Small-form-factor
HDDs are enabling the exploding growth of mobile consumer devices. Whether at work or on vacation, miniature
devices such as – digital cameras, pocket PCs, PDAs, MP3 players, cell phones –
have become indispensable components to our daily life.
The 1-inch
Microdrive, in its 5th year of production, is rapidly changing the entertainment
landscape. Already, these small HDDs
are incorporated into the hottest portable audio players. Future applications may include wearable
PCs, electronic wallets, portable game players and smart phones. Such vast
capacity in a lightweight, compact size promises to radically transform the
characteristics of storage management and further enhance our digital
lifestyle.
The
2.5-inch and 1.8-inch drives are also playing a key role in furthering the
mobile consumer evolution.
Hitachi
GST’s Becky Smith will examine the critical elements storage manufacturers must
undertake to capture the huge consumer electronic (CE) market. She will also share the company’s vision in
maintaining its leadership position and customers in the small-form-factor HDD
space. Hitachi has been the 2.5" segment share leader since it began
producing the form factor in the early 1990s.
To
accelerate the adoption of hard drives in CE devices, Hitachi GST is working
closely with its customers through its new CE design and integration
centers. Hitachi CE engineers will
advise customers on selecting the right hard drive, software compatibility
including with various operating systems, reliability and mounting
considerations, and design integration.
In working with CE customers, Hitachi will also be able to identify the
direction in which consumer trends are heading and can work with its Research
& Development and Engineering teams to tailor new hard drives for this
segment.
Becky Smith
is the Vice President of Marketing for Hitachi Global Storage Technologies,
headquartered in San Jose, California.
In this role, Becky is responsible for the company’s marketing
activities, including areas such as consumer and enterprise OEM business,
retail, advertising and industry trade shows. Prior to this assignment, Becky
was Vice President of Worldwide Consumer Storage and Vice President of
Worldwide Distribution Sales.
Before
joining Hitachi, Becky held various sales and management positions with IBM.
Her IBM career began with different Sales assignments in Oklahoma City and
throughout the Midwest. In 1996, she
became Vice President of Software Sales for the Southwest Area in Dallas. In 2000, she joined IBM’s Technology Group
as Vice President of Sales covering Dell Computer. She was appointed Vice President of North America HDD Sales for
IBM's Technology Group in 2002.
Becky is a member of the Oklahoma State University Foundation Board of Governors. She has also been active with many United Way and Girl Scouts Board of Directors in the many cities she has lived.