Fujitsu Takes Mobile Drives to 300 GB

Fujitsu has announced 2.5-inch drives - ideal for notebooks and other small-footprint computers - with capacities up to 300 GB.

Fujitsu has announced the global launch of its MHX2300BT series of 2.5-inch hard disk drives, with capacities of 250 and 300 GB. The 2.5-inch form factor is commonly used in notebook computers and other small-footprint computers; the new drives usher in higher storage capacities for those systems. Fujitsu introduced 200 GB 2.5-inch drives less than a year ago; like their predecessors, the new drives use perpendicular storage technology (which essentially store bits stacked “on end” rather than laid out in a row) to increase data density on the disc platters.

“Due to our strong focus on innovation, Fujitsu remains at the forefront in promoting advanced technologies such as perpendicular recording and SATA, while at the same time continuing to meet the industry’s insatiable demand for high-capacity products,” said Joel Hagberg, Fujitsu Computer Products of America’s VP of marketing and business development, in a release. “Our commitment to R&D has not only spurred the development of the industry’s first 2.5-inch 300 GB capacity perpendicular hard disk drive, but it will allow Fujitsu to continue to achieve these aggressive milestones in advance of the rest of the industry.”

The new drives boast speeds of 4200 rpm, 1.6W typical power consumption, SATA 2.5, ATA-8 interfaces, average seek times of 1.5ms, 8MB buffers, and a maximum sustained transfer rate of 150 MB/s. Fujitsu also says the drives sport high shock tolerances (300G when operating, 900G non-operating) and near-silent operation, making the drives suitable not only for portable devices but also for media-centric activities like music, movies, and gaming.

Fujitsu hasn’t released any pricing information, but expect to see these drives appearing in high-end notebooks beginning in early 2007.