http://www.physorg.com/news63627394.html

magnetic hard drive technology is coming to the end of the road just like the horse and buggy.

optical storage has alot more to offer in storage density and capacity, 2 D Spintronic densities from 200 Terabits / sq.in. to 3 D Volume Holographics over 40,000 Terabits / cu.cm.

http://p2pnet.net/story/7929

Using some alternative lithography techniques this form of magnetic storage could easily beat optical in the short term. Well worth it for some disc manufacturer such as seagate to extend their current paradigm for a few more years. I've written more here:
Magnetics new lease on life

Nanoguy,

I agree magnetics would work for the short term but we need to think about technology that will make evolutionary advancements for the next century and further.

So far, magnetics has explored 10 % of the possible storage technology road map.

With optics and photonics the remaining 90 % of the storage roadmap can finally be explored and developed.

Sure is taking a long time for Michael's technology to get rolling.

Nano Guy maybe its already rolling but he cant talk about it
because its being developed under homeland security.

So unreal the amount of storage capacity being developed. I am glad to be alive at this time to see this. :-)

Noticing that a patterned media is to be installed before the bits are isolated, there is currently no technology out there that will enable someone to etch these grid lines to get these dimensions needed: i.e. your research that y’all are working on. Is the only approach your team is using for making grid lines lithography, or is the team using a different approaches other then lithography to create spacing. How about using carbon nanotubes as a mask of making the Grid?
Furthermore, the article referenced that 20-40 terabit/square inch is the ultimate ceiling in storage. Is this b/c as everything scales down there will be a point where the probability of one bits magnetic field will interfere with surrounding bits. Now if this a probability factor that a bit could flip, what do y’all think the max density will, can, be with a higher probability of unstableness but in reality still safe enough to keep data stored for long periods of time, in your opinion?

Regards
Powdrill ('06)