Core77

GE DVD 500GB, OMG

By Rain Noe - April 30, 2009

in Object Culture

With broadband and wireless technology becoming faster and more devices always connected to "the cloud," you could be forgiven for predicting the demise of consumer-based media storage devices; for example, once upon a time GPS mapping devices required inserting CD-ROMs loaded with data, but now something as slim as an iPhone can give you maps of virtually anywhere via the internet and Google Maps.

Yet "traditional" media is still being developed and improved. Case in point: Earlier this week, GE announced they have discovered how to fit 500 gigabytes onto a single DVD platter. The way that they do it is by making the discs several inches thick. Sorry, just kidding--for the real way they do it, check out this video:

Now the question is, what are the implications for consumer devices?

The company said it will initially focus on the commercial archival industry followed by the consumer market for its micro-holographic storage technology.

Would love to hear your thoughts on what types of devices we could use that would hold 500GB (or ultimately, 1TB) of non-web-based information.

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Zach

15 years ago

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What does this do and say about BluRay discs? I mean, the whole reason that regular DVDs are being left behind is that they did not offer enough storage for a 1080p movie with all the pretty sound from Dolby. Bluray can store what, 60-100 gigs? So, what is the point now in BluRay?
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Lucklucky

15 years ago

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I don't see the point.... if usb pens get there soon. Having computer with a big reader (a dvd reader is big in size compared to a usb slot) is slow starter, you have to open it, put the disk close it and read it, and there is still troubles sometimes reading some optical media. Too much waste of actions/time so anti-economical in practicability and anti economical because you have one more thing in computer. Worse is not redundant. a computer has 3-4 usb slots that you can use if you want to put 3-4 pens to be easy accessible or if one gives up, instead you have only one optical drive.

I think optical media has no future even with 500Gb.
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Vilson Martins Filho

15 years ago

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I want one of these just to backup my MP3 collection.

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Jokozzy

15 years ago

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This sort of data storage would make it ideal for archiving commercial CCTV footage.
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