Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 29 September 2008 21:47
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 2
Western Digital has broken through the half-terabyte barrier for
notebook computers in the standard 9.5mm 2.5-inch hard disk format,
using only two platters instead of three. Is space truly still the
final frontier?
Space might be the final frontier, but with 500GB of “space”, you’ll certainly have plenty of room to move.
Western Digital (WD) isn’t the first to release a 500GB hard drive in the traditional 9.5mm format, instead of the larger 12.5mm format that was needed to hold three 167GB platters. Samsung actually managed to squeeze three 167GB platters into a 9.5mm drive in
March this year.
But three platters is one more than two 250GB platters, which is what WD has achieved, and one less platter and head means less things to go wrong, less things to heat up, less things to create noise, and hopefully... a lower cost to consumers.
Called the “
WD Scorpion Blue”, volume shipments of these new 5400RPM SATA hard drives in 400GB and 500GB capacities have started shipping – for notebook computers and portable storage devices.
Claiming the usual SATA 3 Gb/s transfer rate, WD says the drive also employs “proprietary features that make the drive extraordinarily quiet, while running at cool operating temperatures.”
Jim Morris, WD's vice president and general manager of notebook storage said: “WD continues to provide the mobile market with high-capacity storage everywhere consumers and business professional travel.
“Notebook system manufacturers continue to improve performance, while adding data hungry features. The WD Scorpio Blue 400 GB and 500 GB hard drives provide the capacity needed to maximize the latest features and functions available in today’s notebook computers, while relying on WD’s exceptional reliability.”
The new WD Scorpio Blue drive further expands the company's range of 2.5-inch, 5400 RPM, mobile hard drive offerings to capacity points up to 500 GB.
So, what are those 11 secret herbs, spices and proprietary features that WD claims makes its hard drives finger lickin’ good? And what might you expect to pay for this new dual-platter delight? Please read on to page 2.
