On: MACH.2 Multi-Actuator Hard Drives

[pixelesque]

I realise the 'MACH' name here doesn't seem to be directly related to mechanical speed, but back in the 90s I remember seeing a quote in a computer magazine about hard drive head seeking and reading, with something along the lines of it being equivalent to: "flying in a fighter jet 20 feet above the ground at Mach 2 and counting the blades of grass as you go by"

I wonder how accurate that is as a comparison (both now and 30 years ago): I'm guessing there was a fair bit of exaggeration going on, but maybe not.

[Baeocystin → pixelesque]

Well, I'm stuck in an urgent care waiting room, so let's give this a shot.

Mach 2 at sea level: 1,522 mph, or 2,232 feet per second.

1 square foot of lawn has around 3,000 blades of grass.

2,232 square feet * 3,000 = 6,696,000 bps (blades per second)

Hard drive transfer rate around 30 years ago: 80,000,000 bps (bits per second)

So honestly, closer than I expected! Hack the width of the grass strip a bit and you'll get a perfect match.