Seagate, a leading hard-disk maker for computers, unveiled its first line of 1-inch disk drives in capacities of 2.5 gigabytes and 5 gigabytes.

The new products include versions for use in portable music or video players and handheld computers; a compact flash card format for digital cameras; and a USB pocketable external drive roughly the size of a hockey puck.

Until recently, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies was the only major supplier of 1-inch disk drives. But the company couldn't keep up with demand for its largest capacity 4-gigabyte Microdrive, which is used in the popular Apple iPod Mini music player and its rival, the Creative MuVo 2.

As a result, Hitachi last month announced plans to expand its Thailand manufacturing facility and increase production of its Microdrives to several million units per quarter, up from 200,000 last quarter.

Companies like Toshiba Corp. and startup Cornice Inc. are also developing small drives that can pack a few gigabytes of digital data.

The new 1-inch products will be available in the third quarter as part of Seagate's largest ever product portfolio expansion, the company said. Exact prices were not disclosed, but Seagate spokesman John Paulsen said the 5-gigabyte compact flash card and USB external drive will each cost less than $200.

By: DocMemory
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