A magnetic recording disk drive has a negative-pitch slider in
near-contact or continuous-contact with the disk during reading and
writing of data. When the disk is rotating at its operating speed, the
slider has its upstream or leading portion located closer to the disk
surface than its downstream or trailing portion. Both the leading and
trailing portions have air-bearing surfaces that enable the slider to be
partially supported above the disk surface. A contact pad that provides
no substantial air-bearing support is located at the leading portion and
supports or contains the magnetic elements of the read/write head. The
contact pad protrudes beyond the air-bearing surface of the leading
portion and is in contact with the disk. For near-contact recording the
contact pad partially wears away during an initial wear-in period. For
continuous-contact recording the contact pad is wear-resistant and
remains in substantially continuous contact with the disk during reading
and writing of data.