Long a recognized leader in portable storage, IBM yesterday introduced a 25 GB hard disk drive, shattering all previous storage limits for laptops. The Travelstar 25GS holds four times as much data as the average laptop hard drive.
The new drive spins at 5400 rpm, a speed IBM claims is the fastest of any laptop-class hard drive. IBM is shipping the drive in small quantities to Compaq, Dell, HP, and its own IBM ThinkPad group. No word on if Apple will pick the drive up as a Build-To-Order option on its 'Bronze' PowerBook line. IBM says that Dell is shipping these drives as soon as today in their systems, though we couldn't find them anywhere on Dell's site.
The largest hard drive is not the only record that IBM broke yesterday. It also introduced the world's most rugged drive, according to IBM, the 12 GB Travelstar 12GN, which has the industry's highest shock rating of 800 G/1ms. The next record is the Travelstar 18GT, which breaks high-capacity storage records as well, with amazing data density on each disk platter.
For detailed information on each drive, visit IBM's product information page. They also have an interactive tour of the innovations behind these drives. At 17 mm thick, the 25 GS will not fit in a PowerBook G3 Series, though the 12.5 mm Travelstar 18GT and 9.5 mm Travelstar 12 GN will fit in the PB G3 Series.
For a long time, IBM has been the contant leader in portable disk storage, having the fastest and largest drives available. Apple uses IBM drives in some of their 'Bronze' PowerBooks, a clear indication that IBM is the best in this arena.
