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Future of iPod Capacity?

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Toshiba-Produces-the-Biggest-Hard-Drive-41723.shtml

Toshiba has released what seems to be the first 100GB hard drive incorporated in a 1.8” form factor. To achieve the three digit mark, the company used perpendicular recording. The drive, codenamed MK1011GAH, contains two platters, and four read/write heads. The drive spins at
4,200rpm and has a seek time of 15ms (average). It connects to the motherboard using an ATA-7 bus which translates into a maximum burst speed of 100MB/s. The drive consumes 0.3W of power when running and that makes it ideal for handhelds and sub-notebooks.

In addition to the larger capacity, the MK1011GAH is also about 10% smaller (54x71x8 mm) than first-generation 1.8" drives, according to Toshiba. "We are enhancing the capabilities of PMR with the incorporation of TMR head technology to deliver another industry-leading mobile HDD," claimed VP of Toshiba's storage division Scott Maccabe about the 59 grams hard drive.

The next year holds some surprises for Toshiba since Hitachi has announced that they are ready to mass produce a 250GB 2.5” unit which will take the lead in the 2.5” sector. As a reminder, Toshiba currently produces 200GB 2.5” units. Also Hitachi plans to integrate security features into its mobile hard drive line, making things even harder for other manufacturers.

According to IDC, Toshiba was the market share leader regarding mobile hard drives in the 3rd quarter of 2006. As for the 1.8" category, the company holds a crushing 80% share, having shipped about 40 million since 2000. Toshiba says the new 100 GB drive is RoHS compliant and it will mass ship in January 2007. No information regarding the price was released yet.
[1787 byte] By [mrdantownsend] at [2007-11-11 16:25:20]
# 1 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
That's interesting, and it will be benefit a bunch of folks, but I'm more interested in flash memory--I wonder what the upper limits of flash memory can be developed and still be portable.
dmt1 at 2007-11-15 17:56:28 >
# 2 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
Isn't the limit up to like 20-30GB now for flash memory?
mjmoonwalker at 2007-11-15 17:57:28 >
# 3 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
That's interesting, and it will be benefit a bunch of folks, but I'm more interested in flash memory--I wonder what the upper limits of flash memory can be developed and still be portable.Now, or in the future (and how far out)? Affordability will be a big issue, as well.

Currently there is a 30GB flash "disk" that is apparently the same size as a 30GB drive...of course it'll cost more, but one analyst is predicting it will be in the big iPod before long.
bdb at 2007-11-15 17:58:24 >
# 4 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
In the future. If there was a flash based drive that was substanially bigger, I would use my ipod for more than just music. I'm not a big fan of the portable HD's, which personally IMHO should be considered semi-portable--I had several problems with my HD based ipods frying before (I don't own one now, and doubt I'll ever buy another one); none with my shuffles, old Mini, and relatively newer nano, which are virtually indestructible.

I love my Nano for music--I have well over 6 thousand songs in my library, and with smartlists, the Nano handles it just fine--since I have to recharge before I run through my library anyway.
dmt1 at 2007-11-15 17:59:30 >
# 5 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
2 camels, a buffalo, 3 wooly mammoths, a turtle dove, 5.3 elephants and 18 ants.
turkeysix at 2007-11-15 18:00:28 >
# 6 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
I certainly don't see any reason why they won't be able to get 80GB or more in the next few years. A 65GB 1.8" drive was announced at CES (link (http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36841)), and 2.5" (laptop) drives have exceeded 100GB for some time now.

Now its just a matter of making them affordable, but with large chip manufacturers (experienced in both nano-scale technology and cost competitive manufacturing) currently in the fray, this seems quite possible.
bdb at 2007-11-15 18:01:28 >
# 7 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
I can remember when 32 mb was a big deal. Damn I'm old....
dmt1 at 2007-11-15 18:02:32 >
# 8 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
When nanos hit 12 or 16GB in capacity I might consider getting one, but until then I'll take the risk with the HD based players.
paranoidxe at 2007-11-15 18:03:35 >
# 9 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
I'm at about 55 Gigs right now, and my next iPod will be at least 80, and hopefully 100 gigabytes. I love it when technological advancements coincide with stuff I want :D
papayaninja at 2007-11-15 18:04:33 >
# 10 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
I can remember when 32 mb was a big deal. Damn I'm old....Oh, I remember how fantastic it was to have a hard drive at all. The first one in our office was a whopping 5MB (yes, megabytes). This page (http://www.littletechshoppe.com/ns1625/winchest.html) on disk size/prices is kind of amusing for a computer vet.

Shall we place bets on when we get a flash iPod of 80GB+? I'm guessing 2011. The question for me is: is it one more iPod away or two?
bdb at 2007-11-15 18:05:32 >
# 11 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
I for one hope they keep using hardrives, becuase I would love to see at least a 100 gig ipod for the next generation.
Stevenjuke at 2007-11-15 18:06:29 >
# 12 Re: Future of iPod Capacity?
These might be of interest:

64GB in a 1.8" form factor SSD ( http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36841)

Samsung's product page (inc. 32GB, 1.8" SSD) ( http://www.samsung.com/Products/Semiconductor/FlashSSD/index.htm)
Step666 at 2007-11-15 18:07:38 >
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