Microdrive
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer storage |
| Predecessor | HP Kittyhawk |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Timothy J. Riley, Thomas R. Albrecht |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Fate | Discontinued due to flash memory competition |
| Successor | Flash-based storage devices (e.g., CompactFlash, SD cards) |
| Headquarters | San Jose , United States, Japan (Fujisawa facility) |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Timothy J. Riley, Thomas R. Albrecht, Hideya Ino, Mitsuhiko Aoyagi, Kenji Kuroki, Bill Healey, John Osterhout |
| Products | 1-inch hard disk drives (Microdrive) |
| Owner | IBM; later Hitachi Global Storage Technologies after merger |
| Parent | IBM; Hitachi GST (after merger) |
The Microdrive was a compact 1-inch hard disk drive introduced by IBM in 1998. Its development began in 1992 at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose, led by Timothy J. Riley and Thomas R. Albrecht, with engineering collaboration from IBM’s Fujisawa facility in Japan.
Although initial skepticism arose due to the unsuccessful launch of Hewlett-Packard’s 1.3-inch HP Kittyhawk drive, IBM proceeded with the Microdrive project. This device played a significant role in establishing the CompactFlash Type II format as the prevailing standard for compatible hardware. Its superior attributes compared to flash memory contributed to its early market acceptance.
Competition intensified as multiple manufacturers introduced similar small-scale hard drives boasting greater capacities or reduced dimensions. Nevertheless, by the mid to late 2000s, flash-based storage solutions such as CompactFlash, SD, and USB flash largely replaced these miniature HDDs owing to their enhanced speed, capacity, reliability, and affordability.
Predecessor
Main Article: HP Kittyhawk
Prior to the Microdrive, in June 1992, Hewlett-Packard, AT&T, and Citizen Watch unveiled the 1.3-inch "HP Kittyhawk" hard disk drive. With physical dimensions of 2.0" × 1.44" × 0.414" (50.8mm × 36.5mm × 10.5mm), it initially provided 20 MB of storage capacity, later increased to 40 MB. The Kittyhawk failed commercially and was discontinued by 1994. HP exited the hard drive industry altogether in 1996 after closing its Disk Memory Division.
Development
The Microdrive concept originated at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose under the direction of Timothy J. Reiley, who sought to create a compact hard disk drive offering high capacity tailored for portable devices. The initial design intended to incorporate Microelectromechanical systems components such as spindle motors and head actuators; however, working alongside Thomas R. Albrecht, they transitioned to miniaturized conventional technology to minimize technical challenges and reduce expenses.
Hideya Ino, heading mobile drive development at IBM Fujisawa, led a team responsible for prototype creation that gained endorsement from product planning and marketing departments. Key contributors from Japan included Mitsuhiko Aoyagi and Kenji Kuroki, while Bill Healey and John Osterhout handled business development and marketing efforts based in San Jose.
Announcement and Launch
IBM revealed the Microdrive in September 1998, approximately one year prior to its market introduction, allowing device designers sufficient time to incorporate Type II slots and reaffirming IBM’s dedication to the product line. Marketing campaigns highlighted its diminutive size—comparable to a large coin or half a golf ball—and its substantial capacity equivalent to hundreds of floppy disks or thousands of digital images. According to a Sanyo manager, it could store up to 1,500 images at 1.5 megapixels or roughly ten minutes of VGA-quality video. The Microdrive was positioned as a competitor within the CompactFlash ecosystem established since 1994.
On June 24, 1999, IBM Japan set the price for the 340 MB Microdrive at ¥58,000 (approximately $475 USD). By August of that year, North America’s first distributor became Microtech International. The first generation of Microdrives launched in June 1999 with initial orders from companies including Compaq, Casio, Minolta, and Nikon. Early adopters incorporated this drive into products such as the Sanyo VPC-SX500 and Casio QV2000UX digital cameras.
