The world’s thinnest 1TB HDD, the WD Blue 7mm, 2.5" form factor drive, is now in shipment having been designed to meet the requirements of form-factor constrained applications such as ultra-thin notebooks. The drive is shipping in capacities that range from 320GB to 1TB, all in the 7mm height. The WD Blue also features compatibility with the industry-standard 9.5mm form factor to enhance implementation possibilities. Previously the drive came in that 9.5mm height, but WD managed to get two 500GB platters into this form factor while still maintaining reliability. The WD Blue also packs a range of features to ensure the drive’s integrity and reliability.
The world’s thinnest 1TB HDD, the WD Blue 7mm, 2.5" form factor drive, is now in shipment having been designed to meet the requirements of form-factor constrained applications such as ultra-thin notebooks. The drive is shipping in capacities that range from 320GB to 1TB, all in the 7mm height. The WD Blue also features compatibility with the industry-standard 9.5mm form factor to enhance implementation possibilities. Previously the drive came in that 9.5mm height, but WD managed to get two 500GB platters into this form factor while still maintaining reliability. The WD Blue also packs a range of features to ensure the drive’s integrity and reliability.
Diving into the more significant reliability features, WD’s ShockGuard protects from shocks, while StableTrac means that the motor shaft is secured at both ends to reduce the effects of vibration and to stabilize platters. WD also engineered the Blue HDDs with dual stage actuators – which are also found on enterprise-class drives. These actuators improve the accuracy over the data tracks. WD also includes SecurePark which places the recording heads off the disk surface during spin up and spin down as well as when the drive is powered off for greater reliability.
Pricing and Availability
The WD Blue is shipping through select distributors and resellers, carries a two-year limited warranty and is available with an MSRP set at $139.
