[kstirman]

As posted in the HTPC forum, FMD drives are around the corner (if CDDD can stay in business!).
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010822/222167.html


From their site:


"Research has shown that media containing up to a hundred layers are currently feasible, thereby increasing the potential capacity of a single card or disk to hundreds of Gigabytes. Use of blue lasers would increase the capacities to over 1 Terabyte."


Also, data access in excess of 1Gbit/second.


I know storage is cheap, but its technology like this needed to further the adoption of HDTV.


Kelly

 

[Chris Carollo]

Considering that we're just getting DVD-RW drives, you'll have to excuse me if I don't hold my breath waiting for the ability to record HDTV on FMD discs (or even have HD-DVD on FMD discs). http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif


Cool technology, though.

 

[Dean McManis]

I've been watching C3D for a while, and their FMD drives look great. Two big boosts were (a) getting backing from Ricoh, who is an established manufacturer of W/R and worm drive, and (b) that C3D was able to design a 20GB+ FMD drive using inexpensive red-laser drive components.


That way they can jump into the data backup/archival market relatively quickly when the get their R/W FMD drives out.


Of course blue (or really violet) lasers would get much more capacity and throughput, but as long as I can record/playback HD movies (MPAA notwithstanding)

I'll be happy.


Only time will tell if they come out with a buyable product this year.


-Dean.