New OfficeReady Software Family Saves Time in Small and Home Offices

COSTA MESA, Calif., (September 13, 1999) -- Canon Software Publishing (CSP), a division of Canon Computer Systems, Inc., today announced two new versions of its OfficeReady software -OfficeReady Professional and OfficeReady 2.0. Both programs complement Microsoft Office by providing users with professionally-designed, ready-to-use templates and added functionality for Word, Excel and PowerPoint. OfficeReady products are compatible with both Office 97 and Office 2000 applications.

In the first half of 1999, OfficeReady achieved a 94% unit market share for Microsoft Office add-on products according to PC Data. By adding new features and templates, CSP will continue to help Office users take advantage of the complex features and functions in the popular business suite.

Designed for small office/home office (SOHO) businesspeople, OfficeReady software saves users time and produces professional-looking documents. For virtually every user's need, OfficeReady supplies a ready-to-use template. With pre-matched color schemes and fonts, OfficeReady takes the hassle out of designing elaborate Office documents. Because of the coordinated schemes, the production of matching reports, marketing materials and spreadsheets is simple. Categories of templates include company identity, business forms, marketing materials, reports, awards and certificates, correspondence and job search materials.

"OfficeReady products remove the frustrations people often encounter while creating complex Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents," said Kevin Reilly, senior manager of marketing at CSP. "By automating many advanced features in Microsoft Office and adding professional styling and color schemes, anyone can generate top quality work in minutes."

OfficeReady Professional boasts over 1000 templates for Word, Excel and PowerPoint allowing SOHO users to increase work productivity and enhance work presentation. OfficeReady Professional automatically loads with the selected Office Application (Word, Excel or PowerPoint) and is accessible through an easy-to-use on-screen toolbar which makes many complex functions in Word, Excel and PowerPoint, such as page borders, watermarks and Word Art, easier to use.

New in OfficeReady
In the new versions of OfficeReady, Canon has added features to make Microsoft Office even easier to use. Finding the appropriate template is faster with OfficeReady's new Template Browser. A user looking for an expense report form, for example, can perform a keyword search in the browser and be immediately presented with the appropriate template options. Users do not need to know they want an Excel template; the Template Browser searches the entire selection of templates from one window. OfficeReady has also added a toolbar in PowerPoint that includes a Slide Master Wizard. The new Slide Master Wizard is a simple way to add common elements to PowerPoint documents including logos, dates, page numbers and even watermarks. OfficeReady has added matched PowerPoint templates for on-screen and printed presentations; users choose a template designed for on-screen viewing and, when ready to print handouts, chose the print version of the same design which is toned down and optimized for printing.

Photo Templates
OfficeReady Professional specifically attacks the roadblocks to using digital photos in Word documents. OfficeReady Professional also includes over 200 special Word templates containing Photo Sockets, placeholders for digital images, to make artwork easier to use in the word processing program.

By simply clicking on a Photo Socket, users will be able to insert the photo of their choice from a scanner, digital camera, CD-ROM, hard drive or the clipboard. Users may alter the size and shape of the digital photo to fit into the socket by cropping or stretching the image; users can also rotate and flip photos.

Before completing insertion of a photo into Word, users may also edit a number of attributes. OfficeReady Professional increases productivity by giving photo-editing power to the user from within Word rather than requiring a separate program and interface. An AutoCorrect button provides one-click photo optimization by instantly adjusting technical photo elements including the image's white and black points, dynamic range and color balance to improve the overall quality of the photo. Manual controls are available to adjust the brightness, contrast, color intensity and sharpness of a digital image. OfficeReady Professional can also convert digital photos to grayscale images for black and white printing. Additionally, OfficeReady Professional can frame or add a drop shadow to a photo within the Word document. SOHO users who often use photos in Word can create effective marketing, promotional or information materials faster using OfficeReady Professional.

