HANNOVER, Germany (March 21, 1996) -- LS-120 diskette technology, demonstrated here just 2 weeks after its launch, was honored by a leading European computing magazine as the top new hardware shown at CeBIT '96, the world's largest computer exposition.

This year's annual "CeBIT Oscar" was awarded to the LS-120 diskette technology by Germany's CHIP Magazine, a monthly with one million readers. About 40 of the magazine's reporters deliberated more than a day while evaluating all the new products on display at this year's show. CeBIT '96 comprised 6,500 exhibitors in information technology, office equipment, telecommunications systems and software.

The 120 MB diskette technology was shown at four CeBIT booths by the companies behind the program -- 3M, Compaq Computer Corp., Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE), and O.R. Technology.

The LS-120 diskette technology enables users to store up to 120 MB of data on a single new 3.5-inch LS-120 diskette. The LS-120 diskette drive is read-and-write backward compatible with the billions of existing 1.44 MB and 720 KB DOS-formatted diskettes.

Rainer Grabowski, editor in chief of CHIP Magazine, called LS-120 diskette technology a "superdiskette" and the "highlight of highlights" among some of the world's most innovative technologies. The main reason CHIP Magazine judges chose the LS-120 diskette technology as best of the show, he said, was that "this new development seems to bring PC users the biggest value of all products shown at the fair."

"We're excited about receiving this honor with 3M," said Jerry Meerkatz, vice president of Compaq's Options Business Unit, Houston, Texas. "Since the introduction of LS-120 technology 2 weeks ago, Compaq has received tremendous positive feedback from trade press and users that LS-120 technology is meeting a key need for affordable, high-capacity diskette drives. Recognition as the best new technology at the world's largest trade show further demonstrates its potential to become the next diskette standard for the industry." The 120 MB drive option and Deskpro models pre-configured with the LS-120 drive are expected to be available in May in North America and later this year in other regions of the world.

"At the 3M exhibit and a news conference with Compaq, there was strong international interest in 120 MB diskette technology becoming the new diskette standard," said Judith Brenke, 3M product manager for diskettes who is based in Neuss, Germany. "The LS-120 initiative also helped us reinforce with users that the 3M Data Storage Division plans to maintain its place as world leader in supplying branded diskettes. We explained that our division will form part of a new, large, publicly held, independent company that will be launched later this year."

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