Hitachi Takes over Management of IBM storage disk technology

As we reported previously, Hitachi assumed management responsibility for IBM's hard disk drive storage technology on Monday. In a press release issued today, the new entity, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, announced plans to squeeze four gigabytes of data onto the existing 1" Microdrive, the world's smallest hard disk drive. The new 4GB version of the Microdrive will rely on ultra-miniaturized components, including a new read-write head that is one-half the size of its previous version and yields a 40% decrease in the height at which the head travels above the disk platter. The Femto Slider Head is the next generation of head slider technology. This new technology is reported to be so miniaturized that it is comparable in size to a single grain of table salt.

The tracks per inch of the Microdrive's areal density have been increased to more than sixty billion bits of data per square inch, according to Hitachi. The areal density of the 4GB Microdrive is made possible by using Hitachi's new five-layer patented "Pixie Dust" media technology. Another significant technical achievement is an increased data transfer rate reported to be a 50% improvement from the earlier version of the Microdrive.

The 4GB Microdrive is designed for the CompactFlash Type II industry standard. HP and Eastman-Kodak are reportedly among industry-leading companies that are evaluating the 4GB Microdrive. The new Microdrive is expected to broaden the variety and complexity of applications that can be run on handheld appliances and other consumer electronic devices. "As digital cameras continue to evolve and increase in megapixels, consumers will take an increasing number of high-resolution images that need to be stored on a high-capacity, portable medium," said Madhav Mehra, General Manager of Digital Capture Systems, Kodak Professional. "Kodak is evaluating the Microdrive because its capacity and portability are well-suited to the needs of even the most demanding digital camera user."