Cornice Tiny Hard Drives Get Larger

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/storage/display/20040525153601.html' target='_blank'>http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/storag...0525153601.html</a><br /><br /></div>Spotted at the Tech Report, XbitLabs are reporting that: "Cornice, a well-known producer of ultra-small hard disk drives, broadened its lineup of "Storage Element" disks with 1GB, 1.5GB and 2.0GB models. The miniature HDDs can fit into typical key-chain and target the markets where historically flash memory was dominating. Since its introduction in June of 2003, the Cornice Storage Element has enjoyed rapid adoption in consumer electronic (CE) devices from companies like Philips, RCA, Rio, and Creative Labs. Measuring only 42.8mm x 36.4mm x 5mm and weighing only 14.5 grams, the Cornice SE HDDs are compatible with IDE standard and offer enough performance for music and video playback while still maintaining low power consumption."<br /><br />You can read more about the drives at the Cornice website <a href="http://www.corniceco.com/products/">here</a>. Is it just me that's wondering when we will see one of these integrated into a Pocket PC? It must happen soon, surely? :?

[beq]

I forget, are the Cornice drives also available as CF cards? With their claim to fame being low price, will I be able to buy a 2GB CF card for under $100? :)

[foldedspace]

Mini hard drives for the OS or just for storage? If it's for the OS, that at least stops the sweating and gnashing of teeth that happens everytime you flash the ROM and it seems to be taking just a little too long....

8O

[Zack Mahdavi]

I think it would be best to keep the OS in ROM/main memory and not on a hard drive. The hard drive should only be used for storage. If the OS was on the hard drive, I think we'd have some major battery life issues since the OS may constantly be retrieving files off the hard drive.

[arnage2]

im surprised that none of the new hps will have 512mb or a hdd

[Kacey Green]

How much ram does the new OS support?
Did they mention hard drive support when they mentioned that fixed ram/ram/ROM amounts would be available, or could you just write a driver to trick it into allowing the storage ram to be an actual HDD?

[Pony99CA]

Is it just me that's wondering when we will see one of these integrated into a Pocket PC? It must happen soon, surely? :?
It's probably not just you, but it's certainly not me. :-D If I get a hard disk for my Pocket PC, I'll want it to be removable. You can find out why in the editorial I wrote (http://thoughts.svpocketpc.com#THOUGHT_PDA_HARDDISKS).

Steve

[Kacey Green]

What about a user replaceable and (or) upgradeable drive?

[Pony99CA]

What about a user replaceable and (or) upgradeable drive?
I give up -- what about them?

Steve

[Kacey Green]

your're link said you didn't want fixed HDDs where you had to send the PPC into a service center should something happen, no?

[Jonathon Watkins]

Is it just me that's wondering when we will see one of these integrated into a Pocket PC? It must happen soon, surely? :?
It's probably not just you, but it's certainly not me. :-D If I get a hard disk for my Pocket PC, I'll want it to be removable. You can find out why in the editorial I wrote (http://thoughts.svpocketpc.com#THOUGHT_PDA_HARDDISKS).

You make some good points there Steve. However Kacey is correct in highlighting the difference between removable (e.g Type 3 CF microdrives) and user replaceable (embedded, but removable with a bit of work).

I would hope that embedded Hard Drives in Pocket PCs would have greater reliability and power management features than the current crop of removable disks.

The problem with current backups over ActiveSync is valid, but surely a better loner term solution would be to fix activesync and include USB2 ports/sync connectors on new Pocket PCs which include embedded hard drives?

[Pony99CA]

your're link said you didn't want fixed HDDs where you had to send the PPC into a service center should something happen, no?
Yes, and my post here said that I wanted a removable drive (which would certainly be user-replaceable and upgradeable).

If you're asking "Would a user-replaceable or upgradeable drive be sufficient to meet my needs?", my answer would be "Probably not". I'd still want the ability to be able to use that drive in other devices -- specifically, a card reader, but also maybe a digital camera.

"Removable" also implies a simplicity that "user-replaceable" and "upgradeable" don't. Hard disks in desktops are certainly upgradeable, but they aren't easy to replace (at least not for the average user); removable (and external) hard disks are quick and easy to replace.

If a Pocket PC embedded a Cornice drive that was easy to remove (maybe like a removable battery) and also had a Compact Flash adapter available, that probably would meet my requirements.

Steve

[Pony99CA]

Is it just me that's wondering when we will see one of these integrated into a Pocket PC? It must happen soon, surely? :?
It's probably not just you, but it's certainly not me. :-D If I get a hard disk for my Pocket PC, I'll want it to be removable. You can find out why in the editorial I wrote (http://thoughts.svpocketpc.com#THOUGHT_PDA_HARDDISKS).
You make some good points there Steve. However Kacey is correct in highlighting the difference between removable (e.g Type 3 CF microdrives) and user replaceable (embedded, but removable with a bit of work).
Oops, I hadn't noticed your post when I made the post immediately following yours. As it indicates, I'm aware of the difference and a user-replaceable drive would not meet my requirements.

I would hope that embedded Hard Drives in Pocket PCs would have greater reliability and power management features than the current crop of removable disks.
They would almost have to. If they can be that reliable, though, and have excellent power management, what prevents those same advances from being incorporated into removable drives?

The problem with current backups over ActiveSync is valid, but surely a better loner term solution would be to fix activesync and include USB2 ports/sync connectors on new Pocket PCs which include embedded hard drives?
Yes, improving ActiveSync and the hardware would help remove some of my objections, but it still wouldn't allow me to use the drive in another device. Also, given the use of memory cards today, we already have good reasons to improve ActiveSync and the hardware. :-)

Steve

[Kacey Green]

Yes, and my post here said that I wanted a removable drive (which would certainly be user-replaceable and upgradeable).

If you're asking "Would a user-replaceable or upgradeable drive be sufficient to meet my needs?", my answer would be "Probably not". I'd still want the ability to be able to use that drive in other devices -- specifically, a card reader, but also maybe a digital camera.

"Removable" also implies a simplicity that "user-replaceable" and "upgradeable" don't. Hard disks in desktops are certainly upgradeable, but they aren't easy to replace (at least not for the average user); removable (and external) hard disks are quick and easy to replace.

If a Pocket PC embedded a Cornice drive that was easy to remove (maybe like a removable battery) and also had a Compact Flash adapter available, that probably would meet my requirements.

Steve

Look here (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=249098#249098)

Seriously how often would new drives be availible for these things?
Hopfully there is a standard at least within each manufacturer, but more like the laptop drives, (you're way sounds cool, a hdd module just like the batt and batt compartmetnt. But I agree more with J. W. If this is replacing storage ram and the device still doesn't shutdown then you can use the whole device as a flash drive if they make those imporvements to Activesync. ooh, ooh, and full NTFS support would be nice.