WD(R) Adds 2 TB Hard Drives to Meet Demands for Today's AV/Surveillance Markets

WD AV-GP Hard Drives with WD GreenPower Technology(TM) Provide Cooler, Quieter Operation with Lower Power Consumption

LAKE FOREST, Calif., May 19 -- As demand for higher capacity storage continues to increase due to large video applications, including high-definition video, WD(R) (NYSE:WDC) today expanded its WD AV-GP line of hard drives to include a 2 TB capacity, the industry's largest available drive to-date. WD AV-GP hard drives with WD GreenPower Technology(TM) provide cooler and quieter operation and lower power consumption.

Designed to withstand the stringent environment of the surveillance and security markets, the WD AV-GP line of hard drives for audio and video applications reduces power consumption by as much as 40 percent over standard drives in their respective classes. The new WD AV-GP 2 TB hard drive is perfect for applications such as DVRs (digital video recorders), media centers, media servers, as well as surveillance video recording that demand a higher capacity hard drive and exceptional reliability.

"Our consumer electronics customers require hard drives that consume less power, generate less heat and operate quietly," said Jim Welsh, senior vice president and general manager of WD's branded products and consumer electronics groups. "Audio and video recording applications, such as DVRs, media servers, media centers and mainstream surveillance systems, often demand 24x7 operation from hard drives. Our drives meet the demanding requirements of these markets including higher reliability, universal compatibility, low power consumption and the ability to simultaneously record multiple audio and/or high-definition video streams."

  AV Intelligent Drive Technology
  Following are several features of the WD AV-GP line of hard drives:

  --  Long-term Reliability - Designed to last in high-temperature always-on
      streaming digital audio/video environments such as PVR/DVR recorders
      and surveillance video recorders.
  --  Quiet - Noise levels have been minimized to less than one sone(1) -
      virtually below the threshold of human hearing.
  --  Reduced Power Consumption - With the combination of WD's
      IntelliSeek(TM), IntelliPark(TM), and IntelliPower(TM) technologies,
      WD has reduced power consumption by up to 40 percent compared to
      competitors' drives.
  --  IntelliPark - Delivers lower power consumption by automatically
      unloading the heads during idle to reduce aerodynamic drag.
      IntelliPark improves non-operating shock characteristics, providing
      enhanced robustness in environments where excessive transportation and
      handling occurs.
  --  Compatible - Tested for compatibility in a broad range of AV products
      including set-top boxes, DVD recorders and mainstream surveillance
      systems.
  --  SilkStream(TM) - Optimized for smooth, continuous digital video
      playback of up to 12 simultaneous HD streams. SilkStream is compatible
      with the ATA streaming command set so CE customers can use standard
      streaming management and error recovery options.

  --  Preemptive Wear Leveling (PWL) - The drive arm frequently sweeps
      across the disk to reduce uneven wear on the drive surface common to
      audio video streaming applications.


  Availability and Pricing

The WD AV-GP 2 TB hard drive (model WD20EVDS) is available from select e-tailers and distributors. MSRP is $299.00 (USD). More information about WD AV-GP drives may be found on the company's Web site at http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=615.

About WD

WD, one of the storage industry's pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state storage that keep users' data accessible and secure from loss. WD applies its storage expertise to consumer products for external, portable and shared storage products.

WD was founded in 1970. The company's storage products are marketed to leading systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company's Web site (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

Western Digital, WD, and the WD logo are registered trademarks in the U.S. and other countries; and IntelliPower, IntelliSeek, IntelliPark, WD GreenPower Technology, and SilkStream are trademarks of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. All other brand and product names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owner. As used for storage capacity, one megabyte (MB) = one million bytes, one gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes, and one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment.

(1) A Sone Is A Subjective Unit Of Loudness As Perceived By A Person With Normal Hearing.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090519/LA19108)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000711/WDCLOGO)

EDITOR'S NOTES:
WD product photos:
http://www.westerndigital.com/en/company/branding/digitalphotos.asp#
Product Spec Sheets:
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=615
Editorial review samples may be requested via WD's Web site:
http://www.westerndigital.com/en/company/pr/eval_request.asp

WD AV-GP 2 TB FAQ:

-- The WD AV-GP 2 TB is the largest capacity enterprise hard drive on the
market today.
-- The new WD AV-GP 2 TB hard drive is geared for audio, video and
surveillance market that demand a cool, quiet and low power computing
environment.
-- Designed with power savings as the primary attribute, GreenPower drives
from WD deliver exceptional power conservation, ultra-cool, quiet operation
and solid performance.
First Call Analyst: Blair, Bob
FCMN Contact: Michelle.A.Saffell at wdc.com