SanDisk Intros New 32-GB Flash Drive

By NewsFactor Network | March 14, 2007

Flash drives took another step toward widespread acceptance Wednesday when drivemaker SanDisk launched its 32-GB, 2.5-inch solid-state drive (SSD). The introduction follows by two months the company’s creation of a 32-GB, 1.8-inch drive for ultramobile PCs.

SanDisk’s Serial ATA drive is compatible with most notebook computers that use a 2.5-inch drive, and is available as a drop-in replacement for many existing hard drives.

SanDisk SSDs have several advantages over traditional hard drives, the company said. They provide two million hours mean time between failures — about six times more than standard hard drives. They are more durable and reliable because they have no moving parts.

In addition, they move data in and out more than 100 times more quickly than standard hard drives. That can mean booting Vista in as little as 30 seconds, according to the Milpitas, California-based company.

Small Size, Big Benefits

Beyond reliability and speed, they are as much as 50 percent more energy efficient. And, for those who want to use their laptop while the airplane passenger in the next seat sleeps, SSDs are as silent as USB memory sticks and other flash-based storage media.

One of the big benefits for Samir Bhavnani, director of research at Current Analysis, is that “your system will boot up faster.” He said he has seen demos with Vista booting up in 20 to 30 seconds, confirming what SanDisk attests.

The durability can also be big advantage, Bhavnani said, especially for people on the go. “Picture a needle on a record,” he said. “Now picture it being dropped. That’s what happens to a standard hard drive,” he said, when gravity takes over.

Even at a higher per-gigabyte price than a hard drive, the SSD will have appeal to the road warrior, he said. “Flash pricing is in a steep dive,” he said, “but it’s still more expensive…

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