The computer hard drive, once 14 in. or more across, is now no bigger than 3.5 or 5.5 in. in diameter, with those in laptops and handheld devices at 2.5, 1.8 or even 1 in. Hard disks spin at ...

1983 - Rodime released the first 3.5-inch hard disk, the RO352, setting a standard for desktop computer drives. It held 10MB at a cost of $1,895, or almost $4,500 today.

How hard drives work on a computer A hard drive traditionally uses a set of spinning metal platters. Each platter has a head that moves rapidly back and forth across the platter, using magnets to ...