The CES show gets bigger each year and the 2008 International CES was no exception. At the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Sands/Venetian and the Hilton hotel. www.CESweb.org
Consumer Electronic Show 2008 - Part 1 - Computers
Consumer Electronic Show 2008 - Part 2 - Utility Software
Consumer Electronic Show 2008 - Part 3 - Accessories - Backpacks and Laptop bags Printers LCD Monitors TV Cards
Consumer Electronic Show 2008 - Part 4 - Digital Cameras - Digital Cameras and Camcorders, Storage for them, and Digital Image Frames
Consumer Electronic Show 2008 - Part 5 - Projectors
Consumer Electronic Show 2008 - Part 6 - Storage - Solid State Drives
Consumer Electronic Show 2008 - Part 7 - Security Products
By Terry Currier
Buffalo Technology www.buffalotech.com
Presented their newest NAS devices: the 500GB LinkStation EZ (LS-500GL, $199)
and 1TB LinkStation Pro Duo (LS-W1.0TGL/R1, $449). The products will be
available in additional capacities in the near future. Buffalo also announced the 320GB MiniStation
TurboUSB (HD-PS320U2, $229), which is among the first of its kind on the
market.
The LinkStation EZ offers a 10/100/1000Mbps auto sensing Ethernet port. The
device is equipped with a 3.5 inch SATA Hard Drive. All is needed is a simple
4-Step setup and anyone can start sharing files with this network attached hard
drive. The LinkStation Pro Duo prime targets are SOHO or SMB environments. It also comes equipped with a 10/100/1000Mbps auto sensing
Ethernet port, allowing users to share and backup files to multiple computers
from a single LAN connection. The device supports RAID 0 and RAID 1 and
includes a 3.5 inch SATA Hard Drive.
It also includes Buffalo’s unique Web Access feature, which allows users to
effortlessly access and share digital files such as precious photos, home
videos and music at any time from anywhere in the world by just using a web
browser interface. It supports Microsoft Active Directory, which allows the
device to utilize domain users and groups. It also includes a Remote Power
Feature, which can power up the unit remotely with the included Navigator
software. A USB port lets users add an additional external hard drive and
expand it’s capacity. It also supports UPS devices to gracefully shutdown the
unit during a power failure.
The MiniStation TurboUSB secures and stores large amounts of data while
on-the-go. Protected by Buffalo’s
unique Shock Resistant technology, this floating design absorbs any bumps,
drops or shocks. It has transfer rates up to 60% faster than most USB hard
drives. For maximum security, the drive is also equipped with Buffalo’s SecureLockWare which prevents
unauthorized access if you lose your drive.
CMS Products www.cmsproducts.com
Launched its ABS-Secure 320GB, a lightweight portable solution with 320
gigabytes (GB) of encrypted capacity for
maximum data protection in Windows Vista, XP and 2000. This is the latest of
their line of external USB 2.0 encrypted disk solutions, with capacities
beginning at 80GB. The unit utilizes CMS Products' CE-Secure Full Disk
Encryption software for complete management of the 256-bit encryption
environment. Weighing only seven ounces, the drive is bus powered for
transportability and is ultra-rugged with the inclusion of the CMS DataGuard
shock absorbing wrapper.
Corsair
www.corsair.com
Big news Corsair is coming out with a flash drive that is 32GB. The Corsair
32GB drives provide the storage capacity to hold over 16 full-length,
high-definition movies or an entire season of your favorite TV series. These
large density drives can also be used as portable back-up devices for critical
or sensitive information. The drives are bootable, which means users can
actually store full versions of operating systems and applications in order to
quickly “re-create” the necessary software environments to troubleshoot system
problems. Whether using the Corsair proprietary all-rubber Flash Voyager ($240 USD MSRP) or the aluminum-encased water-proof Flash Survivor ($260 USD MSRP), the drives are backed by a 10-year
Limited Warranty.
Data Locker www.lockerdrive.com
How about this, an external USB hard drive with touch screen, and PIN access
security. The design of the Data Locker eliminates unauthorized access and
possible theft of personal, confidential and business data. The proliferation
of inexpensive, high-capacity removable storage devices exposes individuals and
organizations to significant financial and business risk. To eliminate this
threat, the Data Locker™ external hard drive makes the data 100%
protected, and yet easy to use with the PIN access touch screen interface.
