"...Fujitsu announced today the introduction of a new 3.5-inch high-speed GIGAMO magneto- optical (MO) disk drive (model MCK3130SS), which is the world's first to be capable of real-time recording of high-resolution images in MPEG2 format.

The MCK3130SS features a high-resolution real-time recording function that allows 8Mbps high-quality MPEG2 images from a TV tuner card or video capture card to be saved directly onto the MO media. To realize this, Fujitsu developed a new version of the Zone Constant Linear Velocity method and combined it with a Cashe Millennium AV system using an 8MB data buffer to automatically regulate the speed of the disk.

In addition to greatly improved file copy performance, the MCK3130SS offers high speed and ease of use. Thanks to a lighter, more efficient carriage, the new device boasts a 19 milliseconds seek time, the world's highest speed for a 3.5-inch MO drives. Moreover, adoption of a servo head enabling 5,455min-1(rpm) high-speed rotation results in a 20% improvement in file copy performance for 128MB, 230MB, 540MB, 640MB media compared with previous models (10-25% improvement for 1.3GB media).

The new GIGAMO drive is compatible with current MO media disks (128MB, 230MB, 540MB, 540MB and 1.3GB), about 100 million of which are believed to be in circulation. In addition, the new drive is equipped with the Media ID function to protect the copyrights of online digital content.

Sample shipment starts October 2, with volume production to commence in November. Fujitsu aims to sell 1 million units within the first two years..."