Seagate ships world''s first 160GB notebook pc hard drives with perpendicular recording technology

New Delhi: Seagate Technology (NYSE:STX), global hard drive leader, has begun shipping the industry''s first 2.5-inch notebook PC disc drive built on perpendicular recording technology to the world-wide distribution channel. Delivering up to 160GB of capacity, the most available in a 2.5-inch disc drive, the product closes the capacity and performance gap between desktop and notebook PC hard drives enabling the development of new high-capacity notebook computers.

Called Momentus 5400.3, a 5,400-rpm drive that operates with 4,200-rpm power efficiency to extend battery life, is Seagate''s first drive that brings the higher capacities and performance of perpendicular recording to mainstream notebook PCs. It delivers 132 Gbits per square inch to provide the highest levels of drive capacity, reliability and performance. Seagate will also extend the advantages of perpendicular recording to its 7,200-rpm Momentus disc drives and to all of its 1- and 3.5-inch products.

According to John Rydning, IDC''s research manager for hard disk drives, "The trend is clear: the number of notebook PC users is growing, and they demand higher capacity disk drives. IDC estimates that Notebook PCs with 80GB or more of disk drive capacity will grow from less than 10 per cent of notebook shipments in 2004 to nearly 50 per cent in 2006, providing opportunities for high-capacity mobile drives such as Seagate''s new Momentus 5400.3."

Perpendicular recording stands data bits on end on the disc, rather than flat to the surface as with existing longitudinal recording, to deliver new levels of hard drive data density and capacity. The new data orientation also increases drive performance without increasing spin speed by allowing more bits to pass under the drive head in the same amount of time.

The perpendicular recording performance boost comes without increases in power consumption or heat generation - crucial as remote users look to work longer between battery charges and system builders seek to pack more performance in smaller notebooks. Perpendicular recording also improves drive reliability by enhancing data resistance to thermal decay. "Seagate is helping system builders meet growing demand for notebook PCs with desktop capabilities by delivering 2.5-inch disc drives that provide some of the industry''s highest levels of power efficiency, ruggedness, performance and capacity," said Rajesh Khurana, country manager, Seagate India & SAARC. "Our transition to perpendicular technology increases our ability to meet the needs of our growing customer base."

The Momentus 5400.3 hard drive now shipping to the channel features the Ultra ATA 100 Mbyte/second interface. Seagate will begin shipping Momentus 5400.3 with the 1.5 Gbit / second Serial ATA interface later this year.

Perpendicular recording is a key addition to the 2.5-inch Momentus family, allowing the drives to deliver higher capacity and performance without increasing spin speed, power consumption or heat dissipation. With Momentus, Seagate is redefining mobile computing by delivering rugged, power-thrifty hard drives that combine whisper-quiet operation with new levels of performance and capacity.

The Momentus family gives system builders a range of spin speeds (4,200-, 5,400- and 7,200-rpm), capacities (40GB to 160GB), and interfaces (Serial ATA and Ultra ATA), allowing them to offer a variety of differentiated systems ranging from low-cost and mainstream notebook PCs to high-performance mobile workstations, small form factor PCs and blade servers. The drives are covered by Seagate''s industry-leading five-year warranty for customers that buy through authorized distribution.