Western Digital launches world's first 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive

It will be suitable for bigger notebooks and as a portable storage solution

WD Scorpio Blue 2.5-inch 1TB hard disk drive launched

 Western Digital was the first manufacturer to ship a 2TB desktop hard drive and now it has also acquired the title of the first manufacturer to ship a 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive. The Western Digital Scorpion Blue 1TB and WD Scorpion Blue 750GB models have been developed using industry leading 333GB/platter technology.  Both these hard drives have 12.5 mm form factor which makes it unusable for most notebooks which have a 9.5mm slot for the hard drive but, these hard disks can find use in most of the new 17-inch or 18-inch notebooks (aka desktop replacements). It is ideal for use in portable storage solutions, such as the newly released My Passport Essential SE portable USB drives.

Both the drives are compatible with SATA2 (3Gbps) and SATA (1.5Gbps) interface. WD Scorpio Blue hard drives offer high-performance, low power consumption, and cool operation in portable applications. Moreover, these hard drives come with the following features:

·         WhisperDrive – This technology combines state-of-the-art seeking algorithms to produce one of the quietest 2.5-inch drives available.

·         ShockGuard – It combines firmware and hardware advancements to meet the highest combined shock tolerance specifications required for mobile and notebook applications.

·         SecurePark - Parks the recording heads off the disk surface during spin up, spin down and when the drive is off. This ensures the recording head never touches the disk surface, resulting in improved long-term reliability due to less head wear and improved shock tolerance.

·         Three year limited warranty

These drives are available now through selected distributors and resellers at a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $249.99 USD for the WD Scorpio Blue 1 TB drive and $189.99 USD for the 750 GB version.