Turning the heat up on the likes of 3.5 Winchester pioneer Rodime Plc, Maxtor Corp, San Jose, yesterday unveiled its first 3.5 Winchester, using new technology to store 170Mb with an average access time of under 20mS. The new LXT-170 will be offered with either an SCSI Small Computer System Interface, or ESDI Enhanced Small Device Interface. Maxtor uses the same SCSI implementation on all its Winchester and optical drives, so customers can mix and match. The LXT-170 incorporates much of the technology of the 5.25 760Mb XT-8000 drive and Maxtor has downsized the components from the XT-8000 using proprietary new VLSI chips on one miniature surface-mount board. The LXT-170 features Maxtor’s dedicated track-following, closed-loop servo system and embedded spindle motor, which the company says are not used in any other 3.5 drive, thus presumably immunising the firm from the blanket Rodime patents. The drive has recording densities of 23,897bits per inch, and 1,360 tracks per inch. Power requirement is 18W. Prices for high-volume OEM purchases is expected to be under $1,100 in 1987, and under $1,000 in 1988. The ESDI version will be available in the third quarter and the SCSI in the fourth quarter of 1987.
