DASD TRENDS - COST, PERFORMANCE, AND FORM-FACTOR

Technology forecasters have continually projected the imminent replace ment of magnetic disks by semiconductor memory, with lower price and h igher performance. Examining trends in disk technology, performance, r eliability, and price and comparing those trends to those of competing technologies, the authors conclude that magnetic disks will be useful for the foreseeable future. Key to the survival of magnetic disks is the use of low-cost logic and memory to enhance the performance and fu nction of the disk subsystem, and rapid adaptation of disk technology to the changing requirements for storage.