Other Operations

The plasma TV, which uses a color PDP, will be a vital human multimedia interface in the homes of the 21st century. It represents an extremely important core technology for NEC's multimedia business.

Sales from other operations increased 13 percent, to Y220.2 billion ($1,776 million), or 4 percent of net sales. Sales from other operations include those of such consumer electronics products as TVs, lighting products, and home appliances as well as LCD projectors and vendor-only products. During the period under review, sales of LCD projectors rose significantly.

Developments by Product Line

During fiscal 1997, NEC focused its efforts on developing multimedia products.
      In February 1997, NEC launched the Plasma X in Japan, a 42-inch-wide plasma TV, which is the first in the industry with a picture quality rivaling that of CRTs. Thanks to NEC's newly developed technologies, this product renders authentic and pure colors with a precision superior to CRTs. The Plasma X has a thickness of less than 10 centimeters, representing a significant step in transforming the concept of a wall-hanging TV from a dream into a reality.
      LCD projectors contribute a great deal to the enhancement of the efficiency and the quality of education through multimedia presentation. In fiscal 1997, NEC won a contract from the National Computer Board of Singapore to supply all of Singapore's 200 elementary schools with approximately 400 MultiSync MT600 LCD projectors for use with PCs. NEC is the first company to provide LCD projectors for the elementary schools of an entire Southeast Asian country. During the period under review, NEC also marketed the MultiSync MT800, a high-end model featuring 800 x 600 pixel resolution.

In July 1996, Computer Reseller News, a U.S. computer industry publication, chose the MultiSync MT600 for its CRN Test Center Editor's Choice Award.