Western's CEO, according to a recent Reuters article, has expressed concerns about the potential ramifications for the hard drive industry of more computer makers offering tablet computers that rely on flash memory rather than hard drives. Analysts have speculated that, given Western's currently low share price, it may be ripe for a leveraged buyout, according to the report. Seagate, meanwhile, said last month it was in talks with private-equity players to potentially be taken private again, according to another Reuters report. TPG Capital reportedly is the interested buyer: Should a deal come to pass, that would mark the second time this decade that Seagate has gone private. The hard drive maker stepped back into the public markets in 2002. The rise of tablet computers isn't the only issue the hard drive industry faces. Historically, the industry has always suffered from high capital costs, as well as rapid changes to technology that can shorten the lifespan of its devices.