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IBM Introduces 'Air Bags' For Laptop Hard Drives

Posted by simoniker on from the wam-bang-boom dept.

Ruger writes "Reported in PCWorld this morning, IBM has introduced a technology for their new laptop hard discs which has a similar concept to airbags in cars. Active Protection System (APS) is a microchip put on the system board that senses acceleration. It parks the head of a hard drive inside a tenth of a second, significantly reducing the risk of damage to data. IBM also has a a press release on the new ThinkPad R50 and T41 models that include this technology, for those interested in the company line."

5 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. I think this is great by BizidyDizidy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Improving durability of laptops is more important than kicking up clock speed or what have you, at least to the truly mobile user. Especially good would be if that durability could be made cheaper.

    Something I've always found strange is that laptop carrying cases don't ever seem to advertise how well they PROTECT the laptop, which should be their primary goal, IMO. After having to go through great lengths to repair a new and expensive laptop after a drop, I'd be very appreciative of a carrying case that had this important end in mind.

    --
    The safest way to approach lava is to have another person with you and he goes first.
  2. Dammit! That's my idea! by xyote · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I filed a disclosure at IBM (Kingston, NY) in the early 90's on this exact idea. The problem was during the review it was clear that nobody at Kingston knew anything or was interested in disk drive technology (San Jose did the disk drives then), so it was a no go on the idea. The disclosure is on file, IBM keeps paperwork forever.

    Interestingly enough, Connor came out with a disk drive 6 months later that did something similar, but it just cut write current rather than park the heads.

  3. Isn't this dangerous? by tbase · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Even at under a tenth of a second, if it senses acceleration (you drop it) and the heads are in the process of moving across the platter to the park position at impact (it hits the floor), wouldn't that increase the chances of a large scratch as opposed to a small nick?

    --

    666-607: 6th floor apartment of the beast
    1. Re:Isn't this dangerous? by Fuzzy_The_Quantum_Du · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Obviously you haven't driven with my Mother! ;0) Airplanes definatly do hit 1G, but you are not really supposed to use those during takeoff and landing. Also from the Original poster: "Active Protection System (APS) is a microchip put on the system board that senses acceleration." Cheers, Duck

  4. Um.... by brsmith4 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Who gives a shit about the hard drives, did you hear about the battery life that these bitches were supposedly putting out? 10 hours? That's unreal. Granted, the hard drive improvements are great, but you can't beat 10 hour battery life.