Seagate, Western Digital add 160 GB notebook drives

- Gary Thayer, editor

Jan. 19, 2006 -- (MobileVillage) -- Two companies this week -- Western Digital and Seagate -- announced 160 GB notebook hard drives.

Western Digital Corp. released its newest WD Scorpio mobile hard drives in capacities of 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 GB. The latest model Scorpio drives are equipped with either the EIDE or Serial ATA (SATA) interfaces. The drives offer a 5,400 RPM spin speed and operate with power requirements comparable to 4,200 RPM drives to yield lower power consumption, according to the company. Technological advancements also provide quieter operation.

WD Scorpio mobile hard drives are feature either 2 MB cache or 8 MB cache; are available with EIDE or SATA interface; and have a three-year warranty. The 160 GB drive is available on the company's online store (westerndigital.com) for US $235. WD Scorpio 120 GB SATA (model WD1200BEVS) is scheduled to begin shipping next month.

In related news, Seagate Technology says it has begun shipping the first 2.5-inch notebook PC disc drive built on perpendicular recording technology. In up to 160GB of capacity, the Momentus 5400.3 is a 5,400-rpm drive that, like WD's drive, operates with 4,200-rpm power efficiency to extend battery life.

Perpendicular recording stands data bits on end on the disc, rather than flat to the surface as with existing longitudinal recording, to deliver new levels of hard drive data density and capacity. The new data orientation also increases drive performance without increasing spin speed by allowing more bits to pass under the drive head in the same amount of time. Perpendicular recording also improves drive reliability by enhancing data resistance to thermal decay, according to Seagate.

Seagate also plans to extend perpendicular recording to its 7,200-rpm Momentus disc drives and to all of its 1- and 3.5-inch products.

The Momentus 5400.3 hard drive is being shipped primarily to notebook manufacturers and systems integrators. The drive features the Ultra ATA 100 Mbyte/second interface. Seagate will begin shipping Momentus 5400.3 with the 1.5 Gbit/second Serial ATA interface later this year.

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