The new 5.1 GB per platter WD Caviar hard drive also incorporates Western Digital's Data Lifeguard feature that protects end user data by automatically detecting, isolating, and repairing possible problem areas on the hard drive before data loss can occur. The new WD Caviar 5.1 GB per platter platform, along with the WD Expert product line also announced today, is the first introduction of products derived from the Western Digital and IBM agreement that was finalized just 6 months ago. Our virtual vertical integration business model and new product introduction processes allowed us to quickly integrate IBM's knowledge while leveraging our high-yielding manufacturing processes to bring this product line to market ahead of plan. Evaluation units of the WD Caviar 20.4 GB hard drive are available in the December timeframe, with volume shipments commencing in January of 1999. The platform will also be available in 15.3 GB, and 10.2 GB capacities.
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The WD Caviar 20.4 GB hard drive has an average read seek time of only 8.5 ms that combines with a 5400 RPM rotational spindle speed for today's value line PC's. The 20.4 GB capacity is particularly geared toward those consumers requiring additional capacity for capacity-intensive applications such as the Internet and multimedia. While S.M.A.R.T. predicts possible system down time by warning a user of potential hard drive failure if it has been enabled in the system, Data Lifeguard takes the technology another step further by isolating and repairing the problem before data loss can occur. Western Digital Corporation is a leader in information storage products and services. The company designs and manufactures hard drives for personal and enterprise-wide computing, and markets them to leading systems manufacturers and selected resellers under the Western Digital brand name.