Data gets on its feet

Darius Chang | Apr 19, 2006

Editors' note :

Seagate has announced its first desktop drives using PMR technology; the Cheetah 15K.5 3.5-inch harddisk series. Available in 73GB, 147GB and 300GB capacities, the storage manufacturer claims that the new lineup, with a transfer rate of 73mbps to 125mbps, moves data 30 percent faster than its previous series.

Who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks? Magnetic storage devices have been around longer than most computer users today and, with perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology, have no intentions of being made obsolete.

Conventional longitudinal recording technology lays data bits flat on the disc as opposed to PMR which makes bits stand on end. In the past, longitudinal recording technology was subject to a force called superparamagnetic effect that might result in bits flipping and corrupting data. This is not an issue with PMR devices. Moreover, by standing the bits, more data units can be fitted on a disc, giving up to 10 times more storage capacity as longitudinal recording devices. This is similar to cramming more people on a train by removing the seats and providing standing space only.

Toshiba has already begun shipping 1.8-inch PMR disks that pack 40GB onto a single platter. Seagate and Hitachi are producing 2.5-inch notebook harddisks, with the former announcing its first 160GB 2.5-inch disk, the Momentus 5400.3, this month. Considering the advantages of PMR, we expect this technology to be the new standard in the near future. Click here for larger image