M2301 Magnetic Disk Unit

The M2301 magnetic disk unit was the first magnetic disk unit from Fujitsu to use 8-inch, small diameter media. It was completed in June 1979. Fujitsu's 8-inch disk units were called the Swallow Series, and starting with the second generation Swallow-2 in 1981, Fujitsu moved in earnest into the OEM market for 8-inch disks. The later Swallow Series maintained its original physical dimensions, but continued to increase its memory capacity, roughly doubling every two years. The Swallow-6 (completed in 1989) had a 2Gbyte memory capacity—24 times the 84MB of the Swallow-2, which was completed in 1981. Fujitsu lead the 8-inch disk market with the Swallow Series, and the external dimensions and mounting dimensions of the Swallow disk became the international standard.