Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), the industry pioneer in small form factor hard disk drives (HDDs), has introduced a mobile personal storage line based on its market-leading 1.8-inch HDD, along with the industry’s highest-capacity portable external hard drive based on the 2.5-inch HDD platform at 320GB.
     As the only HDD supplier with a proven track record in marketing 1.8-inch HDDs, Toshiba is the first HDD manufacturer to introduce a 1.8-inch external product. In addition, Toshiba has completely redesigned its personal storage line with a sleek, contemporary look to complement other technology appliances.
     Toshiba’s new USB 2.0 Mobile External Hard Drive based on the 1.8-inch HDD platform will be available in 60GB, 80GB and 120GB models for unparalleled capacity in a pocket-sized mobile storage device.
     This new line of personal storage devices combines the portability of a USB flash drive with the high capacity of a hard drive for the ultimate mobile digital warehouse for entertainment and data files.
     The new 1.8-inch external HDD can be easily slipped into a briefcase, purse or backpack for easy transport of digital photos, music, videos or other data files.
     Because the 1.8-inch HDD is designed for mobility, Toshiba plans to include encryption and backup software with its 1.8-inch line to protect data should the HDD ever be lost or stolen. The product also will include a USB cable and will be bus-powered for easy plug-and-play operation. Toshiba’s new 1.8-inch mobile external HDD line complements its existing line of 2.5-inch external HDDs, which now feature up to 320GB of storage capacity.
     Toshiba’s 2.5-inch 320GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive can store up to either 91,000 digital photos, 84,000 MP3 music files, 142 hours of DVD videos or 37 hours of high-definition videos.
     The 2.5-inch external HDD line continues to feature click-free, switch-free and button-free backup for easy operation by any consumer. It comes bundled with the award-winning NTI Shadow™ software, enabling even digital novices to easily conduct computer backup and enjoy peace-of-mind in knowing critical data and cherished digital files are protected.
     Available in 320GB, 250GB and 160GB capacities, Toshiba’s line continues to be positioned for effortless operation with automatic power on via the USB connector to the computer and through the straightforward setup afforded by the NTI Shadow software.
     Users simply connect the drive to their PCs via the USB port and set the backup parameters. It then runs in the background to automatically backup data.
     Now featuring a sleek, glossy finish and contemporary graphics, Toshiba’s line of personal storage devices fits nicely with other consumer electronics gear. Toshiba redesigned the personal storage line to match current consumer tastes and emerging consumer electronics trends. The new models feature stylistic design in a sleek finish, along with a splash of color available in Carbon Grey, Hot Rod Red and Gecko Green.
     In addition, the redesigned 2.5-inch external models offer a nearly 20 percent smaller footprint than the previous line for space savings on the desktop.
     “Data backup is integral in a digital world----it isn’t just for technology geeks; it’s for anyone who wants added insurance that first birthday photos, summer vacation videos, their latest tax returns and other important digital data are protected against computer failure or other emergencies,” said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing, Toshiba SDD. “To create mass appeal, we’ve introduced a versatile line with a great new look to complement other consumer electronics gear. Whether you need portability or capacity, we have attractive, consumer-friendly solutions that take the mystery out of data backup.”
     Toshiba’s new 1.8-inch external HDDs will be available at retail this spring. Toshiba SDD, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., leads the market in the development, design and manufacturing of small form factor 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch hard disk drives, as well as next-generation HD DVD storage products.
     Toshiba SDD markets high-quality peripherals to original equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers, value-added dealers, systems integrators, distributors and retailers in the United States.
     Inherent in the Toshiba storage family are the high-quality engineering and manufacturing capabilities that have established Toshiba products as worldwide leaders.
     For more information, visit www.toshibastorage.com.

Hitachi and ASUS join forces

     ASUS has integrated Hitachi’s Travelstar 5K500 hard drive into its new M50 and M70 notebook PCs, the latter of which delivers up to 1TB of storage capacity in a two-drive configuration.
     The companies are breaking new ground in personal computing by combining industry-leading storage capacity----exceeding that of a typical desktop system----with the portability of a notebook PC. One TB of storage capacity translates to 1,000 hours of video, or more than 350 feature length movies or 250,000 four-minute songs. With the new multimedia notebook series, the M50 and the M70, ASUS aims to provide a high-definition audio and video experience. The HD experience starts with a sleek LCD cover made by exclusive ASUS Infusion technology. Upon opening the notebook, users are greeted with a multimedia console-like design with an ergonomic full-size keyboard and a separate numerical keypad. To further enhance the entertainment enjoyment, the dual-mode touch pad allows easy access to playback controls.
     ASUS selected Hitachi Travelstar drives for its M50 and M70 series notebooks because they allow users to store more digital content than any other mobile drive on the market today. Consumers expect their notebook PCs to be entertainment powerhouses, storing and providing easy access to massive libraries of high-definition movies, music and photos.
     The Travelstar 5K500 features Hitachi’s Rotational Vibration Safeguard (RVS) technology to mitigate any adverse impact on system performance from unexpected vibrations or shocks to the system enclosure. RVS serves as an early warning system for the drive, enabling it to sense a possible vibration in advance and take the necessary steps to stabilize the drive head. RVS is particularly important for many of today’s full-featured notebooks that include premium speakers for enhancing a user’s experience with movies, music and games. When played at maximum volumes, notebook speakers can inadvertently cause vibrations that may not be noticeable to the user.
     “One TB represents a major advancement in notebook computing and we are pleased to be at the heart of this industry milestone,” said Larry Swezey, director, Consumer and Commercial HDD, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. “We will continue to deliver the best that.
     For more information, please visit the official website: www.asus.com.