Toshiba today added 30GB and 60GB models to its 1.8in hard drive line-up, both offering what the company claims is the highest areal density of any hard drive of that format. The two models feature one and two 30GB platters, respectively. Both offer an areal density of 93.5Gb per platter. The drives' fluid dynamic bearings help keep operational noise down to 16dB when the drive is idling. They consume 0.3W.
Both contain 2MB of buffer memory and offer a 15ms average seek time. The drives can each cope with knocks and bumps of up to 500G for 1ms while running, or 1500G for ms when the drive heads are parked. They weigh 62g (60GB) and 51g (30GB). Toshiba said the two drives - labelled the MK6006GAH and MK3006GAL - will ship in Q4, which puts a timeframe on the 60GB iPod that has been anticipated ever since a Toshiba staffer admitted the company had a 60GB model in the works and that Apple was a customer. The drive maker did not disclose pricing.
News source: The Register
