Toshiba drives into ultra-portable market

HDD vendor claims new 500GB 2.5" drive is perfect for booming mini-notebook market

Toshiba has launched a new 500GB 2.5 " hard disk drive spec'd for use in ultraportable laptops and HDD-based video recorders.

The new HDD operates at 5,400rpm and consumes between 1.4W and 1.7W in operation. It joins a family of HDDs including 120GB, 160GB, 250GB, 320GB and 400GB models.

This new standard in low power consumption will aid battery life in devices, which Toshiba says is a key selling point for ultraportable manufacturers. Helping reduce the user’s carbon footprint was another advantage mooted. The product is also halogen-free.

Toshiba said the noise reduction and eco friendliness of portable hard drives might be a deciding factor for purchasers. OEMs demand for greener products while satisfying consumers’ wish for quieter storage devices in the single-platter range, said Martin Larsson, vice president for Toshiba’s European storage device division.

More importantly this will help OEMs address the market for efficient ultra-portable notebook computers. The products will also be showcased at CES in Las Vegas in January 2009.

“From a standing start, sub or mini-notebook computers have quickly become the principal agent of growth in the PC market,” said Larsson. Analysts at IDC have reported that they already accounted for more than seven per cent of laptop sales in the third quarter of 2008.

“Our new HDDs are a compelling storage proposition for these ultra-portable devices. The success of ultra-portable notebooks is defined by how long the battery lasts and whether they can store their prized ‘digital lives’ on their hard disk drives,” said Larsson.