Exchangeable cartridge disk drive specialist SyQuest Technology Inc, Fremont, California claims that its SQ1080 microstorage system is the world’s first PCMCIA removable hard disk cartridge drive for palmtops, notebooks, pen-based computers and personal digital assistants. The 1.8 SQ1080 takes an 80Mb or 60Mb rugged 1.8 cartridge – also made by SyQuest, and is claimed to offer the lowest cost per Megabyte of all PCMCIA storage options when multiple cartridges are added – $1 or less per Megabyte compared with $50 per Megabyte for Flash memory cards. The SQ1080 has a 32Kb buffer and average access time of 16mS. The 80Mb cartridge has a sustained transfer rate of 1.6M-bytes per second, the 60Mb is rated at 1.3M-bytes per second. A Type III PCMCIA interface is required on the computer. OEM pricing for the drive is estimated at under $300, for the cartridges $40. Samples now, volume only in mid-1994.SyQuest also has a 270Mb 3.5 removable Winchester cartridge drive, the SQ3270, backwards-compatible with the company’s 105Mb cartridge with average seek time of less than 13.5mS. Cartridges are expected to go for under $80. It draws 4W and runs off a single 5V supply. Samples with AT interface now at $465; no date for volume.
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