We could have 60TB HDDs by 2016

Sick of your current multi-HDD, RAID, NAS or other storage method you're using? Well, according to the latest IHS iSuppli storage space market report, we could be looking at maximum areal densities of hard disk drives to double by 2016.

Seagate has also predicted a doubling in drive density, which can only lead to great things for the storage industry. What technology would be required to head toward 60TB 3.5-inch drives? Well, we're looking at heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), which Seagate patented back in 2006. Seagate have previously stated they could produce a 60TB 3.5-inch HDD by 2016.

What of laptop drives? Well, we could be looking at 10-20TB by 2016, according to IHS iSuppli. According to IHS iSuppli, areal densities are looking to climb up to a maximum of 1,800 Gbits per square inch per platter by 2016, up from 744 Gbits per square inch from 2011. This year, hard drive areal densities are looking to hit 780 Gbits per square inch per platter, with next year reaching 900 Gbits.

But, could it all be wasted? We're seeing more and more of a push toward the cloud... could internal HDDs not be so important in the coming years, I would be inclined to say yes.