Single-Platter 500GB HDDs for Notebooks to Become Mainstream in 2011

Without a doubt, storage solutions have evolved quite a lot over the past couple of years, the appearance of SSDs really changing the game in this field, at least to some extent, since HDDs are still out there in large numbers, and the same will happen throughout 2011, when 500GB HDDs are quite likely to become standard in the field of portable computing systems.

So, as MyDrivers reports, quoting sources close to the storage industry, it seems that the single-platter, 500GB hard disk drive units for notebooks will jump from around 30 to 35 percent in Q4, 2010 to around 40 percent in 2011.

Quite obviously, this increase in the number of 500GB HDDs shipped on the market will be done at the expense of 320GB, 250GB and 160GB HDDs, whose market share will drop significantly over the course of 2011.

The reason for this particular trend in HDD storage solutions is related directly to the evolution of data storage requirements (just about everyone can testify to the fact that we all require more and more storage space for our photos, videos and documents, with every passing day), but also to the appearance and rapid development of SSDs (solid-state drives).

In fact, right now, in terms of small-size storage drives (up to 128GB, that is), a SSD represents a much better solution than a HDD, given the fact that it offers better protection for one's data, not to mention faster speeds.

However, large-size SSDs are still quite costly, compared to their HDD counterparts, and for this reason, 500GB HDDs will be preferred for mainstream notebooks.

Of course, larger-size notebook HDDs (750GB, 1TB) will also be available, but their use will most likely be restricted to the more costly high-end, gaming or multimedia playback and editing – dedicated portable computing solutions.