Hitachi Global Storage Technologies is now shipping qualification samples of its 4GB Microdrive to consumer product manufacturers.

The one-inch diameter drive features a data transfer rate that represents a 70 percent increase from the previous-generation Microdrive. Hitachi’s 4GB Microdrive is the world’s smallest hard disk drive, weighing just over a half an ounce (16 grams) and equivalent in size to a matchbook. The data storage available on the 4GB Microdrive is roughly equal to a full-length DVD movie or 75 hours of high-quality digital music.

Hitachi's new 4GB Microdrive is designed to the CompactFlash Type II industry standard and is compatible with a wide variety of devices that accept CF+ Type II media. It is compatible with PDAs that include Dell's Axim X3 and HP's iPAQ, and the most recent NX series CLIEs from Sony.

Hitachi will continue to offer its current 1GB Microdrive and is planning to introduce a 2GB version of the Microdrive later this year. The company expects the new 4GB Microdrive to be available this November for $499. That's significantly less than Lexar's recently announced solid state $1,400 CompactFlash card.