IBM Prepares 100-Terabyte Tape Drives

Roland Piquepaille writes "It's a well-known fact that we're living in an era of data explosion, and that it's not about to stop. So it's not really surprising that IBM researchers are eyeing 100T-byte tape drive. Yes, you read correctly. They want to increase the capacity storage of their largest units by 250 times, from 400 GB to 100 TB. In order to achieve this goal, they're borrowing "nanopatterning" techniques derived from the microprocessor division. Today, the size of a tape track is about 10 microns. They want to reduce it to 0.5 micron -- or 500 nanometers -- in about five years. IBM doesn't really say when a 100-Terabyte tape drive will be available. But more importantly, the company doesn't say a word about future data transfer rates, which today reach a 80 MB/s. Read this overview for more comments about this problem of data transfer rates."

Comments

Funny you talk of data explosion...

[norweigiantroll]

My hard drive blew up just yesterday.

Thank you.

[Ayanami Rei]

Please, all caring slashdotters, I ask the following of you:
Copy and paste this article as an AC reply every time you see a Roland "Fucky-facey" Piquepaille article. It would remove much AC discussion and it puts quite clearly what so many others have voiced.

Re:Roland Piquepaille Spam and Slashdot

[chawly]

Well I'm sure you're right. It really is too much research for me - I kind of need the time. I'd like to offer the following comments, however. - Know any French do you ? For if you split old Roland's family name you get "pique" and "paille" - and you have to be able to guess .... It's a bit like living in Sensa (you know, the suburb of Yuma where you smile when you think of home) - Into European literature are you ? Look up Roland. This all to point out that I think your research is misplaced. I personally enjoy Roland's little efforts. I find them informative. I can read them quickly. I find them to be accurate, as far as they go. I'm pretty much sure that I'm not the only /. reader who appreciates them. Don't care if Roland makes a buck off of his efforts. If YOU are against the process that's one thing, but I don't think you should rant in the name of all /. readers. How the heck do you know that Slashdot accepts every one of Roland's submissions ? like to point out that I'm putting my name on this post. That happy old Roland puts his name on his articles. I did NOT notice a name on your post. Can think of only one explanation ; you, Roland Piquepaille, and CowboyNeal are in fact one and the same person (and you all live in the well-known suburb of Yuma). As Roland you roll out the article, as anonymous coward you roll out the rant to excite interest in the article and so increase the money you get paid, and as CowboyNeal you put the editorial stamp on both (while try not to cry in your beer). Come on now, own up - my theory explains all. I, for one, welcome our cheery old straw-strewn overlord, and I say hang in there Roland.

Re:Roland Piquepaille Spam and Slashdot

[psychoandy]

I know it's going to be a great day when I see someone picking on the AC rant...AND blaming CowboyNeal..

It makes me smile.