Can you guess what is this?
It’s a hard disk in 1956. The Volume and Size of 5MB memory storage in 1956.
In September 1956 IBM launched the 305 RAMAC, the first computer with a hard disk drive (HDD). The HDD weighed over a ton and stored 5MB of data.
Makes you appreciate your 4 GB USB drive, doesn’t it?
The picture above is the IBM 350 disk storage unit utilized by the IBM 305 RAMAC:
The 350 Disk Storage Unit consisted of the magnetic disk memory unit with its access mechanism, the electronic and pneumatic controls for the access mechanism, and a small air compressor. Assembled with covers, the 350 was 60 inches long, 68 inches high and 29 inches deep. It was configured with 50 magnetic disks containing 50,000 sectors, each of which held 100 alphanumeric characters, for a capacity of 5 million characters.
Disks rotated at 1,200 rpm, tracks (20 to the inch) were recorded at up to 100 bits per inch, and typical head-to-disk spacing was 800 microinches. The execution of a “seek” instruction positioned a read-write head to the track that contained the desired sector and selected the sector for a later read or write operation. Seek time averaged about 600 milliseconds.
With storage capacities of 5 million and 10 million digits, and the capability to be installed either singly or in pairs, the 350 provided the 305 system with storage capacities of 5, 10, 15 or 20 million characters.
An IBM RAMAC 305 with a 350 disk storage unit leased for about $3,200 per month back in 1957. Over a thousand of the 305 systems (one of IBM’s last vacuum tube units) were manufactured before production ended in 1961, and the 305 was withdrawn in 1969.
20 Comments
5 MB!!?? that’s it? LOL. I’m so glad to be in 2009!
lol, even the smallest thumb drive has bigger storage capabilities than this.
I know, lol. Human technology really improves over time. :)
agree. someday humans brain will be the same as these storage devices. hehehe
Yep, I hope so. :)
I wonder what alien technology is like. :)
You believe in aliens?
I don’t know really… I was just joking around. :)
lol, i thought you believed on those things
I don’t really care about those things anyway. I only care about our world. :) That’s what is most important to us right now. :)
Yeah, i agree. But for me, I don’t believe in those stupid aliens. hehehe
hi very bored just looking for random rubbish like worlds biggest hard drive.. blah blah, any whats caught my attention is that you say you dont believe in THOSE aliens, as if you are talking about a certain kind of alien, any specific type must be part of some larger set which actually exists.
sorry for being a complete picky nob but it caught my eye.
adrian
hahaha, as to what i have said, i don’t believe in those aliens, or to say, I don’t believe in Aliens. lol. Do you believe in Aliens?
LOL I searched on google what is the worlds biggest hard drive in capcity NOT size. The hard drives today really prove size dosen’t matter though!
lol, seems like you’re not in the place. Glad you stopped by. Yeah, nowadays the smaller the better.
cheers!
nice sir! baskog gd ya!
@3v4n5, oi…:) thanks.
I’d never get Lord of the Rings on this..lol..
@ Mick,
lol, sure you can’t…I think a couple of pictures is enough :) cheers!
great news’s in your blog, my mind says dont go away
@fareed,
thanks for the compliment.