5GB Credit-Card Sized Hard Drive

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,108816,tk,dn011603X,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article...n011603X,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>... and this time, I mean it <i>literally</i>. This could be really useful for a wide variety of devices, but especially PDAs.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/108816-n_011603_Storcard2.jpg" /><br /><br />"Take a look at one of those credit cards in your wallet. That's the exact size and thickness of an upcoming, revolutionary removable storage device called StorCard.<br /><br />Created by a company with the same name, StorCard can contain from 100MB to more than 5GB of data on a plastic card. At first glance, it looks like a credit card, and even has a magnetic strip like a credit card, for potential use in standard credit card readers.<br /><br />The hard disk data, however, is accessed on a tiny spinning disk inside the thin card."<br /><br />There's more information on <a href="http://www.storcard.com">their website</a>.

[FredMurphy]

Interesting, but IMO another "wait and see" storage solution.

They do mention PDAs but a lot depends on the size of the reader - if a lot of the control circuitry is in there it may significantly increase the size requirements to actually use the device. They hint at a PCMCIA sized reader but I couldn't find anything definite.

Storage capacity from 100MB to multi-gigabyte capacity* (in future generations*)
Future generations... i.e. nothing about 100MB working yet.

[Fzara]

This def. sounds good, but I fear the widespread adaptation of something like this.

I'm sure prices for this would be sky-high, and it wouldnt do good in the current market.

With all the diff. formats/cards/sticks out there, I really am confused between them all. Ultimately, the manufacturer will have a hard time picking which format for which device.

[daS]

Reading the “fine print” on the web site, this is not really as revolutionary as they imply in the synopsis. Basically this is a ZIP disk in a smart card package. That is, it has a floppy-like disk inside with a shutter door on the bottom of the card. The card fits in a reader that contains the actual drive mechanism and motors. :roll:

I doubt we will see such a drive inside a PDA any time soon due to the power requirements of the motors. :?

Of course, it still a step forward comparing the thickness of the card to a ZIP or floppy. Also, the company is run by Finis Conner (co founder of Seagate and founder of Conner Peripherals) so I don't think this is completely vaporware.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

A spinning disk inside of something the size of a credit card??

A technical marvel, but from a practical viewpoint, wouldn't something like this be easily damaged because of the size dimensions?

[Jonathan1]

HUH? :?: Why would you make movable parts in such a disk?!?!? I thought the mantra for the computer industry was: Moving parts bad! Wouldn’t it be cheaper in the long run to just use a larger form factor based on the core components of the SD standard? If they can put 512MB - 1GB in a SD card you should be able to do the same with a larger form factor.

[GoldKey]

At first glance, it looks like a credit card, and even has a magnetic strip like a credit card, for potential use in standard credit card readers.

Makes me wonder what kind of physical tolerances it has. From the above statement, it seems that they would suggest that it could be used like a credit card with smartcard functionality. But, could the drive actually stand up to the conditions that a CC are put through especially being flexed in a wallet.

[GoldKey]

Wow, three of us all had the same basic thought within a minute.

[Kati Compton]

the conditions that a CC are put through especially being flexed in a wallet.

And if I kept my wallet in my pocket, I would be pretty worried about sitting on it...

[Tom Eichers]

Ok, nice idea. But I would rather stick to Solid State. Just picked up a 512MB HighSpeed FlashCard (for my Canon S230 originally) , popped a copy of XXX on it and wow, does it play nice, not a stutter or anything, was noticeable improvment over playing them on my Toshiba PCMCIA Drive. But of course storage size (512mb Card, 5 GIG Toshiba) now I am kind of wondering about those 1 GB Flash.

[rommels]

If PDA Manufacturers implements this as an additional storage device (w/o PC Card adaptor), it would be cool, they can make the device thinner, but it would be expensive; although I wouldn't mind seeing it.

I can see this being added to high end Pocket PCs.

[Janak Parekh]

Reading the “fine print” on the web site, this is not really as revolutionary as they imply in the synopsis. Basically this is a ZIP disk in a smart card package.
This explains a lot, including the size of the unit. You couldn't actually fit the heads in the card. Yes, power consumption could indeed be a problem--but it should still be comparable to a hard drive, if not better.

5GB solid state is real expensive right now. It's good to see more options be available in the marketplace, in general.

--janak

[MPSmith]

Wow, that looks neat. My 720 has a smart card reader. Looks like this is compatible with it.

"The electronic chip on the StorCard provides the logic that allows the card to operate in a standard Smart Card reader or in the StorReader, using Java Card, Multos or other Smart Card operating system."

and

"The StorCard conforms to ISO 7816-1 (Smart Card standard) including mechanical flexibility along the longitudinal and transverse axis without damage to the IC or the magnetic recording medium. The communication protocol is per the standard Smart Card Interface (ISO 7816-2 & 3) and via a unique bus implemented in the StorReader."