Second Generation
In June 2000, IBM introduced an upgraded Microdrive series. These new units featured lower power usage, spinning at 3600 RPM, and enhanced data density reaching 15.2 gigabits per square inch. Storage sizes increased to 512 MB and 1 GB, with prices set at $399 and $499 respectively, while the original 340 MB model's price was reduced to $299. Early Microdrive adoption was limited by cost, but the improved editions targeted expansion into sectors such as portable audio devices and handheld computing.
While Microdrives were more costly than traditional hard drives, they remained more affordable than CompactFlash cards, costing approximately $0.50 per megabyte compared to CompactFlash’s $2 per megabyte.
Microdrive in Space
NASA utilized the 1 GB Microdrive to store and transmit digital images during the STS-98 and STS-102 space shuttle missions in 2001. After undergoing rigorous testing for radiation resistance and zero-gravity durability, the drive was integrated into a Kodak DCS 660 camera, successfully capturing hundreds of images throughout the missions.
Hitachi Merge
Following the consolidation of IBM and Hitachi’s hard drive divisions, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies further developed the Microdrive product line. In 2003, Hitachi unveiled models with 2 GB and 4 GB capacities. The 4 GB variant was released on February 20, 2004, priced at $499. Subsequently, a 6 GB model appeared in February 2005 at $299, coinciding with a price drop for the 4 GB version to $199. Hitachi also announced plans for a smaller 1-inch hard drive, codenamed "Mikey," aiming for late 2005 availability with an expected capacity between 8 and 10 GB, weighing just 14 grams and measuring 40 mm by 30 mm by 5 mm.
Discontinuation
By 2006, flash-based CompactFlash cards had overtaken Microdrives in both storage capacity and cost-effectiveness, rendering Microdrive technology obsolete. By mid-2012, production of 1-inch hard drives ceased entirely as no manufacturers continued making them.
In 2007, Hitachi halted production of its 1-inch drives due to falling sales and profitability. During a three-month period, only around 3,000 units were sold compared to approximately 560,000 units of larger drives sized between 1 and 1.8 inches. Consequently, Hitachi redirected its efforts toward producing larger form factor drives (2.5 and 3.5 inches), effectively exiting the small HDD segment.
Features
Microdrives weigh less than a standard roll of 35mm film.
Up until around 2006, Microdrives offered greater storage capacity than CompactFlash (CF) cards. However, since then CF cards and USB flash drives have surpassed Microdrives in capacity while maintaining similar dimensions and compatibility with CF slots.
Microdrives endure more write cycles than flash memory devices, making them advantageous for use as swap space within embedded systems. Unlike flash memory—which requires wear leveling algorithms and risks data corruption if power is lost during writing—Microdrives update data directly on the disk surface and handle power interruptions with greater reliability. On the downside, as mechanical components they are more sensitive to physical shocks and extreme temperatures; for instance, they generally cannot withstand a four-foot drop onto a hard floor unlike more robust CF cards. Additionally, they are not rated for operation at high altitudes (above approximately 10,000 feet), though they perform safely inside pressurized commercial aircraft cabins.
In terms of speed, Microdrives typically deliver transfer rates between 4 to 6 MB/s—significantly slower than high-performance CF cards which can reach speeds up to about 45 MB/s.
Unlike flash storage that retains data without power, Microdrives require constant electrical power to keep their platters spinning for immediate access. Devices such as the iPod mini address this by powering down the drive when idle; however, this introduces a spin-up delay of roughly one second upon reactivation—a disadvantage when running operating systems directly from the drive as seen with the Palm LifeDrive.
Due to their thickness, Microdrives necessitate a Type II CF slot; many contemporary compact cameras are equipped only with Type I slots optimized for flash memory cards, thereby limiting widespread adoption of Microdrives beyond professional photography applications.
Certain bus-powered CF card readers do not supply enough current to operate Microdrives despite accepting Type II cards—these readers recognize the drive but fail during data access attempts.
Moreover, some "OEM Only" models adopt the CF form factor but feature solely a 5V IDE/ATA interface incompatible with readers expecting a full CF interface at 3.3V voltage levels.
