WD is shipping what it says is the world’s first ultra-slim 2.5-inch, 5 mm hard drives and solid state hybrid drives (SSHD), which are designed for integration into the slimmest devices and space-constrained computing environments.

With 500GB of storage capacity and models with high performance-enabling solid state hybrid drive technology, this slim product line helps to address the tradeoffs system designers often make between capacity, physical size and performance, says Matt Rutledge, vice president of WD’s client computing business unit.

The new drives are aimed to increase internal storage capacity while enabling it to fit into smaller device slots, he adds. Shipping today to select industrial distributors and OEM [original equipment manufacturer’ customers in 500GB capacities, WD Blue 2.5-inch 5 mm hard drives have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US $89. For more info go to http://tinyurl.com/c4nz8dy .