New IBM Notebook Hard Drives Break Capacity, Speed and Density Records; First Mobile Drives to Offer Advanced Audio-visual Capabilities

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, April 17, 2000

IBM Wednesday announced the world's most versatile, highest capacity notebook computer hard disk drives -- the first with built-in features designed to deliver smoother, more lifelike video images.

The Travelstar 32GH, designed for premium notebook computers, holds five times as much data as the average notebook hard drive. The 32-gigabyte (GB) drive holds up to eight DVD movies, 32,000 high-resolution digital photographs, 49 music CDs or the text equivalent of a 5,344-foot stack of documents.(1)

"Today's mobile computer users want the convenience of portability and the computing power of a desktop workstation," said Bill Healy, vice president, IBM Storage Technology Division. "IBM's Travelstar drives let notebook users store and process an unprecedented amount of information, from complex business data to photos, music, full-motion video and more."

These are the first notebook hard drives designed with specialized audio-visual capabilities. Most hard drives have a standard feature called "error correction" that regulates the transfer of text-based files. However, error correction can interfere with video downloading. IBM researchers have found a way to partially disengage this feature during the transfer of video files, providing a much smoother, more lifelike image.

The Travelstar 32GH is also the world's fastest mobile hard drive. At 5,400 rotations per minute (rpm) it spins 1,200 rpms faster then the average notebook drive. This higher rotational speed significantly boosts performance.

Capacity and performance are not the only records IBM shattered Wednesday.

IBM's new 20-GB Travelstar 20GN for ultra-portables sets a new record of 17.1 billion bits per square inch, the highest areal density of any hard disk drive. Greater areal density means more information can be stored in less disk space, making the drive more cost-effective to manufacture. The industry's previous areal density record was set by an IBM product introduced just last month.

IBM Wednesday also introduced a 30-GB drive for mainstream notebook users. Travelstar 30GT holds the text equivalent of a 5,010-foot stack of documents and boasts a record-setting areal density of 17.1 billion bits.

The 20GN and 30GT drives are scheduled to ship in volume in May to Compaq Computer Corporation, Dell Computer Corporation, Gateway, and the IBM Personal Systems Group. The 32GH will ship in limited quantities in June and in volume in August.

Each of these new Travelstar drives incorporates glass disk platters, load/unload technology, giant magnetoresistive (GMR) recording heads, and Enhanced Adaptive Battery Life Extender 3.0. These features improve capacity, reliability and extend a notebook computer's battery life. They also support Drive Fitness Test, a diagnostic tool that works when the operating system is down.

IBM invented and shipped the first hard disk drive in 1956. In 1999, the company received more than 40 awards and honors worldwide for its hard drives and storage technologies. Mobile Insights, Inc., recently named IBM's Travelstar 25GS drive 1999's Best Notebook Storage device. For more information about IBM hard drives visit www.ibm.com/harddrive or call 888/426-5214.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Travelstar 32GH 32 GB, Height: 12.5 mm, 5,411 rpm, 14 billion bits per square inch areal density, 4 glass disk platters, 8 GMR recording heads, 700 G/1ms nonoperating shock, 150 G/2 ms operating shock, 5.5 ms average latency, 12 ms average read seek time, 66.6 MB/sec Ultra DMA mode-4 interface transfer rate, ATA-4, 5.43 ounces (155 grams).

Travelstar 30GT 30 GB, Height: 12.5 mm, 4,200 rpm, 17.1 billion bits per square inch areal density, 3 glass disk platters, 6 GMR recording heads, 700 G/1 ms nonoperating shock, 175 G/2 ms operating shock, 7.1 ms average latency, 12 ms average read seek time, 66.6 MB/sec Ultra DMA mode-4 interface transfer rate, ATA-4, 4.73 ounces (135 grams).

Travelstar 20GN Three capacities: 20/10/5 GB, Height: 9.5 mm, 4,200 rpm, 17.1 billion bits per square inch areal density, 2/1/1 glass disk platters, 4/2/1 GMR recording heads, 800 G/1 ms nonoperating shock, 175 G/2 ms operating shock, 7.1 ms average latency, 12 ms average read seek time, 66.6 MB/sec Ultra DMA mode-4 interface transfer rate, ATA-4, 3.46 ounces (99 grams).

(1) Refers to 650 MB CDs and MPEG2 DVD movies.