Model Table & Timeline
| Model | Capacity | Launch Date | End of Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMDM-10170 | 170 MB | June 1999 | June 2000 |
| DMDM-10340 | 340 MB | June 1999 | June 2000 |
| DSCM-10340 | 340 MB | June 2000 | December 2002 |
| DSCM-10512 | 512 MB | June 2000 | December 2002 |
| DSCM-11000 | 1 GB | June 2000 | December 2002 |
| IBM/Hitachi Merger | |||
| 340 MB | |||
| 512 MB | January 2003 | ||
| 1 GB | January 2003 | ||
| 3K4-2 | 2 GB | August 23, 2003 | |
| 3K4-4 | 4 GB | August 23, 2003 | |
| 3K6-3 | 3 GB | ||
| 3K6-4 | 4 GB | ||
| 3K6-6 | 6 GB | February 23, 2005 | January 2008 |
| 3K8-8 | 8 GB | January 2008 | |
| Unreleased Models | |||
| 3K8-10 | 10 GB | N/A | |
Halo Data Devices
Established in April 1998, Halo Data Devices emerged as a direct rival to IBM's Microdrive by engineering a slimmer 1-inch hard disk drive compatible with CompactFlash Type I standards.
Seagate
Seagate introduced compact hard drives in the sizes of 2.5 and 5 GB during 2004, maintaining the same small form factor as IBM's Microdrive. Due to trademark restrictions, these were branded either as 1-inch or CompactFlash hard drives. The Seagate ST1 series expanded with an 8 GB version in 2005. Additionally, Seagate released the Pocket Hard Drive—a consumer-oriented product shaped like a hockey puck that included a built-in USB 2.0 cable. In February 2005, Seagate launched their 6 GB mini drive concurrently with Hitachi.
Western Digital
Western Digital entered the miniaturized hard drive segment at the start of 2005, aiming for availability later that year with capacities reaching up to 6 GB. By March 2006, WD unveiled a 6 GB external USB 2.0 microdrive under the Passport Pocket label to rival Seagate's Pocket Hard Drive directly. This unit featured a 2 MB cache, an average seek time of 11 milliseconds, operated at a speed of 3,600 RPM, measured 60 × 45 × 9 mm, and was initially priced at $130.
GS Magicstor
On July 16, 2003, Chinese firm GS Magicstor, Inc., a subsidiary of GS Magic, Inc., announced a compact hard disk drive measuring one inch with a capacity of 2.4 GB, positioning it as an alternative to Hitachi Global Storage Technologies' Microdrive. The company revealed plans for additional models at the International CES in 2004, including drives with capacities of 2.2 and 4.8 GB as well as an ultra-small 0.8-inch HDD. However, on December 28, 2004, Hitachi GST initiated legal action against GS Magicstor, GS Magic, and Riospring over alleged patent violations concerning mini-HDD technology.
Cornice
Founded in Longmont, Colorado in the year 2000, Cornice developed microdrives with capacities of 4GB and 8GB aimed at MP3 players and mobile phone markets. Despite pioneering efforts, the company encountered patent infringement lawsuits from Seagate and others alongside fierce competition and dwindling sales figures, which ultimately led to its shutdown in 2007.
Toshiba
Toshiba opted not to pursue the one-inch form factor and instead announced in March 2004 a smaller drive measuring just 0.85 inches that began shipping by September of that year. This model remains the smallest commercially produced hard disk drive to date. Available in capacities of two and four gigabytes, Toshiba targeted this ultra-compact device primarily toward mobile phone applications.
Samsung
Samsung made its entry into the microdrive sector towards the end of 2008, offering models with storage capacities of 20, 30, and 40 GB. The Spinpoint A1 series incorporated a reduced disk diameter of 1.3 inches while maintaining the conventional microdrive dimensions (42.8mm x 32.4mm x 5mm) and utilized perpendicular recording technology. Despite this, Samsung's involvement was short-lived due to the overwhelming dominance of flash memory in portable storage solutions; a prominent device featuring their 30 GB drive was JVC's ultra-thin Everio GZ-MG73 camcorder.