Rorke Data Launches ImageSAN™, a Low-cost SAN Management Application; Product Roll-out Aimed at Post-Production & Broadcast Markets

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rorke Data, Inc., a subsidiary of San Jose-based Bell Microproducts, Inc. (Nasdaq: BELM - News), and a leader in SAN, RAID, and Archive storage solutions for the digital Post- Production, Broadcast, and Prepress industries, announced today it has developed and launched ImageSAN. ImageSAN is a file-level SAN management software application developed specifically for digital content and rich media application environments, in which large-sized data files are the norm, and collaborative workgroups drive the workflow.

As opposed to traditional MIS environments, ImageSAN was developed by Rorke Data as a cost-effective SAN product that targets small to medium workgroups common in digital video post, effects, medical, and pre-press application environments. ImageSAN, developed specifically for the rich media and content markets, is designed to modify and leverage workflow specific to content creation, distribution, and output. "The ImageSAN product can easily scale in order to meet the demands of large facilities, as well," noted Joe Rorke, Vice President of Marketing for Rorke Data. "Still, our unique design allows workgroups all of the benefits of SAN-based workflow at much lower start-price. We avoid the need and added costs for extraneous meta-data servers required by the competition, and our application also has a lower list price; so a typical 5 or 6 seat ImageSAN deployment can result in a savings of over $30,000."

"For over 15 years Rorke Data has collaborated with digital content application OEMs, resellers and end users. We have acquired a deep understanding of the relationships between data storage, networks, and a given users workflow," said Bob Herzan, Vice President of Sales. "OEM partners as diverse as Matrox, Sony, Pinnacle, Drastic, Inscriber, are all engaged in the process of approving the product. We will showcase the product at several of these partners' booths at both the Beijing, China-based BIRTV trade event (August 22nd-25th), as well as introduce the Mac OSX version this September at IBC."

"We recommend the ImageSAN software to our post-production and broadcast customers. Its attractive entry-level price point lets even small workgroups benefit from streamlined SAN-based workflow, yet the product also scales to meet the needs of large facilities for redundancy and fail-over capabilities," said Lee Kaburis, product manager, Matrox Video Products Group. "Our users and resellers particularly appreciate ImageSAN's open concept that provides compatibility with other storage products."

As of July 15, 2002, ImageSAN is now available exclusively through Rorke Data and its Authorized Resellers. The MSRP is $1500 USD/user license, and is currently compatible with Microsoft's Windows2000, XP, and NT operating systems. A Macintosh OSX version will be introduced at or before IBC 2002 in Amsterdam this September 13th-17th at Hall 7, Stand #535.

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About Rorke Data
Rorke Data is a full digital storage solutions provider with expertise in Fibre-Channel RAID, SAN, DVD, tape and optical libraries, Unix, NT and Mac environments, high bandwidth networks, and engineering and maintenance services. Founded in 1985, Rorke Data is a subsidiary of Bell Microproducts, San Jose, CA, and is composed of four divisions: Medical Diagnostic Imaging, Digital Video & Broadcast, Digital Prepress & Publishing, as well as a Technical Services division. More information about Rorke Data can be found at http://www.rorke.com/ . Rorke Data is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Microproducts, Inc.

About Bell Microproducts
Bell Microproducts is an international value-added provider of a wide range of high technology products, solutions, and services to the industrial and commercial marketplace. The company's offering includes semiconductors, computer platforms, peripherals, and storage products of various types including desktop, high-end computer and storage subsystems, Fibre-Channel connectivity products, RAID, NAS and SAN storage systems and back-up products. Bell Microproducts is an industry-recognized specialist in storage products and is one of the world's largest storage-centric value-added distributors.

The company's products are available at any level of integration from components, to subsystem assemblies, to fully integrated, tested and certified system solutions. The company adds value with a broad range of services including testing, software loading, kitting, mass storage system integration, and computer system integration. Trained and certified technical personnel complete each of these processes at Bell Microproducts' ISO 9002 facilities. Bell Microproducts markets and distributes more than 150 brand name product lines, as well as its own BellStor storage and TradeMark computer brands, to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contract electronic manufacturing services (EMS) customers, value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators in the Americas and Europe. More information can be found in SEC filings, or by visiting the Bell Microproducts website at http://www.bellmicro.com/ .

About Matrox
Matrox Video Products Group is a technology and market leader in the field of digital video hardware and software for realtime editing, DVD authoring, and web streaming applications. Matrox's Emmy award-winning technology powers a full range of content creation and delivery platforms used by television broadcasters, post-production facilities, project studios, corporate communicators, event videographers, and video enthusiasts worldwide. Founded in 1976, Matrox is a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Hong Kong. For more information visit www.matrox.com/video .

Safe Harbor Statement
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current views of future events and financial performance, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or facts to differ materially from such statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: the ability to successfully integrate the operations of recent acquisitions, industry conditions, changes in product supply, pricing, and customer demand, competition, other vagaries in the computer and electronic components markets, changes in relationships with key suppliers, foreign currency fluctuations and the other risks described from time to time in the Company's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K). Investors should take such risks into account when making investment decisions. Shareholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

For more information, contact: Rorke Data, Inc., 7626 Golden Triangle Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344; 800/328-8147 or 952/829-0300; fax: 952/829-0988; website: www.rorke.com.