Seagate says it's the first HDD manufacturer to ship 500GB 3.5-inch disk platters with its 1TB, 2-platter Barracuda 7200.12 HD product.

The highest-capacity Barracuda, the 7200.11, can gulp up to 1.5TB of data on its four platters, meaning 375GB per platter. So a theoretical Barracuda 7200.13 could have four 500GB platters and offer 2TB.

Competitor Western Digital won't be impressed. News has already slipped out about its forthcoming 2TB drive, expected to be released this quarter.

Hitachi GST has a 500GB mobile drive based on 375Gbits per square inch areal density, comfortably more than the Seagate number. Is the delightful prospect in reach of Hitachi GST surpassing both Seagate and Western Digital in the drive capacity stakes?

Pricing for the Barracuda 1TB 7200.12 hasn't been released. The WD 2TB whopper is thought to be around €230, when it ships. ®

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