P R E S S   R E L E A S E

Cahners In-Stat/MDR Announces IBM and Microsoft as Recipients of Microprocessor Analysts' Choice Awards

San Jose, Calif., January 30, 2002 - Cahners In-Stat/MDR (MicroDesign Resources), publisher of the Microprocessor Report, announces today, the first two winners of its fourth annual Analysts' Choice Awards, honoring the best new microprocessor chips and most promising new microprocessor technology unveiled in 2001. In-Stat/MDR's Analysts' Choice Awards, awarded this year in nine categories, recognize excellence in semiconductor technology innovation, design and implementation. The awards will be formally presented during the week of the Embedded Processor Forum (http://www.mdronline.com/epf), April 29 - May 2 in San Jose.

The first two winners (in alphabetical order) in the following categories are:

IBM (NYSE:IBM) - Best Workstation/Server Processor of 2001

Microsoft (NasdaqNM:MSFT) - Best Gaming Chip Set of 2001

"IBM was chosen for the production of its industry-leading benchmark scores and clock frequencies (for 64-bit processors)," according to Kevin Krewell, a senior analyst with the high-tech research firm. "The company actually met shipment schedules publicized two years ago and generally lived up to the promise shown when we gave the Power4 a Best New Technology award two years ago. It is an honor to recognize IBM's Power4 as the Analysts' choice for Best Workstation/Server Processor of 2001."

"Microsoft's introduction of the Xbox in November set a new standard for video game console features, quality and performance. The console was the first to ship with an internal hard disk as standard equipment, and its unified-memory system architecture gave the system capabilities unmatched by the competition, such as full-time antialiased graphics and support for high-definition video output," says Peter N. Glaskowsky, also a senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "We congratulate Microsoft and its partners, Intel and NVIDIA, for demonstrating excellence in semiconductor technology innovation, design and implementation."

Each year, Microprocessor Report analysts review and evaluate more than 100 microprocessors, digital-signal processors, and application-specific digital machines. To view a complete listing of the year's nominees in each of the nine categories please visit the MDR Web site at http://www.mdronline.com.

Cahners In-Stat/MDR (http://www.MDRonline.com) offers a broad range of information resources and analytical assets to technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals, and market specialists worldwide. The company stands alone in its ability to integrate both supply-side and demand-side research methodologies into a single comprehensive view of technology markets and products. This capability relies on a unique ability to cover the entire value chain from engineering-level technology, through equipment, infrastructure, services and end-users.

For more information, contact:

Kevin Krewell, Senior Analyst - In-Stat/MDR
Phone: 408.345.1624
Email: kkrewell@mdr.cahners.com

Peter N. Glaskowsky, Senior Analyst - In-Stat/MDR
Phone: 408.345.1634
Email: png@mdr.cahners.com