[Crazieman]

Took 2 years to go from 360GB to 400GB. Methinks we're hitting the physical electromagnetic storage barrier.

[TSgt]

Excellent observation!

A Moore's law definitely doesn't apply to this technology.

I've heard however that IBM has new means of storing data using lasers and crystals.

Mechanical drives have a limited future because they are just that...mechanical.

[Psycho_Bunny]

I suspect it took that long because of a lack of demand. Personally, I prefer to spread huge amounts of data over multiple servers....it's faster and easier to manage and recover.

[Boundless]

> Took 2 years to go from 360GB to 400GB. Methinks we're
> hitting the physical electromagnetic storage barrier.

Could also be:
- BIOS limits on many PCs (upgrade biz is a real issue)
- demand - the typ. new PC only "needs" 40GB or so
- demand - large server apps need performance, and high
performing drives (e.g. SCSI) are WAY behind on capacity

Until I get to the point where a single data object is
bigger than the drive, I personally prefer multiple smaller
drives to one large one.

Right now, the biggest objects I deal with are 14GB
drive-to-drive backups of some logical volumes.

Having been burned by IBM/Deskstar (and Fuji, and Maxtor,
and WesternDigital), I'm in NO hurry to put all my eggs in
one basket.

[HardStarboard]

>>>Methinks we're hitting the physical electromagnetic storage barrier. <<<

You may be right. However, I worked for Hitachi in the 80's (retired in 90) and their technological capability is incredible.

I was in the Hitachi Data System group in San Jose. Back then we sold both mainframes and storage systems. They are no longer selling mainframes in the US.

Hitachi had 19,000 PhD's working for them in the late 80's - more than any other company in the world. The reliability of their mainframes was 4 to 5 times that of IBM, but IBM got very aggressive on price and Hitachi evidently decided that the cost of continuing wasn't justified by the profits.

A great company.

[null and void]

Took 2 years to go from 360GB to 400GB. Methinks we're hitting the physical electromagnetic storage barrier.

Which is precisely why we are developing new materials...