Available with an 80GB, 120GB, or 250GB storage capacity,
the Data Locker™ is compatible with Windows and MAC operating systems, allowing
cross-platform file sharing. With the ability to enter up to a 12-digit PIN for
security, it offers an extra level of self-authentication previously not seen
in external hard drives. Additional features include:
D-Link www.dlink.com
Currently, the latest BitTorrent SDK firmware is embedded in the D-Link DNS-323
NAS storage unit and certification has been granted for the
D-Link DIR-655 draft 802.11n routers. Network Video Recorder Technology Debuts
D-Link's latest NAS storage solution is designed specifically to meet the
high demand for security surveillance by consumers and small-to-medium-sized
businesses (SMBs). The new device,
which acts like a digital video recorder used in closed-circuit television
(CCTV) systems, provides standalone recording management for up to four IP
cameras per installation. In addition to its storage capabilities, it features
a recording schedule, live streaming server, remote playback server, easy
configuration, a Web-based user interface, remote live viewing, remote
playback, video and audio streaming and an event trigger. And, it is energy efficient.
Hitachi www.hitachigst.com
Introducing the world's highest capacity 2.5-inch mobile hard drive, the
half-terabyte (500GB) Travelstar 5K500. Moreover, the new drives are
well-suited for use in "slim" desktops, where users are seeking
high-capacities in a space-saving, small form factor enclosure. It is available
in either a 400GB or 500GB model, as the fourth-generation Hitachi mobile drive to use perpendicular
magnetic recording technology.
The half-terabyte drives are available with a 3.0Gb/s Serial ATA (SATA)
interface for enhanced system performance.
They include an array of features, such Hitachi-patented Rotational Vibration
Safeguard (RVS) technology. RVS is designed for today's full-featured notebooks
that commonly include premium speakers. These speakers however, can inadvertently
cause vibrations within the system enclosure. To mitigate any adverse impact on
system performance, the drive uses RVS as an "early warning" system
for the drive, enabling it to sense a possible disturbance in advance and take
the necessary steps to stabilize the drive head and avoid any disruptions.
Additionally it drives features 400Gs of shock protection to further safeguard
user data from falls, bumps and rough handling.
The drives also feature optional Bulk Data Encryption (BDE) for hard drive
level data security. Previously, data on a hard drive could be protected either
through software-based encryption or a system-level password. However,
hard-drive level encryption provides improved performance and a higher level of
security than any of the previously available options. BDE models ship
exclusively with a 1.5Gb/s SATA interface. The drives will be available by the
end of the second quarter, 2008.
Iomega www.iomega.com
The new Iomega eSATA desktop hard drives include the Iomega eSATA 3
Gbits/USB 2.0 Professional Hard Drive, available in single drive 500GB and
750GB capacities, and the new 1.5TB Iomega® UltraMax™ Pro Desktop Hard Drive
that features eSATA 3GBits and USB 2.0 interfaces.
The UltraMax model complements the Mac Pro series of Apple computers and
features a two-drive configuration with hot-swappable SATA II hard drives that
are formatted with the FAT32 file system for use in Mac or PC environments.
The drives come with EMC® Retrospect® Express software (Windows and Mac® OS X)
and Iomega® Never Down™ software (Windows only). Available now for $179.95 for
the 500GB model and $299.95 for the 750GB model, the 1.5TB UltraMax™ Pro is
priced at $599.95.
Kingston Technology www.kingston.com 
The DataTraveler Style is a USB Flash drive that allows consumers to add a
personal touch, is now available exclusively at Amazon.com. It can be
personalized via a special insert on the drive’s case to reflect the
personality of its owner. The DT Style comes with six pre-printed labels:
bamboo, lace, redhead mosaic, retro, sunflower and tangerine dream. Kingston created a
special Web page where users can upload their own photo, graphic design or
artwork as well as view and download more designs and insert text. Once
printed, the personalized label slides easily into the clear cover. An
easy-to-use "thumb-action slider" extends and retracts the USB connector. The
DataTraveler Style comes with a five-year warranty and Kingston’s 24/7 technical support. Windows Vista
ReadyBoost is not supported. MSRP (U.S. only) - 1GB $ 16.00, 2GB
$ 27.00, 4GB $ 54.00, 8GB $ 111.00.
