Casio Offers a Free Windows CE 2.0 Upgrade
DOVER, N.J., Sept. 8 — September 8, 1997 — CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD., in conjunction with CASIO, INC., announced today a free Windows(R) CE 2.0 ROM upgrade program for new purchasers of the market-leading, CASSIOPEIA Handheld PC. The Windows CE ROM Upgrade Kit will be available for CASSIOPEIA Handheld PC's-A-11, and A-11 Plus. The upgrade kit can easily be installed and requires no special tools.
"The Windows CE 2.0 ROM upgrade for the Handheld PC is a new release from Microsoft which will allow enhanced performance for CE H/PCs," said Gary Rado, Executive Vice President of the Handheld Personal Computer Division and Digital Imaging Division of Casio. "This ROM upgrade system protects the users investment and demonstrates Casio's commitment to develop Handheld PCs that can easily be expanded and updated," continued Rado.
A free upgrade kit will be available to Casio users who purchase either a CASSIOPEIA A-11 or A-11 Plus from September 8, l997 to December 31, 1997. For current CASSIOPEIA owners this upgrade kit is also available for $99.99. Fulfillment of the free upgrade will occur soon after Microsoft's release of the next version expected in the fourth quarter of 1997.
"We're pleased with Casio's announcement of the availability of their ROM Upgrade Kit which will allow upgrading of existing H/PCs to the next release of Windows CE for the H/PC," said Harel Kodesh, General Manager, Consumer Appliance Group at Microsoft. "Casio's commitment to developing products that enhance productivity is why our partnership has been so successful in the launch of Windows CE."
The CASSIOPEIA was the first Windows CE-based Handheld PC available at the launch last November at Comdex. Rado continued to comment that as the market leader in the Windows CE category, they will continue to support the CASSIOPEIA users.
For more information please visit the Casio website at www.casio.com or www.casiohpc.com.
CASSIOPEIA
CASSIOPEIA comes with Windows CE built-in, a Windows-based operating system specially developed by Microsoft Corp. The result is a high level of data compatibility between CASSIOPEIA and Windows-based desktop computers. It also offers the same user interface as found in Windows for the desktop. The open architecture of the system helps ensure a rich supply of software applications from third-party developers.
CASSIOPEIA has a number of pre-installed useful applications including Information Manager (which is synchronized with Microsoft Schedule +/Outlook(TM) for Windows 95), Microsoft Pocket Word and Microsoft Pocket Excel – H/PC versions of the well-known PC software applications such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, a world clock and a calculator. In addition, e-mail capabilities and Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer, together with various ports perform powerful data communications. CASSIOPEIA comes bundled with a selection of business-oriented applications that will allow fax transmission, remote e-mail access, information service reception using 1-way pager, wireless e-mail for use with a 2-way pager.
In addition the CASSIOPEIA offers the unique Casio QV-link connection software. This software allows transferring images to and from a Casio QV digital camera. It allows the user to edit titles, comments and enter dates, and rearrange or delete the images in the camera. In the presentation mode, the user can control the display of presentations through the Casio QV camera to a TV monitor. The QV link gives the user the ability to take photos with the digital camera, download it to the CASSIOPEIA and then e-mail it over the Internet.
As the first manufacturer of the Digital Diary, Casio was able to draw upon years of experience in developing the next-generation mobile information hardware.
CASIO Computer Co., Ltd. is one of the leading consumer electronics companies in the world. Since its establishment in 1957, CASIO has been active in the development of electronic calculators, timepieces, musical instruments, digital cameras, LCD TVs, pagers and other communications devices. CASIO's corporate activities are guided by the motto: "Creativity and Contribution" (www.casio.com).
Casio, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. Casio, Inc., with sales over $500-million, markets calculators, watches, business organizers, musical keyboards, audio and video products, electronic cash registers, digital cameras and other consumer electronic products (www.casio.com).
CASIO and CASSIOPEIA are trademarks of CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
SOURCE: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
CONTACT:
Pat Carrasco, 973-361-5400, ext. 439 or Gary Johnson, 973-331-1070, both of Casio Computer