Toshiba aims for tablet market with latest hard drives

Toshiba has introduced a range of 1.8in hard disk drives (HDDs) aimed at mobile devices including tablet computers.

The MKxx39GSL series comprises the 160GB MK1639GSL, 200GB MK2039GSL and 220GB MK2239GSL. Toshiba said the HDDs are 10 per cent smaller than comparable units, use relatively little power, and are tough and quiet.

More significantly, perhaps, the firm said that they also beat 2.5in drives in terms of performance.

Toshiba said the drives boast average seek times of 15ms, 4200 RPM rotational speed, and Serial ATA revision 2.6 interfaces.

“Designers of next-generation consumer electronics, tablets, and mobile devices need disk drives that will stand up to the demands of day-to-day usage in a world increasingly defined by mobility and connectivity to all forms of content," said Maciek Brzeski, vice-president of mobile marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division.

"These newest members of our 1.8in family are designed to meet those demands.”

Toshiba said the drives are designed to withstand the demands of mobile users and could tolerate 1,500Gs of non-operational shock and 600Gs of operational shock, making them more robust than most 2.5in units.

“The proliferation of devices targeted at media-savvy and media-hungry consumers and businesses has been a major factor in the continued demand for higher-capacity mobile hard disk drives,” said IDC research director John Rydning.

“Regardless of the device, customers expect to be able to store and access their favorite content, applications, and key data wherever they are,” he added.

The firm will start shipping the drives to customers in February.