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Toshiba Expands 1.8-Inch HDD Family

Toshiba announces the world's first dual-platter 240GB HDD (MK2431GAH). The new drive delivers the highest capacity and areal density in the 1.8-inch drive category for integration into portable media players, camcorders and mobile PCs. Toshiba also announces new 120GB (MK1231GAL) and 80GB (MK8031GAL) capacity offerings, rounding out the most complete line of high-capacity 4,200 RPM 1.8-inch HDDs for consumer electronics and mobile PC system manufacturers. The new 240GB drive and 80GB drive will enter mass production at the end of September, and the 120GB is now in mass production.

Toshiba's 240GB MK2431GAH and 120GB MK1231GAL achieve an areal density of 344 gigabits per square inch (531.9Mbit/mm2), the industry's highest areal density in the 1.8-inch form factor, using perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology.

The new 1.8-inch HDD series uses a new mechanical and firmware design for enhanced durability, making the 80GB and 120GB single-platter HDDs well suited for slim-line mobile gadgets and PC applications. The new dual-platter 240GB MK2431GAH product is especially suitable for high-end digital video camcorders as well as light-weight mobile PC applications which require high capacity and high shock resistance to protect the users' valuable digital assets.

The new design elements incorporated in the MK2431GAH optimize power efficiency to new levels with a 33 percent overall reduction in energy consumption efficiency over Toshiba's previous-generation model of MK1626GCB (160GB 3,600 RPM) 1.8-inch HDDs.

Key features of the new Products:
1. Achieving areal density of 531.9Mbit/mm2 (344Gbspi). MK2431GAH and MK1231GAL achieve an areal density of 531.9Mbit/mm2, the result of improving the read-write head and of an enhanced magnetic layer. With the same two platter 1.8-inch design as Toshiba's current 160GB product, MK2431GAH offers a 240GB capacity, the highest yet achieved.
2. Improved energy consumption efficiency. Compared to the current 160GB MK1626GCB, the new MK2431GAH improves energy consumption efficiency, as defined under the Japanese legal standard, to 0.0013W/GB, a 33% improvement.
3. Environmentally conscious products. During their lifecycle, the MK1231GAL will lower CO2 emissions by approximately 54g a year. The new drives comply with the European Union's RoHS directive for eliminating use of six hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. All new products meets standards for certification as a standout Toshiba ECP.



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