Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 10, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
At the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Seagate Technology is presenting two new members of the Seagate Pipeline HD hard-drive family developed specifically for digital video recorders (DVRs): the Pipeline HD Mini and Pipeline HD.2. The Pipeline HD Mini is the world’s first hard drive in a 2.5-inch form factor developed specifically for use in DVRs. It is available in capacities of 160 gigabytes (GB) and 250 GB. DVR manufacturers benefit from the lower power consumption and slimmer form factor of these new, smaller drives without having to sacrifice capacity for their storage-hungry customers. The Pipeline HD.2 drive is the second generation of the Pipeline HD in a 3.5-inch form factor. The new Pipeline HD.2 allows home-entertainment equipment manufacturers to use cost-optimized one- and two-platter drives for high-definition recording applications. The drive is available in capacities of 250 GB, 500 GB and 1 terabyte (TB).
The Pipeline HD family achieves outstanding performance in the three key criteria most important to manufacturers: quiet operation, energy efficiency and maximum reliability. Improved acoustics make both the Pipeline HD.2 and Pipeline HD Mini drives virtually silent in operation. They can also operate around the clock across the extended temperature range typical of consumer-electronics equipment. The Pipeline HD family’s lower power consumption and increased use of recycled and recyclable materials further underscore Seagate’s commitment to the environment.
“We now live in a media landscape where all forms of information and entertainment—such as video, photos, music and files—can be stored digitally,” said Brian Dexheimer, president of Seagate’s Consumer Solutions Division. “When it comes to HD video, the consumer-electronics industry has specific storage requirements. Seagate’s latest Pipeline hard-drive family meets and exceeds these stringent requirements. In addition, the transition to digital broadcasting mandated by the Federal Communications Commission begins in the United States in February 2009, which will drive demand for home HD-video storage to new heights. Seagate is ready.”
Industry analysts see considerable growth for this market: “More than 52 million digital video recorders are expected to ship in 2012,” said Greg Ireland, Research Manager for IDC’s Consumer Markets Program. “IDC forecasts a compound annual growth rate of 14.3 percent for this market from 2007 to 2012. More than 32 million units are expected to ship in 2009.”
The Pipeline HD Mini and Pipeline HD.2 drives operate at 21 dB, below the threshold perceived by the human ear, providing acoustics optimized for dedicated home-entertainment components. Living-room equipment places unusually high demands on acoustic management, so audible operating noise from DVRs and media-center PCs must remain low. Pipeline HD-family drives enable designers to build the quietest home-entertainment systems possible.
Seagate aims to build environmentally compatible products through a highly advanced production process. The Pipeline HD.2 and Pipeline HD Mini drives therefore contain up to 50 percent recycled material and are themselves 75 percent recyclable. Energy consumption reduced by 52 percent compared with the previous version also contributes to an environmentally responsible energy balance. Pipeline HD-family drives are manufactured without hazardous chemicals such as brominated flame retardants and are PVC-free.
Seagate Pipeline HD Series Hard Drives
The Pipeline HD Mini and Pipeline HD.2 drives will ship in the first half of 2009. With up to 1 TB of storage on the new Pipeline HD drives, DVRs can record up to 200 hours of high-definition television (HDTV) or 1,000 hours of standard-definition television. The drives also support up to ten simultaneous HD video streams, enabling optimal playback and recording of television programming. Pipeline HD-family drives are certified for Windows Vista, ensuring operation in both DVRs and media-center PCs. The new generation of purpose-built drives was also designed for reliable operation across the industry’s highest standard operating-temperature range. It can operate at an enclosure temperature of up to 75 °C. By improving system reliability, the drives extend the service life of DVRs and home media-center PCs.
