Low-end memory subsystems

The author reviews recent advances in magnetic data-storage technology and applications, with an emphasis on market trends. The rapidly increasing storage demands of graphics-based systems are discussed, the impact of the approximately $2 billion invested annually in magnetic-recording research is considered, and it is predicted that the next technology breakthroughs (e.g. glass disks and vertical recording) will be made in 5 1/4" or 3 1/2" rather than in large formats. The continuing evolution of magnetic-tape systems (for backup and archiving) is briefly characterized.<
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