Abstract: A head evaluation method obtains a first measured result indicating a change in read data, by writing data on and reading data from the disk rotated at a first speed, and reading the data from the disk rotated at a second speed higher than the first speed while maintaining a floating amount of a head the same as that when the disk is rotated at the first speed. A second measured result indicating a change in read data is obtained by writing data on and reading data from the disk rotated at the second speed, and reading the data from the disk rotated at the first speed while maintaining the floating amount of the head the same as that when the disk is rotated at the second speed. The head is evaluated based on the first and second measured results, and a primary factor of a characteristic change of the head depending solely on a transfer rate is evaluated.

Abstract: A head slider includes upper and lower shielding layers embedded in an insulating non-magnetic film overlaid on the outflow end surface of a slider body. A magnetoresistive film is embedded between the lower and upper shielding layers. A heating wiring pattern is located at the back of the lower shielding layer. The heating wiring pattern gets heated in response to the supply of electric current. This results in expansion of the lower shielding layer in front of the heating wiring pattern. The lower shielding layer is forced to protrude toward the recording medium. The lower shielding layer gets closer to the recording medium at a position upstream of the magnetoresistive film. The head slider allows the lower shielding layer to contact with the recording medium at a position upstream of the magnetoresistive film.

Abstract: A head slider includes a parallelepiped-shaped slider base having a flat flying surface. A flat first step is formed at an air inlet end of the flying surface to be stepped from the flying surface. A flat second step is formed on the first step to be stepped from the flying surface. A vacuum area is formed at a downstream end of an air flow flowing from the first and second steps on the flying surface. At least one groove is formed on a portion of the first step for introducing air to the vacuum area. The width of the groove at the air inlet end and the width of the groove at an air outlet end can differ from each other. A trailing edge of the first step can be closer to a trailing edge of the slider base than a trailing edge of the second step.

Abstract: With a view to providing a head slider which can suppress the adhesion of dust particles to a flying surface of the head slider when the head slider flies and a disk drive employing the same head slider, a head slider in which at least an air bearing portion and a land portion for forming a vacuum area on the flying surface are provided on the flying surface of the head slider, the land portion being formed in such a manner as to have a difference in level so as to be closer by a step to a disk medium than an end surface of the slider base, wherein the water repellency of an end surface of the land portion and the water repellency of the end surface of the slider base are made higher than the water repellency of the air bearing portion.

Abstract: With a view to providing a head slider which can suppress the adhesion of dust particles to a flying surface of the head slider when the head slider flies and a disk drive employing the same head slider, a head slider in which at least an air bearing portion and a land portion for forming a vacuum area on the flying surface are provided on the flying surface of the head slider, the land portion being formed in such a manner as to have a difference in level so as to be closer by a step to a disk medium than an end surface of the slider base, wherein the water repellency of an end surface of the land portion and the water repellency of the end surface of the slider base are made higher than the water repellency of the air bearing portion.