Hitachi to offer road-ready Endurastar hard drives

Since vehicles of all flavors are rolling out pre-pimped with such flattering amenities as iPod adapters, high-end navigation systems, and rip-n-go CD players, Hitachi apparently figured now would be an opportunistic time to offer up a few road-ready hard drive options. You're probably quite aware that even the most relaxing Sunday drive is never complete without its fair share of jostling, and the two new Endurastar HDDs are built to withstand all the unique tortures a hard drive may face when being driven daily. According to Hitachi, the N4K50 is designed to operate in temperatures from minus 3 degrees to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, and at altitudes "up to 3,000 meters." The slightly more extreme offering, dubbed J4K50, isn't fazed by heights of up to 5,000 meters, and can shake off that frostbite by spinning at negative 22 degrees, or keep its cool while operating at 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Presumably, a good bit of the stability comes from the fluid dynamic bearings used in the motors, a much more adept alternative to the ball bearings that have become commonplace. Hitachi isn't handing out release dates nor pricing as of yet, but they are stating that both factory and aftermarket options will be available in sizes up to 50GB, so we assume you modders won't waste any time in getting those creative wheels a spinning.

[BDR @ Sep 4th 2006 2:26PM]

Ha! Is that a reflection of roadkill in the upper-left of the drive?!

[GhostDoggy @ Sep 4th 2006 2:34PM]

Nah, thats where the drive suffered a head-crash.

[Chris @ Sep 4th 2006 4:27PM]

Might just be an orange reflector; such items are commonplace on roads near my house.

[ralphg @ Sep 4th 2006 5:01PM]

Road lines are painted 4" wide, so that gives you an idea of the size of the unit -- 5 or 6 inches wide -- unless it was PhotoShopped in, of course.

[s52_e36 @ Sep 4th 2006 5:27PM]

Sizes up to 50 gig? I hope they ramp the sizes up quickly, I've already got 250 gigs in my car and am looking to place another 500 in there soon. I would love to have something more robust, but I'm sure its actually going to end up being more cost effective just to go with standard HDs.

[anon @ Sep 4th 2006 6:04PM]

Up to 158F? Won't make it in Florida where buttoned up vehicles can reach 172F internal when outside temps reach 100F (as reported by CDC to Congress re: unattended infant deaths). I'm sure it's worse in hotter climates.

[++good @ Sep 4th 2006 9:33PM]

Only -3 degrees? Won't make a winter in Canada, most nights are around -25 to -35 before wind chill. (Celsius that is).

[Galley @ Sep 5th 2006 9:29AM]

Us Southerners would definitely need the Extreme version.

[Jordan @ Sep 5th 2006 10:27AM]

Those are operating temperatures, right? I don't think that you're going to run around without the heater on at -31 degrees.. ;)

Besides, I live in Michigan, and I've driven in -31 degree nights before. Cars don't like it! They hate to start, and it's bad for them. Your car will hardly survive in those temperatures, so I'd say for a hard drive to OPERATE in these temps, that's pretty good.

It's why everyone in the Northeast drives Subarus, right? Because GM cars don't last so long in -31 degree weather.. ;)

Also ... aren't MOST drives fluid dynamic bearing now?