Storage Mechanisms: Disk

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Meet the Experts

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Edward Burns

Research Director, Hard Disk Drive and Storage Technologies



IDC's Storage Mechanisms: Disk service analyzes and forecasts the worldwide demand for hard disk drives (HDDs). It segments annual HDD forecasts by system platform, including portable PCs, desktop PCs, enterprise storage systems, video surveillance, and consumer electronics/industrial applications. In addition, the service provides quarterly shipment analysis by HDD form factor, interface, and supplier. With its detailed tracking database, IDC's Storage Mechanisms: Disk service helps bring clarity to noteworthy market and technology trends affecting HDD product requirements and demand.

Further, IDC's Storage Mechanisms: Disk service analyzes and forecasts the worldwide demand for HDD components (heads, media, substrates, and suspensions). Quarterly four-quarter and annual five-year forecast reports (in an Excel spreadsheet and pivot table format) are delivered, providing clients with insight into the demand for HDD components and the underlying technology trends.


Markets and Subjects Analyzed


  • Hard disk drives
  • HDD recording heads
  • HDD component technology trends
  • Quarterly demand for disk media, substrates, heads, and suspensions by HDD supplier and form factor
  • Annual HDD component unit forecast demand and analysis
  • HDD consumption and forecast (annually)
  • HDD factory revenue (annually and quarterly)
  • HDD petabyte shipments (annually and quarterly)
  • HDD supplier performance analysis (quarterly)

Core Research


  • Hard Disk Drive Forecast and Analysis
  • Market Trends Reported Quarterly
  • Hard Disk Drive Competitive Analysis
  • HDD Price Benchmarking
  • Worldwide HDD Component Forecast and Analysis
  • Worldwide Quarterly HDD Component Analysis

In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct research on specific topics or emerging market segments via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.


Key Questions Answered


  1. What is the size of and what is the growth rate for the HDD market in terms of units, petabytes, and revenue?
  2. What factors and markets drive the demand for HDDs?
  3. What are the price trends with HDDs?
  4. How are HDD vendors positioned within the HDD market?
  5. What is the long-term demand for various HDD components?
  6. How quickly are HDD technology transitions occurring, and when should industry participants be prepared to support them?
  7. What are the near-term and long-term forecasts for the number of components per drive?