Flash drive prices falling: 32 GB from Sandisk, $350
We’re not quite there yet, but flash hard drives or SSDs (Solid State Drives) are getting more affordable. CNET reported yesterday that SanDisk’s 32 GB offering in a 2.5-inch form factor costs volume buyers (read: OEMs) around $350. Think back to when we first saw the Samsung Q1 SSD; the price of that device with a 32 GB flash drive was roughly double what the same device costs with a standard hard drive with higher capacity!
I’d expect that we won’t see price parity between current 2.5-inch hard drives and flash-based drives until mid-2008 or later, but the premium keeps getting reduced. What premium would you pay for a drive with no moving parts that can access data faster: 20%? 50%? None?
Do you know if these things are the same size as HDs? Could you, for example, swap out your Q1’s HD for this? Same interface?
According to the PR: “The SanDisk 2.5-inch SSD fits in the same internal slot as 2.5-inch hard disks, so notebook manufacturers can switch to the SanDisk SSD without altering their hardware designs.”
It’s a Serial ATA drive so if you have a device with that interface, it should swap. I know the Q1 uses a ZIF-type connector and a 1.8-inch drive, so it’s not a perfect match. SanDisk does offer a 1.8-inch SSD but I believe it’s more expensive.
the sandisk 1.8″ has a zif connector and i’m waiting for that to come out. apparantly its faster than the samsung ssd used in the q1 ssd. i’m hoping a $500 price tag. i hope.