Hitachi's 2.5-inch Travelstar 7K200: 200GB, 7,200 RPM, bulk encryption

While 200GB laptop drives are nothing new -- we've already seen models from a number of manufacturers, and even a 300GB behemoth from Fujitsu -- Hitachi is claiming that its latest 2.5-inch HDD, the Travelstar 7K200, is the "industry's highest-capacity, highest-performing notebook hard drive with optional data encryption technology." Said bulk encryption, which uses a key to scramble and unscramble data as it's written and read, is implemented at the hardware level and is said to obviate the need for devices such as degaussers because users can simply delete the key before disposing of the drive. You'll be able to get your hands on a retail 7K200 sometime this summer for about $250, or if you simply can't wait for this supposedly unrivaled combo of capacity and security, Dell is offering these platters immediately on all its XPS and Alienware notebooks, with 400GB dual-drive configurations also available.

[Via PC Launches]

[Bman21212 @ May 10th 2007 5:02PM]

$250 in expensive, but somewhat reasonable. I bought this 100 gb 2.5" harddrive for 120, so I will still get the same dollar to GB ratio with a new drive. 7200rpms really is the way to go for me, since I am a gamer. This looks like an amazing drive.

*Bman21212 goes and saves up $250

[Kevin @ May 10th 2007 5:02PM]

cool. really setting the bar, eh?
http://one.revver.com/account/show/insanebinky

[Saqib Ali @ May 10th 2007 5:04PM]

It would interesting to find out how the 7K200 Tavelstar authenticates the user before decrypting the data.

Are they using ATA Drive Lock feature in bios or a proprietary client software to unlock the drive?

saqib
http://www.full-disk-encryption.net

[mithras @ May 10th 2007 5:35PM]

Has the 300GB drive actually become available anywhere? I'd love to get my mitts on that.

[markie @ May 10th 2007 5:41PM]

>It would interesting to find out how the 7K200 Tavelstar authenticates the user before decrypting the data.

probably with a passkey... That would be identical in how I authenticate myself for unlocking my fully encrypted drives in my fileserver :-)

http://geektechnique.org/projectlab/83/making-an-encrypted-fileserver

>...is said to obviate the need for devices such as degaussers because users can simply delete the key before disposing of the drive.

indeed! once you experience the joy of totally encrypted disks it really makes you wonder to what lenghts people go to destroy their old data and/or drives ;-)

[Andir3.0 @ May 10th 2007 6:20PM]

Using a random number to encrypt the data and hoping you get the same random number when it's time to decrypt it?

[cody @ May 10th 2007 6:22PM]

great i just bouht a 200 gb 4200 rpm drive ow well thats tech for ya

[Homeboy @ May 10th 2007 6:30PM]

My HP pavilion has dual 80GB 5400rpm drives and they get pretty damn hot under heavy load.
These 200gb 7200rpm drives bound to turn your scrotum into bacon.

[Chuckles McGee @ May 10th 2007 6:54PM]

Hah, I just bought a 7K100 yesterday! Oh well, $80 for the now-second fastest non-flash notebook drive is nothing to be ashamed of.

[Brian Kaempen @ May 10th 2007 6:55PM]

How thick is this bad boy? I NEED, not want, it's now a matter of NEED to get a larger HDD for my 17" MacBook Pro, and if I'm gonna upgrade, I might as well go big or go home. I was looking at the 300 which SHOULD be out now but no word on it since december, and now this guy comes with 7200RPM, I'll take that over the extra 100Gb, since I'll already be gaining 100. But I NEED a drive, please make this available soon and PLEASE let it fit in my comp.

-Brian

[daevh @ May 11th 2007 8:38AM]

9.5mm according to the specs on the Hitachi site. It's a toss up between this and Samsung's 200gb 7,200rpm drive now. Perhaps i'll choose the cheapest of the two...

[John Doe @ May 10th 2007 11:18PM]

The problem is that the maker is Hitachi. I trust their drives as far as I can throw their manufacturing plant. I've been burned many a time by them. Hell Dell had a recall on all their drives in their CPx line at one point as well.

[SuMtOnE @ May 11th 2007 4:51AM]

wait... will this fit into my ps3?

[Raphael @ May 12th 2007 2:31AM]

does anyone know if this would be compatible with the 12" PB?

[Stephen @ May 13th 2007 7:41AM]

Wow, and here I was waiting for the 160GB one from Seagate. I remember Seagate announced the 160GB one like last June, and it STILL is not available via retail (I have checked because I really want it). Meanwhile if they had released it in, say, January, they would have made a killing before this was announced. They've lost their edge...

[Marcus @ May 21st 2007 1:38AM]

Anyone know when this drive will be available to uers? My 17 mbp needs a bigger hd......

[Kayoss @ May 21st 2007 4:38PM]

It's a SATA, so yes, it will fit into the PS3. I can't wait to slip one of these into my Macbook. I'm using the 7K100 now and it's such a fantastic upgrade from the 5400RPM Fujitsu that same with the computer. Really, you'll only notice the difference when working with multi-track audio and/or video.... but trust me, the 7200RPM does wonders! Can't WAIT for 200GB!! Does anyone know when this will actually be shipping? Seems weird to do a press release when the drive isn't available yet.

[lweston @ May 24th 2007 6:43PM]

For the Hitachi drive the encryption is shipped enabled from the factory so the drive is constantly encrypting. You set the HDD password as you normally would through the ATA command (usually the setup routine in the BIOS) and that locks the drive. The only difference is now the data on the media is totally encrypted so if someone were to steal your system and try recovering the data they wouldn't be able to do it.

I checked with some Hitachi distributors and heard that they are building now the 200GB series now and should start getting deliveries in the next month. I upgraded to 7200 RPM 80GB last year and really liked the speed so am looking forward to getting a larger capacity model.

[scott @ Jun 5th 2007 2:19AM]

> is said to obviate the need for devices such as degaussers
> because users can simply delete the key before disposing
> of the drive.

Err... and the deleted key is protected from recovery how?

[Richard @ Jul 21st 2007 12:35PM]

I have been unsuccessful so far at finding a supplier of this drive with the bulk data encryption feature. Hitachi sent me this reply to my inquiry.

Not all 7K200s have the encryption. Here are the part numbers that do:

80GB - 0A53066
100GB - 0A53067
120GB - 0A53068
160GB - 0A53069
200GB - 0A53070

If you want this feature, make sure the part number agrees with the above, or you will be disappointed.

They also advise the option requires a password on each boot-up to be entered much like your Windows password, but were not more specific.