3DsoundSurge Press Release: ViewSonic Brings Unparalleled Digital Large-Screen Entertainment to Homes and Businesses

ViewSonic Brings Unparalleled Digital Large-Screen Entertainment to Homes and Businesses

Smart Displays Will Define New Entertainment Display Gateway Category

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2002--ViewSonic® Corporation, a worldwide Visual Technologies(TM) leader, used the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show to unveil its first offering in a new category of smart displays that allow users to view all forms of digital and analog entertainment -- TV, VCR, DVD, camcorder, digital camera, cable box, game player and PC signals -- at resolutions up to four times higher than standard television images.

The ViewSonic VX3600 MegaMonitor® employs one of the first Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technologies designed to be capable of video/TV as well as Windows/PC modes, providing users with extensive viewing options. The VX3600 offers computer, digital media and gaming enthusiasts wide-screen cinema viewing (36 inches diagonal, 16 by 9 aspect ratio) at true digital high-definition resolution (1280 x 768P in 16 million colors).

``The VX3600 establishes a new category of smart displays compared to the many high definition TVs on the market today that are only optimized for TV. Not only is it a display gateway to digital entertainment, it is a display gateway to the PC,'' said Marc McConnaughey, senior vice president, Advanced Products Group, ViewSonic. ``The VX3600 can process, scale and display media streams from up to five sources at once.''

To further augment the viewing experience, the VX3600 offers virtual surround sound with a 100-watt digital audio system, two 25-watt maximum front-firing speakers and a 50-watt maximum bass subwoofer. ViewSonic has also built-in 2.4 Gigahertz wireless technology, which is easier to use than infrared pointing technology. The VX3600 ships with a 2.4GHz remote control and has an optional 2.4GHz multimedia keyboard.

Customer convenience is also enhanced by the VX3600's smaller footprint. At a depth of 18-inches and a weight of less than 95 pounds, the VX3600 is much shorter and lighter than comparable traditional CRT and HDTV projection systems.

Early Adoption of LCoS Technology

The VX3600 features LCoS technology, which does not have spacers between pixels, creating tightly integrated, high-definition images. LCoS is a new category of light modulators that is capable of reaching near film resolutions. For the optimum visual experience, ViewSonic combined a JVC SXGA light modulator along with advanced screen technology -- including a 160-degree wide viewing angle and a precision glass faceplate with anti-reflective coating -- to eliminate hot spots and provide bright and very clear images of video/TV and PC/Windows information.

To realize its vision of helping create the world's first data and video capable light engine architectures, ViewSonic also worked in conjunction with Calif. based Advanced Digital Optics to design one of the first modular, video/data LCoS based, optical light engine subsystems for the VX3600.

``ViewSonic anticipates that the extended PC market will take off in 2002,'' said Jakob Kishon, vice president, Advanced System Technology, ViewSonic. ``Our MegaMonitor category of smart displays is targeted at advanced PC users who want optimum viewing performance -- both in video and PC formats -- from one wide-format, high-resolution display.''

MegaMonitor Extended Capabilities

Future ViewSonic MegaMonitor offerings will include an version based on the MicrosoftWindows XP Embedded operating system, which uses an Intel processor and brings home smart features such as the ability to take various forms of input -- analog TV, digital TV, digital cameras through USB, camcorders through Firewire, and/or PC/Windows input through VGA or DVI -- to not only display images in high resolution, but store them as well as a MPEG format for further processing or viewing at a later time. In addition, ViewSonic will use Microsoft's Mira technology as the basis for yet another version to offer the first large-screen, wide-format wireless monitor that can connect to a DVD player, VCR, Setop Box or game console, while at the same time, connect wirelessly to a Windows PC.

The VX3600 MegaMonitor has an estimated street price of $6,999 and will be available through authorized ViewSonic partners later in the first half of 2002. The Microsoft Windows XP Embedded and Mira versions are not yet priced, but are also expected to ship in the first half of 2002. The VX3600 is covered by a one-year warranty (90 days on the lamp), and includes complete in-home service for the first year. In addition, ViewSonic offers toll-free technical support seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

About ViewSonic

ViewSonic Corporation, a Visual Technologies leader, offers comprehensive display solutions for today's business, Internet, education and home entertainment markets. The company's products have won more than 1,000 awards globally from independent publications and organizations.

Headquartered in Walnut, Calif., ViewSonic was founded in 1987 and is a privately-held corporation with more than $1.3 billion in worldwide annual sales. For further information, please contact ViewSonic Corporation at tel: 800/888-8583 or 909/869-7976; fax: 909/468-3736; or www.ViewSonic.com.

Contact:

     ViewSonic Corporation
     Duane Brozek, 909/444-8746
     brozekd@viewsonic.com
        or
     Text 100 for ViewSonic
     Sarah Tonzi, 716/389-6168
     saraht@text100.com