Flash-Chip Drive To Replace Hard Disk

Mike Howes 23 Mar, 2006 at 5:52pm ET Article published in Tech

Samsung Electronics said it had developed a new data storage medium for mobile computers that enables users to process data much faster with minimal consumption of power.
The 32-Gigabyte solid state disk (SSD) can upload and download data quickly and quietly as it uses instantly-accessible, static NAND flash memory instead of the rotating discs found in hard drives.

SSD weighs only half as much as a hard drive, reads data three times faster and writes data 1.5 times quicker, it said.

It consumes a mere five percent of the electricity needed to power a hard disk drive and operates silently as it requires no motor or any other noise-making parts.

Source: Yahoo News

Comments

23 Mar 2006 ~ 6:31pm RWB When can I buy one for my laptop?!!?!
23 Mar 2006 ~ 7:56pm MrRay there are better things to come--wait
23 Mar 2006 ~ 8:03pm There is always always always something better coming. Need to just accept the fact that you don't buy technology you just rent it. So enjoy your rental now or do without and rent the next thing later and suffer while you wait for it.
23 Mar 2006 ~ 8:12pm TheSmJ When can I get a bigger one for my desktop?
23 Mar 2006 ~ 9:34pm entropy What on earth do you need a bigger one for? This should certainly be big enough for your OS and important programs.

Unless you're a video editor or something.

Edit: You bet your ass I'll be buying one as soon as I can
23 Mar 2006 ~ 9:50pm Thrax 32gb is pitiful.
23 Mar 2006 ~ 10:19pm primesuspect Okay, i can't believe nobody's asked this yet:

How many times can I write/rewrite before the thing craps out?
23 Mar 2006 ~ 10:36pm Thrax Let us not forget the costs of <i>other</i> solid-state devices.
23 Mar 2006 ~ 11:08pm Leonardo I think for years now we've all been assuming this would arrive someday. It's only a matter of time (one year, five years, 10 years?) before hard drives are obsolete.

The poster who remarked about "renting" technology was right.
24 Mar 2006 ~ 10:24am kanezfan How do they keep it from losing all data when you shut it down?
24 Mar 2006 ~ 11:01am Leonardo It has an integral battery to supply power when system power is not available.
25 Mar 2006 ~ 5:00am Enverex

Leonardo wrote:

It has an integral battery to supply power when system power is not available.

That doesn't sound too reasuring considering that means it has an "off time" life before you lose all your data and the battery may still die over time anyway. It would be just like using a PDA, except you'll lose hell of a lot more when your HD "runs out of power".
25 Mar 2006 ~ 12:20pm primesuspect Am I missing something? This is flash based - meaning it doesn't erase when you power it off..... Just like your USB drive, your ipod shuffle, your BIOS in your computer, etc......
25 Mar 2006 ~ 2:26pm shwaip

static NAND flash memory

indeed.
26 Mar 2006 ~ 3:19pm RWB Anyone know who are selling these... or when?
27 Mar 2006 ~ 9:49am Yeah. Does anyone know when these come out. I'm getting fed up of failing hard disks.
27 Mar 2006 ~ 10:06am primesuspect Nothing will ever be foolproof. We'll go from failed hard disks to failed flash drives. I've already had failed flash drives, so nothing new there.

As always, backup backup backup!
27 Mar 2006 ~ 2:05pm kanezfan

primesuspect wrote:

Am I missing something? This is flash based - meaning it doesn't erase when you power it off..... Just like your USB drive, your ipod shuffle, your BIOS in your computer, etc......

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh... OK I get it now :Pwned:
27 Mar 2006 ~ 10:17pm Garg It's expected to cost $900

http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/10/samsung-shows-off-flash-laptop-drive-at-cebit/
28 Mar 2006 ~ 6:03pm Shivian Static nand will be a LOT more reliable than any hard drive. 32GB tho... hmm I'll be waiting for 2nd gen.
28 Mar 2006 ~ 11:03pm RWB I was thinking 300 to 500, but any more than 500 and I won't even touch it. I'd only pay 500 if I had alot of money to throw away. Of course I also have a rule to not spend more than $300 on any one part of a computer.