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Stacker Note                                                  Stacker Note


STAC FAX Index # 1104


  Anounces First Full-Featured, Integrated Data Compression for MS-DOS 6.0

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CARLSBAD, Calif., March 30, 1993 - Stac Electronics (NASDAQ:STAC), 

the leading supplier of high performance data compression, today announced 

Stacker®  3.1 for Windows & DOS The latest version of Stacs award-winning 

compression software achieves new levels of safety and ease of use by taking 

advantage of special operating system features available for the first  time 

in Microsoft's new MS-DOS® 6.0.  

Stacker 3.1 replaces DoubleSpace, and seamlessly integrates the Stacker LZS  

compression into the MS-DOS 6.0 operating system.  Unlike DoubleSpace, which 

is based on data compression technology which Microsoft licensed from 

Vertisoft Sytems, Stacker 3.1 is also fully compatible with earlier versions 

of MS-DOS. With MS-DOS 6.0, Stacker 3.1 drivers are pre-loaded, no longer 

requiring the Stacker commands in the CONFIG.SYS file.  This eliminates any 

risk of accidental deletion by the user.  With Stacker 3.1, all DOS commands 

work directly on Stacker drives, without modification:  For example, the DIR 

and CHKDSK commands can be used directly on Stacker drives.

"The fully integrated Stacker 3.1 removes the one advantage that DoubleSpace 

had over Stacker 3.0," said Gary Clow, founder and CEO of Stac Electronics.  

Stacker 3.1 for Windows and DOS, based on the patented Stacker LZS technology 

relied upon daily by more than four million users worldwide, is the latest 

addition to the Stacker family of data compression products for the DOS, 

Windows, Macintosh® and OS/2® environments. Stacker was the first data 

compression product to satisfy all requirements users consistently demand 

in data compression software:

  o  Speed:   Must work in real time, compressing and decompressing files 
	      on-the-fly.

  o  Space:   Must double the computer system’s storage capacity.

  o  Support: Must be compatible with all hardware systems and peripherals. 
	      Must be compatible with all applications and utilities.  
	      Must be compatible with all versions of Windows and DOS.

  o  Safety:  Must preserve the integrity of all data. 
	      Must be able to recover data in the case of system failure.

When used in conjunction with DOS 6.0, Stacker 3.1 achieves the same level 

of integration into the operating system as DoubleSpace, Microsofts 

first-generation compression product.  In addition to its superior 

compression and performance over DoubleSpace,  Stacker 3.1 also 
provides the additional Windows functionality and disk optimization 

features that have made its predecessor, Stacker 3.0 for Windows and 
DOS, the No. 1 selling utility, according to PC/Computing, 
April, 1993 - surpassing even Windows 3.1 and DOS 5.0.  These features, 
which evolved over three generations of product development in response 
to user needs, include:

  o The Windows Stackometer :  Graphical gauges that allow Windows users to 
    monitor disk capacity, compression ratio and fragmentation levels 
    continuously, in real time. DOS users are provided similar tools for 
    monitoring these critical parameters.

  o Flexible Setup:  Facilitates easy installation of Stacker 3.1 from either 
    Windows or DOS. Express Setup allows automatic installation with a few 
    keystrokes or mouse-clicks; Custom Setup allows users to tailor Stacker 
    for optimal system performance.
  
  o Compression Tuning:  Allows users to optimize their systems for speed or 
    compression ratio.  Users of fast machines may opt for maximum 
    compression, while those with slower machines might opt for maximum 
    speed, which trades off some compression efficiency for faster performance.

  o Stacker Anywhere :  Allows users to read and write to Stacker floppies, 
    Bernoulli disks, Syquest cartridges, Flopticals or any removable media 
    on any PC, even one where Stacker is not installed. With Stacker 
    Automount, Stacker removables are immediately available for use.

  o Two-gigabyte drives:  Supports Stacker drives up to 1 gigabyte in size, 
    yielding 2-gigabyte Stacker drives.

  o Stacker Optimizer :  Defragments data quickly and offers a visual 
    representation of the defragmentation process.  A quick defragmentation 
    option speeds the process even further.  Or, users can choose a full 
    defragmentation, achieving the highest compression available.

  o Unstack:  Automatically returns a Stacker disk system to its original 
    state.
  
  o Stacker AutoProtect :  Detects disk errors dynamically and at boot time 
    and immediately protects your Stacker volume.

  o Stacker AutoRecovery:  Automatically repairs errors on the disk.

  o Stacker Security :  Password-protects Stacker drives for read-only or 
    read/write access.

  o Stacker Preview :  Allows users to see how much disk space they can 
    gain by installing Stacker.

Price and Availability Stacker 3.1 for Windows and DOS will be available 

within 30 to 60 days of the release of  MS-DOS 6.0.  Stacker will be 

available through retail channels at the suggested retail price of $149.  

An upgrade for all registered users of Stacker 3.0 for Windows and DOS will 

be available in the same tiime frame, directly from Stac for $19.95 plus the 

cost of shipping and handling.  

Stacker 3.0 units sold after March 30, 1993, will qualify for a free upgrade 

with proof of purchase.

The Company

Stac Electronics is the leading supplier of high performance data compression 

products for personal computers.  Implemented in software and silicon, 

Stacs products are sold direct from the company and through retail and 

OEM sales distribution channels worldwide.





















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Copyright 1993, Stac Electronics