Plated disks hold far more data than coated media. Also see Platter and Coated media. The circular aluminum or other surface where the actual data is stored. Coating will hold far less magnetic particles than plating. Coated media can hold up to 20,000 magnetic domains in an inch of track while plated media can hold up to 50,000.
Plated media are also extremely hard and much less susceptible to head crashes.
Because of the precision and cost needed in making plated media, it is much more expensive and is generally used only in higher-capacity drives. Newer drives use glass platters which are smoother and can hold a much greater amount of data in less space. Interface A 50-pin tape drive interface that has become an industry standard. Interface Tape drive software command set that has become an industry standard. A way of connecting multiple drives to one controller.