Toshiba Enters Guinness World Records Book with the World's Smallest Hard Disk Drive

16 March, 2004


Toshiba's 0.85-inch hard disk drive
 
Toshiba's 0.85-inch hard disk drive

TOKYO -- Toshiba Corporation today announced that Guinness World Records has certified Toshiba's 0.85-inch hard disk drive (HDD) as the smallest HDD in the world and will feature it in the 2005 edition, scheduled to be on sale in September 2004. The Guinness World Records Book is one of the world's most popular publications, the book most people reach for when they want to confirm outstanding achievements in all walks of life.

Toshiba's 0.85-inch HDD, announced in January 2004, is the first hard disk drive to deliver multi-gigabyte data storage in a sub-one-inch form factor. The 0.85-inch measurement refers to the diameter of the magnetic disk to which data is recorded. With initial capacities of 2 to 4 gigabytes (GB) the drive delivers enhanced storage to smaller, lighter, more efficient products, such as mobile phones, digital camcorders and portable storage devices. Toshiba expects to start sampling the drive in summer 2004 and to start mass production in autumn 2004.

For more details of Toshiba's 0.85-inch HDD, please see:
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2004_01/pr0801.htm

"We are very proud that Guinness World Records, one of the world's most famous organisations, has recognised our 0.85-inch HDD as the world's smallest," said Kazuyoshi Yamamori, Vice President of Storage Device Division at Toshiba Corporation's Digital Media Network Company. "Toshiba is the global leader in small form factor hard disk drives. Our 1.8-inch HDD opened up exciting new applications and markets, including powerful digital audio players, and we expect the 0.85-inch disk to contribute even more. I look forward to seeing the 0.85-inch drive alongside all the other record breakers and winners in the book."

David Hawksett, Science & Technology editor at Guinness World Records said: "Hard drive technology has come a long way since the introduction of the very first model in the U.S. in 1956. That model needed 50 two-foot disks to store just 4.4 MB and the cost was astronomical. Data storage is rarely a topic that excites the public. However, Toshiba's innovation means that I could soon hold more information in my watch than I could on my desktop computer, just a few years ago."

Selection for the best-selling book is the latest recognition of Toshiba's achievements as a global leader in small form factor HDDs. Toshiba has consistently led innovation of the 1.8-inch HDD market, including being the first to commercialise a 40GB version, and recording a cumulative production of 3-million units in October 2003. In the 2.5-inch HDD segment, the company's cumulative production now surpasses 60 million units. Toshiba expects its development of the 0.85-inch HDD to expand the market for miniature drives and will continue to promote innovations that assure its continued leadership in that market.

Toshiba will feature the 0.85-inch drive at CeBIT in Hannover, Germany, from March 18 to 24.

Note: Currently the 1.0-inch HDD is the smallest device commercially available.

About Guinness World Records:

First published in 1955, Guinness World RecordsTM has developed its annual book into an international phenomenon published in more than 100 countries and 23 languages. Guinness World Records has become a household name and the global leader in world records. No other enterprise collects, confirms, accredits and presents world record data with the same investment in comprehensiveness and authenticity. Guinness World Records is the universally recognised authority on record-breaking achievement.
GWR contact: Kate White +44 (0)20 7891 4516 press@guinnessworldrecords.com

About Toshiba Corporation:

Toshiba Corporation is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products and power systems. The company's integration of these wide-ranging capabilities assures its position as an innovator in advanced components, products and systems. Toshiba has more than 166,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over US$47 billion in fiscal year 2002.


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