Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), the pioneer in small form factor hard disk drives (HDDs), today announced a new series of 5,400 RPM 2.5-inch HDDs offering up to 640GB(1) of capacity. With demands for storage at an all-time high, Toshiba's new MKxx65GSX 2.5-inch HDD lineup is an attractive solution for an array of computing applications from notebooks to all-in-one desktop and EnergyStar(R) PCs, which can benefit from lower power consumption without sacrificing storage capacity.

"IDC estimates in its study of the expanding digital universe that 36.5 terabytes of data will be generated per second by 2010(2)," said John Rydning, research director at IDC. "A significant portion of the digital content being generated needs to be stored in homes and small businesses efficiently. With advances in 2.5-inch capacity and technology, Toshiba's new 2.5-inch form factor HDD provides a good combination of capacity, mobility and low-power consumption for portable devices, and increasingly for applications traditionally served by larger form factor HDDs."

Toshiba's high-capacity MKxx65GSX series is ideal for commercial and consumer notebook PCs, as well as all-in-one desktops, EnergyStar PCs, surveillance systems, digital video recorders, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and other applications, which have traditionally used 3.5-inch HDDs to meet their storage requirements. Toshiba's new 320GB-per-platter design reduces power consumption and heat dissipation by more than 80 percent compared to like-capacity 3.5-inch HDDs. Low heat generation keeps the HDD running cooler during operation, enhancing reliability and long-term access to data, photos, music, videos and other valuable user content.

With a maximum areal density of 528.5 Gbits/in(2), the MKxx65GSX series includes 640GB, 500GB, 320GB, 250GB and 160GB models. The series' top-capacity HDD of 640GB can store up to 182,000 digital photos, 168,000 digital music files or 520 downloaded digital movies of high-definition video(3). For added durability, Toshiba offers a free-fall sensor option to help protect the drive should the host system be dropped.

"These new high-capacity 2.5-inch HDDs provide benefits for both notebook and desktop applications," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division. "Not only do they continue to close the performance gap between notebooks and desktops, they also provide a perfect alternative to 3.5-inch HDDs in desktop and POS applications requiring energy efficiency and reliability in a smaller footprint."