Canon Web Publisher
Using Canon Web Publisher in OfficeReady Professional, users can quickly send finished OfficeReady documents and templates to a personal home page or as an e-mail attachment.* Canon provides each user with 5 MB of free, private, personal Web space. Canon Web Publisher also gives the user the ability to set up an address book with names and email addresses. The program will automatically inform the selected names on the address book that an item is available for them to see and give them the URL to connect to the document.

Word, Excel and PowerPoint Templates
OfficeReady Professional adds new categories of templates to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint programs. Designed with the SOHO professional in mind, OfficeReady Professional creates professionally-designed reports, stationery, business plans, marketing materials, resumes and meeting materials with impact.

The current selection of color schemes found in Office programs is limited because they were designed with "monochrome" printing in mind. By using the high-quality template designs found in OfficeReady Professional, users can create new looks and color schemes that provide an intelligent use of color for conservative color output in Word, Excel or PowerPoint programs. Powerful pre-designed Excel macros allow users to calculate business and personal finances with templates for everything from financial statements to car buy-versus-lease analyses.

OfficeReady Professional provides users with documents that "stand out" from the competition. By using OfficeReady Professional, Word or Excel memos, correspondence, spreadsheets and documents will attract the attention of the recipient. OfficeReady Professional provides five different "looks" for documents including Professional, Contemporary, Elegant, Casual, and Black and White. Additionally, users may use OfficeReady Professional to insert watermarks and borders.

OfficeReady 2.0
OfficeReady 2.0 contains approximately 650 of the Word, Excel and PowerPoint templates from OfficeReady Professional and meets the needs of a SOHO user who does not regularly work with digital photos or does not need to share documents with co-workers over the Internet. OfficeReady 2.0 also provides the same accessible on-screen toolbars and Template Browser found in OfficeReady Professional. Canon Web Publisher and photo templates are only available in OfficeReady Professional.

Pricing & Availability
OfficeReady Professional will be available in September 1999 through major retail chains for an estimated street price of $69.95*. A $20 mail-in rebate, which will be valid for 30-days after product purchase, will be available on OfficeReady Professional. OfficeReady 2.0 will be available in October 1999 for an estimated street price of $39.95*.

System Requirements
Minimum system requirements for running OfficeReady Professional and OfficeReady 2.0 include an IBM-compatible PC with a Pentium processor or better, 120 MHz or faster; Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 operating system; Microsoft Office 97 or Office 2000; a CD-ROM drive; a minimum of 32 MB of RAM; 15 MB of free hard disk space (150 MB recommended); an SVGA/256 color display; and a mouse or other pointing device. OfficeReady products work with most PC-compatible inkjet, Bubble Jet or laser printers.

Customer Service and Customer Technical Support
Canon Software Publishing offers a full range of customer technical support* options: e-mail and Web Site (FAQ's) via the CSP Web site at www.software.canon.com. For 24 hour, 7 day-a-week technical support, a customer can call (757) 413-2855 for fax-back support or to talk with a customer care technician (8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday - Friday, EST). Regular customer support is free for the first 30 days. After 30 days, paid support is available.

About Canon Software Publishing
Canon Software Publishing (CSP) is a division of Canon Computer Systems Inc., which is a subsidiary of both Canon U.S.A. Inc. (Lake Success, NY) and Canon Inc. (Tokyo, Japan). The division, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., was founded in 1998 to develop, publish and distribute computer software primarily in North and South America. CSP publishes titles from both independent third-party developers and associated Canon companies. Canon is recognized as the world's leading imaging technology company, a leader in printer technology and a top worldwide patent holder. As a global technology leader, Canon achieved $24 billion in worldwide sales in 1998.

*Internet access must be purchased separately and may require a payment of a monthly fee. Currently items will be posted for 30 days at no charge.
*Prices are estimates only. Dealer prices may vary and are subject to change at any time.
Canon and Bubble Jet are trademarks of Canon Inc. OfficeReady is a trademark of Canon Computer Systems, Inc. All other products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Product specifications and features subject to change without notice.
*Support program specifics subject to change.