IBM ships 340MB Microdrive:
IBM also said that it has begun limited shipments of its Microdrive. This matchbook-sized hard drive fits into a small slot in a handheld Windows CE device or a digital camera. For example, IBM's z50 Windows CE handheld PC can use this drive and camera makers have released products that can use the drive.
The drive offers data capacities up to 340 MB. Though IBM has shown the drive at conferences since last year, this is the first time it has announced shipments.
IBM also announced customers for its Microdrive including Casio, Compaq, the RioPort division of Diamond Multimedia, Kodak, Hitachi, and Nikon.
"Launching the microdrive is a strategic next step in the growth of IBM's Original Equipment Manufacturer technology business," IBM said in a statement.
The retail price of the Microdrive kit, which includes the 340 MB drive, PC Card adapter and case, is $499. The IBM Microdrives will be available in Japan and the U.S. in retail stores by early summer.
Upcoming Rio digital audio devices supporting the drive will provide users with high-capacity MP3 storage, said David Watkins, president of the RioPort Division at Diamond Multimedia in a statement. The IBM microdrive will allow future Rio customers to store several hours of CD-quality music or hundreds of hours of spoken audio, he said.
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