Western Digital Advanced Format Hard Drive Technology

[Alan J. Raul]

Formatting a Solid State Drive (SSD) is already different, but now we have to learn new format techniques for newer mechanical spinning drives.

Exploring WD's Advanced Format HD Technology
http://hothardware.com/Articles/WDs-1TB-Caviar-Green-w-Advanced-Format-Windows-XP-Users-Pay-Attention/

About Advanced Format Hard Drives
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/advancedformat/

[Doug]

Western Digital has also released a 2.5" Scorpio Sata 640 gigabyte hard drive for laptops. I installed one in a HP model replacing a WD 160 gigabyte drive. The replacement process is physically very easy and the enhanced storage capacity has vastly improved the useability of the computer, enabling my entire photo collection to be readily available in a portable laptop. Best Buy had it on sale for $125.00 ($150.00 list).  

WD Scorpio Sata 2.5" laptop drive:  http://www.wdc.com/en/company/releases/PressRelease.asp?release=8dc1174a-92a0-4db3-b0ac-58218b52a24d

Solid State drives for laptops are still fairly costly:  http://www.google.com/products?q=solid+state+hard+drives+for+laptops&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&rlz=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=mmmMS63CApGKswPizYjQAw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CDEQrQQwAg

The solid state drive is found in rugged, "field -ready" laptops (also costly): http://www.dell.com/xfr?ST=state%20laptop&dgc=ST&cid=52499&lid=1360158&acd=58845,8,0,78885776,761856559,1267493661,,21469800,4629845530

Solid state drives vis-a-vis hard disk drives in laptops: http://www.pcworld.com/article/134185/solidstate_drives_versus_harddisk_drives_in_laptops.html

[Doug]

New wireless USB external hard drive not such a good deal at this time:  http://computershopper.com/hard-drives-burners/reviews/imation-prowx-1.5tb-wireless-usb-hard-drive