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

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.

Over Toshiba
Toshiba Information Systems Benelux is een dochteronderneming van de Computer Systems Division van Toshiba Europe GmbH, een leverancier van portable computers. Naast notebooks levert de organisatie mobiele en draadloze Pocket PC's, accessoires en mobiele server oplossingen voor de zakelijke en consumentenmarkt. Voor meer informatie zie www.computers.toshiba.nl

De Computer Systems Division van Toshiba streeft bij de ontwikkeling van haar geavanceerde notebooks, PDA's en servers naar de ultieme vrijheid van werken. Toshiba is toonaangevend fabrikant van mobiele producten uitgerust met WiFi- en Bluetooth-connectiviteit; dé wereldstandaarden voor draadloze systemen op kantoor, thuis en onderweg.

Het moederbedrijf, Toshiba Corporation ontwikkelt informatie- en communicatiesystemen, elektronische componenten en consumentenelektronica voor uiteenlopende markten. Het bedrijf heeft een positie verworven als innovator op het gebied van geavanceerde componenten, producten en systemen. Toshiba heeft wereldwijd 166.000 medewerkers en de jaaromzet bedraagt ruim 47 miljard US$ (2003).