Quantum Delivers Fastest LTO-2 Half-Height Tape Drive to Minimize Back

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quantum Corp. , a global leader in storage, today announced it has enhanced its Quantum (Certance) LTO-2 Half Height tape drive with robust performance capabilities that are well-suited for entry-level to mid-range automation solutions. The company has not only increased this tape drive's transfer rate to 26 MB/second but also subjected it to even more rigorous reliability testing. Along with other exclusive reliability features and a price of less than $2000, these enhancements make Quantum's LTO-2 HH the fastest, most affordable and highly reliable midrange LTO-2 HH tape drive available in the market.

"We took what was already a market-leading product and made it even better," said Steve Berens, senior director, product marketing and strategy for Quantum's Storage Devices Business Unit. "By boosting the LTO-2 Half-Height tape drive's performance to a 26 MB/second transfer rate and subjecting it to more rigorous reliability testing, we're now able to offer users a product with speed and reliability far beyond what has typically been available in this segment."

Reliability is the reason customers continue to trust tape for meeting their backup, recovery and archive needs. Quantum's first-to-market LTO-2 HH has now been successfully tested at a Mean Cycle Between Failure (MCBF) rate of over 100,000 cycles, an achievement normally associated with more expensive automation-type tape drives.

Providing an opportunity for customers to leverage their previous media investments, Quantum's LTO-2 HH writes to both LTO-2 and LTO-1 media and reads from LTO-2 and LTO-1 media formats. The product is available in 5.25-inch half-height internal, desktop and 1U rackmount configurations, giving users the option of integration into low profile drive bays or servers, as well as rackmount environments.

"End users -- always seeking a fast, reliable and affordable tape drive in a small form factor -- can now keep pace with their exponentially increasing needs by harnessing the power and performance of Quantum's enhanced LTO-2 Half-Height drive at a very reasonable price point and with the compact form factor they want," said industry analyst Bob Abraham of Freeman Reports.

"Customers come to us seeking advice on how to implement long-term information lifecycle strategies that address issues such as business continuity and regulatory compliance," said Shawn Wagner, a storage expert with CDW Corporation. "Quantum's array of products such as the M-Series tape library and LTO-2 Half Height are powerful, flexible tools that help customers cost-effectively store corporate information that is secure and available when needed."

Since introducing LTO-2 HH last fall, Quantum's engineering team has continued to subject it to a series of rigorous reliability tests, and the results have consistently demonstrated increased performance and faster transfer rates. Among the exclusive features designed to make Quantum's LTO-2 HH the most reliable tape drive in its class are the following:

-- MediaShield increases tape drive and media reliability using a compartmentalized drive design of advanced cooling and an exclusive tape roller mechanism that directs the heat away from vital components and the tape path, providing an expected media life twice that of HP or IBM LTO tape media.

-- 13-Speed Transfer maximizes tape streaming and dramatically reduces wear and tear on the drive mechanism and media.

-- Dynamic Powerdown protects the drive and media cartridge in the event of power loss, using a reserve power supply design and firmware ramp-down algorithm that brings the drive to a controlled stop.

-- SmartVerify dramatically increases data integrity.

-- All data that is written to a Quantum LTO drive is verified through a series of four separate error correction checks, twice the number of checks performed by HP or IBM LTO tape drives.

The new level of performance in Quantum's LTO-2 HH is scheduled to be available by the end of the month in shipping drives and through firmware download for existing customers. Customers who buy the tape drive before then will also be able to simply download the firmware once it's available.

NOTE: Quantum and the Quantum logo are trademarks of Quantum Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, without limitation, statements relating to 1) the benefits to customers using Quantum's enhanced LTO-2 HH tape drives and 2) the availability of such drives are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. As a result, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein include, but are not limited to, operational difficulties, unforeseen technological limitations, the ability of competitors to introduce new products that compete more successfully with our products, and unanticipated changes in customers' needs or requirements. More detailed information about these risk factors, and additional risk factors, are set forth in Quantum's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Risk Factors," on pages 38 to 49 in Quantum's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 2, 2005 and pages 38 to 49 in Quantum's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 2004; and those described in any subsequently filed reports. Such reports contain and identify important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statement.

Quantum expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.