Iomega Corp said it has notebook Zip drives for notebook PC models from Compaq Computer Corp, Toshiba Ltd and IBM Corp. The new drives have been designed to fit in the bays of Compaq’s new Armadas 7700 and 7800 models, IBM’s ThinkPad 770, and Toshiba’s Satellite 220 and Satellite Pro 440-490 series. The company’s first branded notebook bay drives are expected to be available for a street price of $200 during the third quarter of 1998. Iomega also said that the Zip drive will be available as an option IBM’s PC 300GL and PC 300PL commercial lines in the third quarter and will be offered to retail and distribution channels through IBM’s Authorized Assembly Program. A PC Card external Zip drive manufactured and marketed by Microtech International Inc is also being demonstrated at PC Expo this week. Meanwhile, the company’s 40Mb Clik! Drive got a boost with the signing of a license agreement that grants NEC Corp non-exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture and market the drives to retail channels and OEMs. Manufacturing is expected to begin sometime during the second half of the year. The deal extends an existing relationship with Iomega that already sees NEC building Zip drives for distributor and OEM sale. The Clik! drives are expected to be available in the US before year’s end for as low as $200. The disks themselves will go for about $10.
