Hard disk drives for tablets?

The A*STAR Data Storage Institute says that thin hybrid drives could provide a viable alternative to Flash memory which isn't as scalable and has performance limitations. The DSI believes hybrid drives could potentially lessen power consumption by about 30%, reduce costs and increase storage capacity. Currently, the thinnest hard disk drive in the market for a 2.5in form factor is about 7mm, 2mm too thick to break into the media tablet market. According to the DSI's executive director, Dr Pantelis Alexopoulos, pictured, one of the main challenges faced in scaling down the thickness of a hard disk drive is the ability to scale the thickness of the current spindle motor while maintaining the motor performance such as the non repeatable run out (NRRO). DSI has designed an axial field motor that is 4mm thick and can spin at 5400/7200rpm. The axial field design eliminates cogging torque and unbalanced magnetic pull that in turn helps to reduce friction loss of the bearing, vibration and acoustic noise. The spindle motor will be demonstrated in the DSI's thin drive with a 5mm thickness. "DSI is very excited about the direction that we are taking," said Alexopoulos. "We strongly believe there is an opening in the market for thin drives. We are capitalising on our years of R&D experience in hard disk drive and data centre technologies and are working passionately to make the concept of thin hard disk drive into reality."