The erasable optical disk drive could soon be making its mark in the industry: Maxtor Corp, San Jose, is preparing to launch drives in both the 3.5 and 5.25 form factors, and while slow by Winchester standards, they are competitive with floppies and have enormously greater capacity – and like floppies, use removable disks. According to Electronic News, the 3.5 drive is expected to store 160Mb and to have an average access time of 100mS. The 5.25 drive will store up to 500Mb per side with an average access time of 43mS, and both are due to be announced by mid year. Maxtor is also expected to make it into the 3.5 Winchester market by mid-year with a drive storing significantly more than the 170Mb of its original 3.5 attempt, announced last year but never shipped because Maxtor’s thin film head suppliers let it down.
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