Western Digital, a leading maker of hard disk drives, has launched the world’s first 2.5” hard disk drive with 1TB capacity. The novelty will enable rather unprecedented amount of space on leading-edge notebooks aimed at gamers or multimedia fans. In addition, WD will also use its new 2.5” hard drive to enable 1TB external hard disk drives (HDDs).

"The convergence of the growing mobile computing and digital media trends produces demand for desktop-like capacities in portable devices. Our new WD Scorpio Blue drives enable people to take even more of their digital collections with them wherever they go and, realizing the value of their data, back up their notebooks on their My Passport drives" said Jim Morris, senior vice president and general manager of client systems at WD.

The new WD Scorpio Blue hard drives based on 333GB platters will be available in 750GB and 1TB capacities and will have 5200 RPM spindle speed, 8MB buffer size as well as Serial ATA 300 interface. WD declares 5.5ms average latency, 12ms read seek time and 2.0ms track-to-track seek time. Given that the new WD Scorpio Blue use 5200 RPM motor, they will not offer performance akin to that of desktop drives.

Like all the mobile HDDs from WD, the new Scorpio Blue support the company’s proprietary technologies that improve performance, reliability and minimize noise levels.

WD Scorpio Blue 750 GB drives (model WD7500KEVT) are available now through select distributors and resellers; the 1 TB capacity (model WD10TEVT) is available now configured into My Passport Essential SE USB drives. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the WD Scorpio Blue 1 TB drive is $249.99 USD and for the 750 GB version it is $189.99 USD. WD Scorpio Blue hard drives are covered by a three-year limited warranty.

Tags: WD, Western Digital, Scorpio