Hitachi announced today new notebook hard drives that offer high capacity, encryption, and green power features. The 500GB Travelstar 5K500.B uses dual 250GB platters in a standard 9.5mm form factor. The drive has optional Bulk Data Encryption (BDE) for sensitive data.

The drive has the Hitachi EcoTrac classification due to the reduced wattage required to operate the drive, along with its halogen free design. The drive requires only 1.4W during read/write applications. Spin speed for the drive is 5400 RPM. An enhanced availability version of the drive will be offered called the E5K500.B. The normal drive will ship in December with the E5K500.B shipping by the end of Q1 2009.

“We continue to see an increased demand for more efficient notebook computers,” said Brendan Collins, vice president, Product Marketing, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. “As interest grows, customers are asking us for hard drives that require less power, provide more data security, have great performance and are environmentally friendly. Hitachi Travelstar drives meet all of these customer demands and more, which is precisely why they continue to be the most popular 2.5-inch hard drives on the market today.”

Via Hitachi