Is there anything that 720 CAN'T do? :wink:

[johncj]

On the website they claim:

1. PCMCIA and USB readers (for $100)
2. Disks priced at $15 (not clear if this is the 5GB ones)
3. SmartCard compatibility
4. Disks can be carried in your wallet (flexible and resilient)
5. Strong encryption built-in

If they deliver this, they will revolutionize several application areas. This could be a real advance in storage technology.

[daS]

5GB solid state is real expensive right now. It's good to see more options be available in the marketplace, in general.

Of course 5GB is not something that is available in this type of disk either. It's sort of like the plastic SD Card cases that Panasonic. et. al., show with labels that say 2GB. Ask them if they have such a thing and they'll tell you "it's on our road map". :wink:

[Janak Parekh]

Of course 5GB is not something that is available in this type of disk either.
Point taken. Well, this manufacturer is in another DataPlay-like situation: put up quickly or shut up. We'll see what happens. :)

--janak

[daS]

Why would you make movable parts in such a disk?!?!?
Because a floppy (or ZIP) disk is a lot cheaper media than solid state.

Remember guys - this is not a drive, it's only the media. I could see the thought that housing a floppy-like media inside a credit card plastic case could allow it to bend without getting a crease. That would make it more rugged.

Still, I'm not getting too excited about this technology. It's not really too much more than the Iomega Click, which failed in the market. Sure they're quoting big capacity, but Click was projecting higher future capacities as well.

BTW: I believe that this will be my 49th post on PocketPCThoughts. Does that mean that after writing in Pocket PC Magazine since its first issue, I'm ready to officially graduate from being a Pocket PC Pupil? :wink:

[welmoed]

So we really need yet another form factor? :? PCMCIA, CF, SM, SD, memory sticks... yeesh, why not just pick an existing form factor and make it better?

--Welmoed

[Unreal32]

MMM... I love the smell of vaporware in the morning. :wink:

[Janak Parekh]

So we really need yet another form factor? :? PCMCIA, CF, SM, SD, memory sticks... yeesh, why not just pick an existing form factor and make it better?
Because few of those form factors match this device's media size requirements. The only one that does is PC card, but it's too thick. They would like this device to be potentially an all-in-one Smart Card, Credit Card, and magnetic disk. :)

--janak

[Jonathon Watkins]

MMM... I love the smell of vaporware in the morning. :wink:

Just Napalm it! :wink:

[Mexico]

Has anybody watched the video? (http://www.storcard.com/theater/theater.html) There's a sound effect you'll recognize immediately... :D

[vincentsiaw]

wow, this kind of card sure in my wish list !!!

[Joff]

Wow, I am ready to compromise on battery life if they can stick to really cheap prices. It' s about time we get decent memory storage on our PPC and for a reasonable price! Not like those silly 1GB CF cards which cost more than the PPC itself...

(I know, I can get a 5Gig PCMCIA but I I don't have the jacket)

[st63z]

Has anybody watched the video? (http://www.storcard.com/theater/theater.html) There's a sound effect you'll recognize immediately... :D

OK I'll bite, what is it?

[johncruise]

Smartcard? On a PCMCIA/PC Card? First I just thought that they would trim down the card a little but when they said SmartCard (yes... the credit card with a smart chips inside) can be used on a pcmcia card adapter so that you can put it in your PDA, then I realized that this product hasn't even gone to proto stage otherwise, they would see what's wrong with their plan. Obviously, a standard credit card is about the same (repeat... "the same") size (height and width) as of the pcmcia. Given that you can extend the size of the pcmcia adapter card which then it will stick out of the top of your PDA, how in the world they would handle the side then? They better give a better thought on their product.

[Kati Compton]

Obviously, a standard credit card is about the same (repeat... "the same") size (height and width) as of the pcmcia. Given that you can extend the size of the pcmcia adapter card which then it will stick out of the top of your PDA, how in the world they would handle the side then? They better give a better thought on their product.

Maybe the adapter will look something like one of those wood bagel slicers, with open sides. The adapter might wrap around the top and bottom and the skinny end. But yes, it would probably stick out a little.

[johncruise]

Maybe the adapter will look something like one of those wood bagel slicers, with open sides. The adapter might wrap around the top and bottom and the skinny end. But yes, it would probably stick out a little.

My thoughts exactly :D But the thing is, how then would they align the card so that it goes to it's proper alignment for the adapter to read the information from the card? If it has an open sides, it would then wobble inside.

[rommels]

Has anybody watched the video? (http://www.storcard.com/theater/theater.html) There's a sound effect you'll recognize immediately... :D

OK I'll bite, what is it?

It is the sound of ActiveSync when you sync your device to your PC :)

[st63z]

No way!

Thanks :)