The Best of Both Worlds?

The installed base of tape libraries has inspired Imation to embed 2.5-inch SATA hard drives into an LTO Ultrium tape shell. The Odyssey cartridge, containing a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive and the Odyssey docking station, fits into any 3.5-inch drive bay, creating a solution that enables efficient and low-cost backup. The product can be used with any drag-and-drop Windows-based system, including the soon-to-be-released Microsoft Vista as well as most storage management software packages offered by independent software providers.

So how do users benefit?

• Cartridge reliability and shock resistance: The Odyssey cartridge was designed to withstand high shock forces by adding protection in especially vulnerable areas. The Odyssey cartridge is the only cartridge able to withstand a 39-inch fall without exceeding hard disk drive manufacturers' maximum shock specifications.
• Connector reliability: Competitive products typically utilize connectors designed for one insertion; however, the Odyssey solution utilizes reliable enterprise-class connector technology developed for the Ulysses disk-enhanced tape solution, rated for up to one million insertions
• Integrated electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection: The Odyssey cartridge incorporates ESD protection into the cartridge material which provides a means to minimize static build-up and safely dissipate static charges caused by media cartridge handling. Because hard disk drives contain sensitive electronic components, excessive static build-up and subsequent static discharge can lead to data loss. The Odyssey cartridge meets both anti-static and static-dissipative specifications which also minimizes dust accumulation
• Soft-load mechanism: Shock and vibration from spring-loaded manual cartridge insertion is a looming problem in today's lighter weight server configurations. The Odyssey solution features a soft-load mechanism typically associated with higher duty-cycle products, which eliminates excessive shock and vibration during load and unload

Disk as tape. Who would have figured?