Even embedded flash memory which is used in most vehicles is going to have better random IO for thing like maps than a HDD... I guess it is a good thin the general public is uninformed. The more I think about using a HDD on the road, the more it seems like a terrible idea!
firefoxx04 :
I used to have an external hard drive (2.5inch) plugged into my head unit. Worked great and the car took a beating. Actually works to this day after about 2 years of daily abuse on the roads.
Yes, it is an external HDD with it's own case, with its own anti-vibration stuff inside, and it is likely kept on a padded floor, or an even more padded seat. A HDD used inside of a car is going to be in a much more confined space, with a much more direct connection with the frame of the vehicle.
I mean heck, it is hard to get a reliable drive from any HDD company these days without the requirements of being in a vehicle.