The invention is generally directed to a slider that is particularly
suited for dynamic load/unload disk drive designs. This slider desirably
addresses potential disk damage associated with contact between sharp
edges of the slider of the disk drive and the data storage surface of a
corresponding disk. Any appropriate type/configuration of a disk drive
may benefit from performing read/write operations utilizing the slider of
the present invention. Generally, this slider includes at least one air
bearing surface which enables the slider to "fly" above the read/write
surface of the disk, and at least one self-blending contact pad disposed
on the lower surface of the slider to reduce the potential for contact
between any portion of the slider other than the self-blending contact
pad(s) and the corresponding read/write surface of the disk.