NEC SETS NEW STANDARD FOR AFFORDABILITY IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY WITH INDUSTRY’S MOST FULL-FEATURED 61” PLASMA DISPLAY

CHICAGO, IL -- January 8, 2004: NEC Solutions (America), Inc, a leading manufacturer of plasma displays and projectors, today set a new industry standard for affordability in high-performance display technology with a significant price reduction on its PlasmaSync 61XM2, which offers breathtaking image quality and a vast 61” screen size at a new price of $16,495.

“The new PlasmaSync 61XM2 price demonstrates NEC Solutions’ commitment to making high-performance display technology more affordable to a wider range of end users,” said Ron Gillies, senior vice president for NEC Solutions America, Visual Systems Division. “And with increased customer demand for larger screen sizes, the 61XM2 continues to offer a brilliant, larger-than-life image from a high quality, full-featured display reinforcing NEC’s reputation for quality and reliability*.”

The PlasmaSync® 61XM2 uses several exclusive technologies to attain stunning image quality for conference room, broadcast and other multimedia applications. NEC’s Digital AccuDevice displays data with less noise and artifacts. Capsulated Color Filter™ technology offers realistic color reproduction and AccuCrimson™ technology creates the purest reds possible in any plasma display available today. NEC’s MASS technology eliminates jagged lines and corrects color bleeds for clear and defined images. Significantly enhanced scan conversion technology ensures greater text clarity with even the smallest font sizes, and 3/2 pulldown enhances the appearance of content originally produced in film.

“NEC’s 61XM2 was redesigned from the ground up for even greater image quality over the previous generation,” said Keith Yanke, product manager for NEC Solutions America, Visual Systems Division. “This includes a wealth of new features that make it the most full-featured, versatile 61-inch product available.”

With a high-definition capable XGA native resolution panel and a progressive scan driving method, the 61XM2 displays sharp, crisp images that are stable and flicker-free. Versatility is ensured thanks to Advanced AccuBlend™ scaling technology for precise display of 4:3 and 16:9 content from VGA to UXGA resolutions. Color tune technology allows for individual color adjustments without altering the white balance, and gamma technology gives control over even the darkest of images with over 4,000 adjustable shades of gray.

The 61XM2 can be configured in a 2 x 2 or a 3 x 3 matrix without an external processor for a larger-than-life display with even greater impact, and comes equipped with 9W x 9W stereo audio (8W x 8W for the 42XM2) and a programmable timer that allows the display to virtually operate itself. With low power consumption, the most phosphor protection modes of any plasma line and the ability to operate in high altitude environments up to 9,180 feet, the display also gives users low operating costs and greater durability for nearly any application.

A virtually silent operating noise of 22dB ensures quiet operation anywhere. Sleek and light enough to be wall-mounted, the 61XM2 can additionally operate in either portrait or landscape orientation for tremendous installation flexibility.