Samsung announces 1.8-inch 120GB disk for UMPCs and perhaps, iPods

Oh Samsung, you and your obsession with the "world's biggest" puts even Jersey girls to shame. Chalk-up two more this morning with the world's highest capacity 1.8- and 2.5-inch hard disk drives. We already knew they were working a 250GB version of their 2.5-inch, SATA 1.5Gbps (and PATA) SpinPoint M5 spinning at 5,400rpm. It'll bring an 8MB cache, 24dB whine when idle, 2W power consumption, and 12-ms average seek time when it hits later in the month. According to Samsung, that makes this the largest 2.5-inch disk in a 9.5-mm profile -- whatever. The newly announced 1.8-inch SpinPoint N2 however, brings a world's first 120GB capacity to portable handheld devices like UMPCs (pictured) and perhaps -- if Sammy is real lucky -- future iPods. As such, the N2 spins at 3,600rpm or 4,200rpm with a 15-ms average seek and sub-1W power consumption to help keep your portable device, portable. Production of the 1.8-incher begins in July although we're pretty sure they're already providing samples to OEMs. Hear that Apple? Your 80GB iPod is starting to smell a bit stale. At least toss in a 100GB Toshiba disk for all those movies you're trying to sell us.

[Jesse S @ Apr 25th 2007 4:18AM]

Fuck ipods. I'm going to put this in my Cowon iaudio X5, and load it up with FLAC, and enjoy the Cowon's superior audio.

[Crayola @ Apr 25th 2007 5:18AM]

iPod is a piece of crap, if Samsung does sell those 120GB spinners to Apple, I would rather gut iPod to get the hard drive rather than face the shame being a johnny-come-lately with that piece of turd.

[Cleverboy @ Apr 25th 2007 6:22AM]

Boy, the haters are out. Calm down, you sugar junkies. That iPod didn't do anything to you. Personally, I wouldn't recommend a much bigger pod myself. I imagine they could simply replace the 80GB if the pricing and demand warrants it. I got a 60Gb and mine is no where near full, and fluctuating all the time. More space definitely not a selling point for me right now on that type of device.

[Terry @ Apr 25th 2007 7:50AM]

I wish the new release of the Cowon Q5 had this drive!!! 30/60 gigs is not enough!!

I just have to wait until they up the capacity on their drive before I get my Q5!!!

[Barry @ Apr 25th 2007 8:23AM]

World's largest capacity 1.8 HDD? Or world's smallest 120GB HDD? Two world records with one proverbial stone. @Cleverboy, I have a 15GB 3G iPod and I too am not having any capacity issues. Storage space alone will not indefinitely sell iPods.

[strider_mt2k @ Apr 25th 2007 8:32AM]

iPod shmIpod, I like the drive for storage and stuff.

After what has been a favorable experience rescuing a 1.8" drive out of a GPS and converting it into a portable USB drive, this seems purdy cool!

[andy @ Apr 25th 2007 9:11AM]

Hey Engadget, let's leave Jersey girls out of this, ok? :-)

[elbow @ Apr 25th 2007 11:07AM]

So, could I stuff this bad boy into an OQO Model 02?? Mmmmmm...

[bgdc @ Apr 25th 2007 11:32AM]

I won't buy another ipod until it's SSD of at least 32 GB. I've got a 30 GB Gen 5 and it's fine (18 gb free), save for the fact the spinning HD chews up power too fast.

[elbow @ Apr 25th 2007 12:21PM]

OK, so if I'm reading this slide right
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2007/0425/samsung06.jpg

it seems like the 5mm thick flavor of the N2 will max out at 80GB (the 120GB is 8mm thick). It looks like the stock OQO Model 01 drive was 5mm thick, but some folks managed to shoehorn a 8mm drive into one, with a little bit of "persuasion"
http://k1.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/rimg0074.JPG

found that link from this page:
http://www.handtops.com/forum/1844/3/

[Kev50027 @ Apr 25th 2007 1:33PM]

Who on earth would need that much storage on an mp3 player, let alone the iPod, which can't even record audio, video, or playback 99% of video formats.

I think this marks the point where buying a flash mp3 player is simply a better idea than a hard drive based player. Just a year ago, it wasn't that practical, but now that prices have dropped for 4 and 8 GB flash players, bothering with a hard drive mp3 player is just.. dumb.

I have a HUGE music collection, but the only time I really need it is when I go on a long voyage, and in that case, 30-40 GB is plenty.

[Dave @ Apr 25th 2007 6:14PM]

Great News! Right now I am waiting for an iPod larger than 80GB. I currently have a 60GB and a 70GB music collection. I also use my iPod for listening to audiobooks. So for all those poeple questioning the need for larger iPods, there is a market for them. BTW- I have no intention of using my future iPod for video. I would simply rather have my entire music collection with me.

[KC @ Apr 25th 2007 7:12PM]

I wonder if these come with a ZIF interface... I would try to pop one into my SR1.

[JoeBob @ Apr 26th 2007 2:07AM]

I remember thinking I had the biggest pair on the block when they wheeled in my IBM PS/2 Model50Z with the new 20MB(!) hard drive. Now a CVS disposable camera has more storage.

[TheLuddite @ Nov 25th 2007 2:19PM]

Jesse:

I'm very interested in upgrading my 60GB iAudio to 120 or 160GB. Any guidance on what to buy and a couple of pics would really make you a hero to me and to others who are trying to avoid Apple's world of encrypted firmware. Many, Many thanks in advance if you can help.

The Luddite

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