Quantum Corp duly announced those promised super-compact Winchesters last week (CI No 1,498), bringing out a total of eight drives for use in laptop, notebook and portable computers, and low-end desktop machines. The Go-Drive Series marks the Milpitas, California company’s entry into the 2.5 fray, and sees them being used not only in battery-powered laptop and notebook computers, but also in non-computer storage applications such as printers and facsimile machines. The Go-Drive 40 and 80 provide 42Mb and 84Mb of formatted storage and come with embedded SCSI or AT-bus controllers. The company’s new small-frame – quarter-height – low-power 3.5 drives were launched as the ProDrive Gem Series, and come in 84Mb and 168Mb models, also with embedded AT-bus or SCSI controller. Evaluation units of both SCSI and AT-bus models of the Go-Drive 40Mb – at $400, and the 84Mb and 168Mb ProDrive Gem – $500 and $750 – will be available in January 1991, with volume production planned for March 1991. The 84Mb Go-Drives in both versions will follow in mid-1991 at $600, with volume 60 days later. No performance or power specifications were given. All are to be manufactured by Quantum’s Japanese manufacturing partner, Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Ltd.
