FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – August 14, 2000 - Staples.com, a leading e-marketplace for small business, today announced it will offer Personable.com’s Internet-based subscription software and online courses. Through an alliance with Personable.com, the first application service provider (ASP) giving users a virtual Windows 2000 desktop, Staples.com small business customers will have access to the latest versions of many popular software titles without the hassle and expense of buying and managing their own software.

“Personable.com lets small businesses operate like big businesses without the expense and frustration of managing their own networks and performing their own software upgrades,” said J.B. Lyon, vice president for the Staples.com Services Center. “It doesn’t always make sense for companies to buy software, and before Personable.com, there were few options for small businesses. For growing small offices, seasonal businesses or temporary help, renting software can really slash the cost and hassle of running a business.”

Personable.com provides a virtual desktop that allows customers to select and rent from more than 300 software applications and online courses on an as-needed basis. Personable.com’s “pay as you go” model provides online customers with Web-based access to numerous software titles for as low as $6.95 per month and includes automatic upgrades at no extra cost. In addition, there is a selection of Freeware available at no charge to registered users.

“Small and medium-sized companies are at the heart of what we do and those are the businesses that shop Staples.com on a regular basis,” said Benjamin Chou, chief executive officer for Personable.com. “Through this arrangement, we can reach these potential subscribers and offer our unique blend of programs and services.”

With this new service, small business owners no longer have to worry about managing software installation and upgrades, systems maintenance and daily file back-ups. Personable.com features both individual and corporate accounts, giving subscribers a virtual Microsoft Windows platform from which to access a full library of programs and services. In addition, small- to mid-sized businesses can set up virtual networks through Personable.com where employees can share programs and files regardless of location.

Other rentable applications available through Staples.com’s alliance with Personable.com include:

• E-learning applications that enable small businesses to offer significant training packages to employees without heavy administrative or financial burdens.
• EasySoft Inc.’s nationwide legal software, a suite of powerful tools that will assist subscribers with a variety of legal matters.
• ACT! 2000, a contact management application for managing and growing business relationships.

About Staples.com

Staples.com, a division of Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), is creating a business-to-business electronic marketplace offering a comprehensive solution for the office needs of business customers. Staples.com currently provides an electronic marketplace where small, mid-sized and large businesses can procure office products and business services to obtain business information and expert content. Staples.com includes the operations of Staples Inc.'s e-commerce sites: Staples.com, Quill.com and StaplesLink.com as well as its Canadian e-commerce business.

About Personable.com

Personable.com is the first true consumer ASP providing maintenance, accessibility and ease of use to a full spectrum of shrink-wrapped applications online for individuals and small- to mid-sized enterprises on a subscription basis. Personable.com’s mission is to offer virtually limitless application computing power anytime, anywhere. Visit www.personable.com for additional information.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Staples, Inc.’s business which are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report or Form 10-Q for the most recently ended quarter.

For further press information, please contact:

Richard Manfredi
NMC Partners
562.436.4787
rmanfredi@nmcpartners.com