Dell Adds Shock Mounted Hard Drive Option to Notebooks - Update

As of today, Dell is offering a shock-mounted hard drive in their Latitude D610 and Precision M20 notebooks. The drive is intended for users who want superior data and system protection. The 30GB drive runs $129 and is constructed with special dampening materials inside the enclosure that can provide up to a 145 percent increase in shock protection.

Dell is the first OEM to offer this level of customization in their notebooks.Dell reacted to requests from laptop owners in fields like emergency services and the military.

"Dell welcomes the challenge of delivering product enhancements based on customer feedback and driving high-end technologies into the mainstream," said Gretchen Miller, director, worldwide notebook product marketing. "Our current Latitude and Dell Precision mobile platforms, with the Tri-Metal chassis, reinforced LCD backs and sealed keyboards, continue the Dell tradition of excellent durability, and we look forward to improving on this quality standard."

This additional shock resistance supplements the protective capabilities provided by Dell's Strike Zone technology. Strike Zone is a standard feature on most Dell mobile platforms that helps protect hard drives from everyday bumps and bounces.

Themove by Dell to include shock-mounted drive optionsshows how important securing data on mobile machines is becoming. As more users rely onnotebooks as their primary machines, data integrity is becoming more critical.

Update

We wanted to learn a little more about these drives and why the 30GB limit. The drives are actually single platter 1.8" units, mounted inside a regular 2.5" enclosure. Many businesses desire smaller drives, something large enough for the image and applications. Currently the largest single platter 1.8" drive is 40GB.

 

this is a bit of a yawn for consumer oriented buyers that like glossy widescreens and more multimedia features in a notebook, but business folks, field workers and the military will like this added option.

 

I don't think Dell is actually the first to offer this. Apple has this standard on all of their laptops, including the ibook. Funny that Dell calls it "this level of customization" when Apple has it standard.

From Apple's propganda...

Helps Protect Your Data
In the event of a drop, your iBook’s Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS) instantly parks the hard drive heads so they won’t scratch the disks on impact, reducing the risk of damage. When the module senses your iBook is level, it unlocks the hard drive heads automatically.

 

I don't believe Apple offers this as a configurable option.

 

Apple was not the first with their sudden motion sensor, I believe IBM had their active protection system first.

Anyway, a shock mounted drive is different as it cushions the drive from impact, rather than "bracing" for it.