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1.8in HDDs are at once the belle du jour and an endangered species due to their compatibility with ultra thin laptops and PMPs combined with the threat of SSDs. Here's how Toshiba hopes to keep them alive...

The 120GB 'MK1216GSG' and 80GB 'MK8016GSG' do something no 1.8in HDD has ever done before: run at 5,400RPM - a speed more commonly reserved for 2.5 inchers in full size laptops.

Using the SATA II specification and incorporating the new industry-standard micro-SATA connector Tosh claims the dynamic duo will be able to "fully utilize the 489 Mbits/sec data transfer rate for a powerful computing experience in thin and light mobile computers" - yes that means they left actual read/write performance figures out. Seek time is a zippy 15ms though.

Still, with 8MB of cache and durability which makes them capable of withstanding more than 100Gs during operation and several hundred when off they are an important step forward for a form factor long held back by its lack of grunt.

Will it be enough to slow down their demise at the hands of SSDs? I'd say by months rather than years.

PS Yes, that is the official press picture (and I had to enlarge it to get it that big).

Link:
Press Release

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