History (1999): IBM Magstar MP 3570 from 5GB to 7GB

The first Magstar MP 3570 with longitudinal recording, better known as model B (5GB/2.MB/s) was introduced in 1995.

It was followed in 1998 by model C, still at 5GB, but with transfer rates elevated to 7MB/s.

On the new model C with its new XL cartridge, capacity increases to 7GB, while the transfer rate remains the same.

We’re still a long way off from the LTO Accelis format, very close to the 3570, but expected to offer 25GB and 10 to 20MB/s.

All these figures are without compression, which can go as high as 3:1.

IBM guarantees forward reading compatibility of its B models for the C and C/XL models.

The latter cost $8,500 for the drive alone, $14,900 for the subsystem.

As a result, 3575 libraries (from Plasmon) can climb to 140GB ($19,000 with one drive) or to 2.27TB ($29,900 with 2 drives), respectively.

In 4 years, IBM has sold 50,000 Magstar 3570 drives, or nearly 1,000 per month.

This article is an abstract of news published on issue 141 on October 1999 from the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter.