multimedia notebook to provide advanced 3D graphics
acceleration, fully integrated TV-out and ``true'' dual-display capabilities.
``With the Tecra 750CDT, we created the ultimate mobile platform for multimedia applications,'' said Gary Elsasser, vice
president worldwide product planning, Computer Systems Group of Toshiba America Information Systems. ``Combining
high-performance 2D/3D graphics and video acceleration with advanced features such as DuoView and TV-out, S3's
ViRGE/MX provides a core innovation necessary to bring advanced multimedia to this notebook.''
``This is a significant design win for S3 and its mobile products group,'' said Mark Kirstein, director of research, computer
market services of In-Stat Research. ``Over the past several quarters, S3 has emerged to rapidly gain 6% of the mobile
notebook PC market. Now, through design wins with industry leaders such as Toshiba, S3 is poised to capture a greater
percentage of that market by the end of this year.''
Toshiba's Tecra 750CDT
The industry's most advanced notebook computer, the Tecra 750CDT solidifies Toshiba's leadership in computing innovation.
The Tecra 750CDT is ideal for the enterprise end-user offering the ultimate high-performance and application-rich notebook
solution. The Tecra 750CDT features the most impressive computing power available in a mobile platform, premier
communications technology, innovative multimedia capabilities and advanced system management capabilities.
S3's ViRGE/MX
Combining the same level of 2D, 3D and video capabilities found in S3's desktop accelerators with advanced power
management and flat panel display support, S3's ViRGE/MX accelerator brings new capabilities to notebook PC users. These
new and innovative capabilities include:
DuoView(TM) - S3 is the industry's only company to provide DuoView technology, which enables users to display
different images (graphics and video) simultaneously on separate displays and to optimize display quality when showing
the same image on multiple displays.
S3 has worked with Microsoft to incorporate support for S3's DuoView in the multi-monitor interface for Windows 98.
With this support, notebook users will be able to use the LCD display and a monitor simultaneously as a larger desktop
display space enabling greater user productivity.
In addition, S3 is developing software utilities that will enable the same multi-monitor, large desktop functionality under
Microsoft's Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems.
Integrated TV-Out - Consisting of an integrated encoder that outputs composite and S-Video, a 3-line flicker filter and
Overscan Compensation, the ViRGE/MX's TV-Out solution enables high quality output from the PC to the TV. This
integrated approach combines a lower cost/lower power solution with higher quality video and an easy single-chip
implementation for notebook PC manufacturers.
Advanced 3D Performance - The ViRGE/MX accelerator delivers a full set of 3D rendering including MIP mapping,
tri-linear filtering and perspective correction textures to deliver images that are free of annoying visual artifacts such as
``sparkle'' and ``jaggies.'' Other features include transparency for enabling realistic rendering of glass, water and plastic
objects; atmospheric effects such as fog and depth cueing to enable rendering of real-world environments; and
Z-buffering to speed the removal of hidden surfaces for improved performance and visual quality.
About S3 Incorporated
S3 Incorporated, founded in 1989 with headquarters in Santa Clara, California, is the world's largest supplier of multimedia
acceleration hardware and its associated software*. S3 is committed to applying its expertise in audio, video, graphics and
platform acceleration to create innovative and affordable products for the home, desktop and mobile markets. The company's
vision for the future is to also bring a rich, consumer electronics-type experience to PC users -- integrating the best available
consumer multimedia technologies into the mainstream PC platform.
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, such as statements relating to the
company's ability to achieve a greater percentage share of the mobile notebook market, are forward-looking statements that
are subject to risk and uncertainties, including the impact of competitive products and pricing and of alternative technological
advances, market acceptance of the company's and its customers' new products, and other risks detailed from time to time in
S3's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996. S3 and ViRGE are
registered trademarks of S3 Incorporated. The S3 corporate logo and DuoView are trademarks of S3 Incorporated. Other
marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. All third party quotes and product information are
furnished by the respective companies.
S3 Website Location: s3.com
SOURCE: S3 Incorporated |
