Apogee Introduces Improved and Expanded CD-R Product Line

January 28, 1999 -- Apogee Electronics Corporation is pleased to announce a comprehensive, expanded line of Recordable-CD media including both gold and silver CD-R's, both of which employ Apogee's robust phthalocyanine dye for maximum archive capability.

New to the line is Apogee Silver Reference Master CD-R, with a pure silver reflective layer and gold phthalocyanine dye, offering maximum reflectivity, maximum output and excellent read and write compatibility on all CD-R drives, including older-model writers. It also includes the new DataSaver II protective resin layer (see below).

The existing Apogee Gold Archive CD-R product has been improved with the addition of the new DataSaver II protective resin coating. Apogee Gold Archive CD-R is the ultimate archival CD-R master medium, with a combination of phthalocyanine dye and gold reflective layer. The product has gained a large and loyal international following, and a reputation as offering the best performance and archival stability of any CD-R on the market, since its launch in 1996.

Apogee has taken a "no compromise" position with all its discs, including both the industry standard lacquer layer and the unique new DataSaver II resin layer. DataSaver II is an advance over the previous DataSaver resin coating for protecting the surface of the disc. It offers the same rugged protection from solvents, labeling and handling, while delivering perceived user benefits in the form of a shiny surface optimized for thermal transfer (Rimage etc.) printing and other approved labeling techniques.

A vitally important, but previously under-publicized fact is that the data on a CD-R can easily be destroyed by printing on or cleaning a disc that does not have the additional level of protection afforded by the DataSaver layer. "It is disturbing that there are still many manufacturers who skimp on properly coating the disc, for a tiny reduction in costs," says Apogee's Media products Manager, Richard Wilson.

"There has been a great misconception that all CD-R media are the same," Wilson went on, "yet users are increasingly becoming only too painfully aware of the pitfalls and expense of redoing masters due to inferior CD-R media purchased purely on the basis of the lowest price.

Both Gold and Silver Apogee CD-R discs are available either branded or unbranded in jewel case or unbranded in bulk.

The Apogee media products line is the subject of a forthcoming major US and international advertising campaign.

For more information, visit www.apogeedigital.com.