AST INTRODUCES 486-BASED MULTIMEDIA PC WITH PHOTO CD CAPABILITIES

CES, LAS VEGAS, Nev., January 7, 1993 -- Capitalizing on the success of its
first multimedia system and targeting one of the fastest growing markets
segments of the consumer electronics industry, AST Research Inc. today
introduced the Advantage! Pro 486SX/33 Multimedia personal computer at the
Winter Consumer Electronics Show.

The Advantage! Pro 486SX/33 Multimedia PC blends leading-edge multimedia
technology in an affordable, 486-based computing platform. The system is
pre-configured with a Sony CD-ROM drive, SoundBlaster Pro II audio card
from Creative Labs and a collection of bundled, buyer-selectable CD-ROM
multimedia software titles.

Designed for small-business, home-office and novice mass market computer
buyers, the Advantage! Pro 486SX/33 Multimedia PC is AST's second
multimedia PC. It will replace the Advantage! 386SX/25 Multimedia system.

Improved components for the Advantage! 486SX/33 Multimedia PC include an
enhanced multimedia audio card and an advanced, multisession CD-ROM drive
that can also read and display photo CDs. The CD-ROM's multisession
capabilities allow users to play photo CDs that have been recorded more
than once.

"Users will find the Advantage! Pro 486SX/33 operates multimedia
applications almost three times faster than its 386SX/25 predecessor,"
said Dennis Cox, AST director and general manager, Consumer Products
Group. "Incorporating advanced multimedia components into the system makes
it an excellent choice for operating the growing number of educational,
entertainment and personal productivity programs now on the market. And
the system's photo CD capabilities also provide a vehicle for users to
display the next generation of photography."

The Advantage! Pro 486SX/33 uses a powerful, 33-MHz, 486SX microprocessor
to quickly access the growing list of multimedia programs now on the
market. The system can also be upgraded with faster microprocessors -- up
to a 66-MHz, 486DX2 -- using Intel's OverDrive processor upgrade strategy
to further enhance speed and graphics performance.

Pre-installed multimedia software for the Advantage! Pro 486SX/33
Multimedia PC includes Microsoft Bookshelf, a collection of reference
programs -- including a dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, encyclopedia and
book of quotations -- which utilize multimedia features to combine
full-motion video and stereo sound. In addition, buyers will be able to
select additional multimedia, CD-ROM-based titles from a wide variety of
subject areas. Other software includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Windows
3.1 and MS-DOS 5.0.

Standard hardware for the Advantage! 486SX/33 includes a multimedia audio
card, fast-access CD-ROM drive, 170-MB hard disk drive, 3.5-inch floppy
drive, on-board VGA controller with 512K of memory (upgradeable to 1MB),
Super VGA monitor with 1024 x 768 resolution, dual stereo speakers,
low-profile microphone and mouse.

Each Advantage! Pro 486SX/33 Multimedia PC is covered by one-year, on-site
service and one-year parts and labor warranties. In addition, users can
also access AST's wide variety of support programs. Toll-free technical
consultants are a phone call away Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7
p.m. (PST) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. AST also offers two 24-hour
services -- AST On-Line! bulletin board and AST Info-FAX -- which allow
access via modem or facsimile machine to a broad selection of technical
support documentation.

Corporate Background

Advantage! PC systems are sold nationwide at more than 900 retail
locations, including Circuit City, Computer City, Fretters, Costco, and
Sam's Wholesale Club. Product offerings include the Advantage! Pro desktop
and Advantage! Plus mini-tower systems, effectively allowing consumers a
broad selection of microprocessor platforms ranging from entry-level
25-MHz 386SX PCs, to powerful 66-MHz DX2 models.

Ranked number 431 on the Fortune 500 list of America's largest companies,
AST Research Inc. is an information technology company holding a prominent
market share position for desktop, file server and notebook computers.

AST's product lines include the Power Premium, Bravo, Advantage!, Power
Exec, Premium SE and Manhattan SMP which allow user to choose from a full
range of price and performance options. The company is represented in 100
countries and operates 34 international subsidiaries and sales offices.

The company reported record sales of $286.4 million for the first quarter
of fiscal year 1993, ended Oct. 3, 1992, representing a 70 percent
increase in unit shipments over the comparable prior year quarter. Fiscal
year 1992 revenues were $944.1 million, compared to sales of $688.5
million for fiscal year 1991. AST Research corporate headquarters is
located at 16215 Alton Parkway, P.O. Box 19658, Irvine, Calif. 92713-9658.
Telephone: (714) 727-4141, (800) 876-4278. Fax: (714) 727-9355

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