LONG BEACH, Calif.--May 2, 2001--Epson America Inc. today announced that it has reduced the price of five of its award-winning scanners and one of its hottest photo printers.      The EPSON Perfection 1640SU series, the EPSON Perfection 1240U series and the EPSON Stylus Photo 780 now offer superior scanning and printing with even more compelling prices.      The EPSON Perfection 1640SU models are available in three configurations: the Perfection 1640SU, Perfection 1640SU PHOTO and Perfection 1640SU OFFICE. These scanners are ideal for a variety of customers ranging from entry-level graphic artists to advanced photography enthusiasts.      The Perfection 1640SU, 1640SU PHOTO and 1640SU OFFICE were previously priced at $299, $399 and $499, respectively. With the reductions, these scanners now carry estimated street prices of $249, $369 and $449.      The EPSON Perfection 1240U models provide versatility with two configurations: the Perfection 1240U and the Perfection 1240U PHOTO. These scanners are ideal for SOHO and advanced home environments with the flexible option of a transparency unit (TPU). The Perfection 1240U and 1240U PHOTO models are now $179 and $269, reduced from their estimated street prices of $199 and $299, respectively.      The EPSON Stylus Photo 780, Epson's first six-color photo printer priced under $200, is specially designed for at-home photo printing and offers the most flexible and easy-to-use solution for true photo quality and performance at an affordable price. It is ideal for families who want the ultimate photo image quality for printing, sharing and displaying their pictures.      Previously priced at $199(a), this printer now carries an estimated street price of $149.     "Epson has built its award-winning reputation in the scanner and printer markets by achieving an unmatched combination of superior technology, flexibility, ease of use and value," said Keith Kratzberg, director of product marketing, photo imaging, Epson. "With these price reductions, we're continuing our commitment to our customers by offering an even greater variety of cost-effective choices without compromising quality." The EPSON Perfection 1640SU models feature true 1600 dpi optical resolution, 42-bit color depth and a maximum hardware resolution of 1600 x 3200 dpi using Epson's advanced Micro Step Drive(TM) technology. This scanner is the perfect alternative to more expensive, high-end scanners with its wide range of features and the latest innovations in scanning technology.      With both USB plug and play installation and ultra-fast SCSI connectivity, the Perfection 1640SU scanners can easily be set up on a variety of systems and work with both Windows and Macintosh.      The Perfection 1640SU is available in three models: EPSON Perfection 1640SU -- This model includes powerful software applications for specialized projects and presentations and is ideal for home, office or school environments. EPSON Perfection 1640SU PHOTO -- For maximum versatility right out of the box, this model comes with a transparency unit (TPU) making scanning film, negatives, transparencies or slides simple and convenient. This model is ideal for entry-level graphic artists. EPSON Perfection 1640SU OFFICE -- With a speedy 30-page, 5.5 ppm automatic document feeder (ADF), this scanner provides the ultimate in productivity, which is ideal for corporate and small business environments.