Does OS X 10.4.5 have a Hard Drive Size Limitation in a PowerBook G4?

Question

I just read about the new Seagate Momentus 5400.3 (Perpendicular Recording) 160GB 2.5" ATA-6 Notebook Hard Drive. It seems pretty cool the way it records and uses less space than standard hard drives.
My question is: In a PowerBook 12" 1.5 GHz PPC G4, running Tiger OS X 10.4.5, will it see the 160 GB HD? Will it see all, or most of it as calculated by Apple's OS? Or will it be restricted to a much lower number. I have a 100 GB Hard drive in it now and it is almost full (I have a few GB's left only) and I need the extra space. Anyone know if it will work as an internally installed replacement drive?
I know it is not supported, but I need the space. Thanks.
PowerBook 12" 1.5 GHz PPC G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)
PowerBook G4 12" 1.5 GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.5)  

Answer 1

It's not something in it, it is the way it handles data.
From the (Seagate) site: "To increase areal densities in longitudinal recording and boost overall storage capacity,the data bits must be shrunk and packed more closely together.However,if the bit becomes too small,the magnetic energy holding the bit in place may also become so smallthat thermal energy can cause it to demagnetize,a phenomenon known as superparamagnetism.
To avoid superparamagnetism,disc media manufacturers have been increasing the coercivity (the field required to write a bit) of the media. However,the fields that can be applied are limited by the magnetic materials making up the write head.In perpendicular recording,the magnetization of the disc,instead of lying in the disc’s plane as it does in longitudinal recording, stands on end, perpendicular to the plane of the disc. The bits are then represented as regions of upward- or downward-directed magnetization.
(In longitudinal recording,the bit magnetization lies in the plane of the disc and flips between pointing in the same and opposite directions of the head movement.) The media is deposited on a soft magnetic underlayer that functions as part of the write field return path and effectively produces an image of the recording head that doubles the recording field,enabling higherrecording density than with longitudinal recording."
I don't see how this can be something that is not able to be formatted by any system. All other drives are universal and can be formatted. It is the interface that changes.
An article on Seagates site states that other manufacturers are coming out with perpendicular drives. Can anyone think of a reason why it wouldn't be OS X compatable?
As to the comment by the first reply as to this being a samll size for OS X, I agree, but this is the biggest 2.5" NoteBook Drive offered to date. And there is rumor of a 200GB model coming down the pipe. These drives could really help our PowerBooks realize there potential if they could be installed in our platforms giving them real storage capacity.
Thank you for your reply's, your insight is greatly appreciated.
-Rich