Gizmodo
The bitch about using 1.8" drives in computers is that they run at a sluggy 4200rpm, as opposed to the 5400rpm commonly clocked in 2.5" laptop drives. Toshiba today announced a 1.8" drive that runs at 5400rpm in capacities of 80GB (MK8016GSG) and 120GB (MK1216GSG).
This is good news for near-future UMPCs and refreshes of subnotebooks like the MacBook Air. Also, though Toshiba stresses the PC application, these more rugged and less power-hungry drives may even be the key to reducing lag in portable media players (ahem, iPod classic) too.
TOSHIBA introduces high-performance 5,400 RPM 1.8-inch HDDs with micro-sata connectorNew 1.8-inch Products Feature High Capacity at 120GB and 80GB and
Enhanced Performance for Ultra-Portable PC Solutions
IRVINE, Feb. 25, 2008 - Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), the industry pioneer in small form factor hard disk drives (HDDs), today added a line of high-performance 5,400 RPM Serial ATA (SATA) 1.8-inch HDDs to its product offerings for mobile PCs. Available in 120GB1 and 80GB capacities, these new HDDs integrate design elements from Toshiba's flagship 2.5-inch line into its proven 1.8-inch platform to offer enhanced performance for ultra-thin and light PC applications.
These new 1.8-inch HDDs leverage the interface architecture from Toshiba's 2.5-inch SATA HDDs, which carry the industry certification for SATA compliance, providing seamless compatibility across Toshiba's full line of SATA HDDs. The combination of 5,400 RPM spin speeds with SATA features expands Toshiba's market-leading 1.8-inch product lineup into the high-performance segment of the growing ultra-portable computing market.
Toshiba's 120GB MK1216GSG and 80GB MK8016GSG 1.8-inch HDDs are designed to the latest SATA 2.6 specification and incorporate the new industry-standard micro-SATA connector. Features include native command queuing, staggered spin-up and hot-plug capability. These ultra-slim storage solutions deliver both high performance and power efficiency, providing computing capabilities traditionally found in desktop and notebook PCs - all in a lightweight design at 62 grams. Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDDs feature an 8MB cache to optimize read and write performance and fully utilize the 489 Mbits/sec data transfer rate for a powerful computing experience in thin and light mobile computers.
In addition to spurring miniaturization and mobility for PC devices, 1.8-inch HDDs deliver improved ruggedness at capacity levels popular in larger form factors. Toshiba's introduction of high-capacity 5,400 RPM 1.8-inch HDDs reflect the market's voracious appetite for storage as broadband Internet and powerful media-rich applications bring new capabilities to mobile PCs, enabling consumers to take advantage of digital content on the go. The new 1.8-inch HDDs also provide improved shock tolerance over best-in-class 2.5-inch HDDs by more than 100Gs during operation and several hundred Gs in non-operating mode, making them ideal for highly mobile PC users.
"The portable computing market is looking for an uncompromised computing experience in small and light-weight storage solutions," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division. "With enhanced features for the mobile environment, these new 1.8-inch HDDs enable mobile system manufacturers to reap the benefits of high-capacity magnetic storage, along with better power efficiency and ruggedness."
Delivering Industry-leading 1.8-inch HDDs
With over 60 million 1.8-inch HDDs shipped since 2000, Toshiba has consistently held the number one position in the 1.8-inch HDD segment according to IDC2. Toshiba's product leadership in the 1.8-inch market has helped fuel the digital product revolution in both PC and CE devices, with capacity points traditionally seen in mobile 2.5-inch and desktop HDDs, while delivering better power efficiency, improved ruggedness and quieter acoustics during system operation.
Toshiba will showcase its new 1.8-inch HDDs at the Intel Mobility Summit in Shanghai, China, February 26 - 29, 2008. Toshiba's new 1.8-inch HDDs will begin shipping to mobile PC manufacturers and distribution partners in April 2008. Interested developers and design engineers can visit www.toshibastorage.com for more information on Toshiba's line of industry-leading 1.8-inch HDDs.
Comments
Try using a microdrive for an OS some time.
Talk about a lesson in patience. SHEESH!
Great, I can see it now. I'm going to be walking down the street and some sort of freak accident will happen with the battery pack in my iPod that will accelerate the drive to 88k rpm and I'll travel back in time...
"and refreshes of subnotebooks like the MacBook Air" There ges the temperture rise and over-heating problems_ Good one_
Who ever is smoking stuff at Toshiba - not killing HD DVD sooner - and now this - should really lay offf the crank and also try focusing on SSD more to help cutt the prices and allow for wider market penetration_
@Xavoc: BUT you're still forgetting about the Flux Capacitor and the necessary 1.21 JIGA-wattz !!
_
@uberfu: SSD isn't necessarily the best option for every device. In fact, I don't think they make an 80 or 120 gig 1.8" SSD right now.
@uberfu: Oh Jigga please! Have you ever seen how much power a shorted lithium ion battery puts out? And who needs a flux capacitor when your iPod has ZZ Top on it?
@Xavoc: LOL!!!
One word
Bitchin.
Six other words
Can I even say bitchin here?
The article says "Features include native command queuing, staggered spin-up and hot-plug capability."
Does the hot-plugging mean I would be able to just pull out my damn iPod without the whole un-docking nonsense?
@Wilson:
I don't think this drive would be appropriate for portable media players. A 5400 RPM drive would probably actually extend lag by taking longer to spin up. The actual disk read, once the drive is on, takes maybe a second to cache several songs. The read speed is not the major issue when it comes to lag. A faster spindle speed most likely also means higher power draw, which would shorten battery life, a step considered by most to be in the wrong direction.
Only time (and the specs posted after the elapse of such) will tell. :)
@noamjamski: No, the un-docking nonsense is the point at which the content database is written to the disk (I think... I could be wrong on that). If you skip that, whatever content you transferred to your iPod won't show up in the menu (though it would be on the disk).
Hot plugging is the ability to connect the drive itself to a system/disk controller that is already powered on, or disconnect it while powered on.
Talk about an oxymoron. This would go great in my 15 horsepower sports car.
@Monty: At the physical density of that storage medium, and how small of a distance the head needs to move, it's probably quite fast.
@Monty: Relatively speaking, it would be higher performance.
Dell had 5400 rpm drives optional on the D430 laptop for some time now, so it's not a worlds first I guess. Still, a welcomed addition.
To bad the X300 doesnt use them to cut the price below MBA level.
Next thing they're going to come out with is a 5200rpm 5.25" floppy.
My 160GB iPod Classic does not lag. Am I missing something? I have it full . . .
@Lack: Those were 2.5" HDD, we're talking about the eeny meeny tiny 1.8" you find in iPods and the like. Combined with SATA, these drives sound pretty sweet.
@Inepsa:
Stop lying.
@daftrok: I'm really not. I never have a problem with it slowing down or lagging. It acts just like any other iPod.
Oh bollocks, I was gonna post about disk sizes and speeds but decided not to put my foot in my mouth. yay speed!
I'd like to use these to fit a RAID into a normal size case, rather than having either a full-tower (do they even still make those?) or another external case & supply.
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