BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2004-- Planar Continues to Drive Affordability and Availability of Industry-Leading Dome Flat-Panel Displays, Enabling Healthcare Professionals to Easily Upgrade from Outdated CRTs
Planar Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:PLNR), a worldwide leader in flat-panel display systems, is helping healthcare facilities to easily upgrade from cathode-ray tube (CRT) diagnostic imaging monitors to Planar’s Dome(TM) CX line with the “Fat to Flat” trade-in program. From April 19 to July 16, 2004, hospitals that trade in their current 2-megapixel or higher grayscale analog display controllers, regardless of make and model, will receive special incentive pricing on the purchase of dual sets of Dome C3 3-megapixel and Dome C5i 5-megapixel grayscale flat-panel displays. At a price point below $10,000, a dual set of Dome C3 displays purchased as part of this promotion is less than the average cost of two high-end CRTs and an analog display controller.
“According to our Medical Displays Market Opportunity Study projection, by 2006 the worldwide market for high-resolution, grayscale CRT medical displays will be virtually non-existent,” said Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor research at iSuppli/Stanford Resources. “With current and future medical display development focused almost exclusively on flat panel alternatives, LCD monitors are the smart choice for healthcare organizations currently considering investments in diagnostic imaging systems.”
Over the past several years, the healthcare market for flat-panel liquid crystal displays (LCDs) has grown steadily, as end-users realize the benefits of using LCDs over traditional CRT displays for medical imaging applications. CRT monitors degrade over time and require constant inspection and adjustments to maintain optimum display quality, costing healthcare organizations time and money. In contrast, Planar’s Dome CX line of LCD monitors can be automatically calibrated to stay in conformance with Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards and be managed remotely by IT and quality assurance departments, reducing the total cost of ownership of the displays.
“Planar’s ‘Fat to Flat’ program is a unique promotion that will allow us to offer our customers the most compelling reason to upgrade from CRT monitors,” said Gerry McGinley, medical business unit manager for Richardson Electronics’ Display Systems Group, a major reseller of Planar products. “The price of high-resolution LCD flat-panel displays has historically been a barrier to entry for many healthcare organizations. This program offers hospitals the incentive they need to acquire the high-quality Planar display technology that will deliver performance for years to come.”
“Planar is driving the healthcare industry’s migration towards LCD technology, which is ultimately more cost-effective than CRT technology and will lead to improved patient care,” said Steve Flieder, vice president and general manager of Planar’s medical business. “With this promotion, in conjunction with the recent price reductions to our Dome line, Planar continues to make it easier than ever for healthcare facilities to purchase the best display solutions available.”
Available in 2-, 3- and 5-megapixel resolution, grayscale and full-color, diagnostic- and referral-grade, Planar’s Dome CX family is a line of flat-panel displays that enables the review of radiological images throughout the healthcare enterprise. In addition, Planar’s Dome CXtra(TM) software guarantees uniform image quality throughout the monitors’ lifespans with no intervention, and allows quality assurance professionals to manage and monitor all the displays from one centralized location.
Planar offers the industry’s most complete suite of display products to meet the needs of healthcare customers. For more information, please visit www.planar.com.
Eligibility and Guidelines
The Planar “Fat to Flat” Trade-in Promotion program is open to end-user customers worldwide. End-users and hospital personnel, including IT managers, radiologists, physicians and PACS administrators, can register for the “Fat to Flat” promotion at www.cxdisplays.com to qualify their existing display controllers and receive purchasing information with participating resellers. Resellers, OEMs and service organizations are not eligible to participate in this program for stocking purposes. Program is void where prohibited by law or company policy. There is no limit of claims per end-user company. This promotion cannot be combined with any other Planar discount or incentive program. Eligible customers have 30 days after the program end date to redeem their certificates with a participating reseller. Any certificates presented for redemption after August 16, 2004, will not be eligible for promotional pricing.
About Planar
Planar Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:PLNR) is one of the world’s most accomplished providers of flat-panel displays with more than 20 years expertise in flat-panel innovation. The company provides the most dependable display solutions for demanding applications in industrial, medical, commercial and consumer markets. Planar’s customers depend on its award-winning displays in mission-critical moments, from making split-second medical decisions to catching late-breaking headlines. Founded in 1983, Planar is a global company with headquarters in Oregon. For more information, please visit www.planar.com.
Contacts
Planar Systems, Inc. Linda Ferguson, 503-748-7280 (Media Contact) linda_ferguson@planar.com Stewart Clark, 503-748-6984 (Investor Contact) stewart_clark@planar.com or
Golin/Harris International Keith Wiley, 213-438-8823 (Media Contact) kwiley@golinharris.com