Toshiba Breaks 100-Gbyte, 1.8-Inch Hard-Drive Barrier

Users of mobile PCs and PDAs will be able to store more music, video, and other files now that Toshiba has broken the 100-Gbyte barrier for 1.8-inch hard drives. The firm's new MK1011GAH device uses perpendicular magnetic recording technology to achieve the high-density product.

Announced Tuesday, the drive is targeted for use with lightweight PCs and devices with 8-Mbyte caches to support storage of multiple data sources such as video and movies. The drive's footprint is 10% smaller than Toshiba's first generation 1.8-inch drives.

The 2-platter, 4-head device has an average seek time of 15msec and a rotational speed of 4,200 rpm. Much of the technology in the new drive was successfully used in Toshiba's 200-Gbyte 2.5-inch drive.

Toshiba cited market research numbers that state it commands an 80% market share of the 1.8-inch hard-drive segment. The drive will be available for shipping to OEMs for integration in mobile PCs in early January.