LaCie www.lacie.com
LaCie d2 Quadra is newly re-designed
and still offers the same quadruple-interface (USB/FW400/FW800/eSATA) usability
the drive became famous for. With 60 percent more surface area than a standard
design, it offers more efficient heat dissipation without the need of a noisy
fan. Available in capacities of 320GB to 1TB. Available today starting at $199.
LaCie Little Big Disk Quadra is an
amazingly fast mobile disk designed for speed-intensive and capacity-demanding
applications such as digital content creation, high-volume data exchange, and
video editing – all while on the road. Designed to offer quiet operation and
superior heat dissipation with an integrated fanless cooling system, thanks to
its aluminum heat-sink design. Available in 400GB and 500GB versions with
either 7200 or 5400 RPM drives, respectively, starting at $540.
LaCie LaCinema Premiere is a USB 2.0, multimedia hard drive that easily creates
a home entertainment center for enjoying movies, photos and music. Connect the
device to a PC or Mac to transfer digital files, when done, simply plug the
device directly into a television for instant playback. Available in capacities
of 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB. It supports a wide range of video, audio and photo
formats, while an optical output enables surround sound enjoyment. Playback can be navigated using an on-screen
menu and the included remote control. Available today starting at $2260
LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ eSATA and USB 2.0
will be available in 1TB, 1.5TB, and 2TB capacities and comes with
professional EMC® Retrospect® for advanced backup management and data
restoration for Windows and Mac users. Equipped with fast eSATA 3Gbits
connectivity. The metallic housing is crafted from sturdy aluminum alloy for
maximum protection and heat dissipation. Available February ’08 starting at
$360.
Lexar Media www.lexar.com
It’s new Gaming Edition memory cards, including Gaming Edition Memory Stick PRO
Duo™ and Gaming Edition SD™ cards, will now include free downloadable Xploder® Lite software. The innovative software is specifically
designed to enhance the gaming experience for users of Sony® PlayStation 3™,
Xbox® 360™, and Nintendo® Wii™ Entertainment
Systems. It will be included in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB capacity versions of
Lexar Gaming Edition Memory Stick PRO Duo, and in 1GB and 2GB versions of Gaming
Edition SD cards.
Xploder Lite software offers four versions of advanced cheat and media tools,
specific to the gaming system preferred. Gamers can get the edge they need by
taking advantage of 10 free Cheat Saves (giving users the ability to skip
levels, access secret characters, stock up on ammo, and more) when used with
Sony PS3 and PSP and Nintendo Wii systems. The software also gives users the
power to manage and display photos, import and play music within games such as
Xbox 360, and store and watch video content on many of today's most popular
gaming consoles. For added convenience and utility, the Xploder Lite software
may be downloaded for use in multiple gaming systems.
LG Electronics us.lge.com
The 2008 digital audio-video line highlights enhanced sound
quality, sleek designs and new features, such as HD radio 
compatibility and
user-friendly touch sensing controls. The LG Super Blu™ Player (model BH200) is
LG’s second generation high-def player to offer full Blu-ray disc and HD DVD
playback in one device. The LG Super Blu’s advanced BD-Java and HD DVD
interactivity enables consumers to use the industry’s widest variety of
high-definition content, regardless of disc format. The player also up-scales
standard-def DVDs and supports audio CDs.
The GGW-H20LI features both Blu-ray disc read and write capabilities, and HD
DVD playback compatibility. The unit has a 6x recording speed of Blu-ray Discs,
it takes only about 16 minutes to burn a full single layer BD-R disc (25GB),
compared with 23-24 minutes for 4x recording and 46-47 minutes for 2x
recording. The unit records up to 50GB of data, equivalent to approximately 4-1/2
hours of high-definition video or 22 hours of standard definition video (on a
dual layer 50GB BD-R/BD-RE recordable media).
This unit is currently available for $299.
Also shown there was its new GSA-E50L, a slim portable external drive that integrates
USB BUS Power, enabling it to burn DVDs and CDs without needing an AC power
adapter. The unit has up to 8x DVD+R and
DVD-R write speeds, and 24x CD-R and CD-RW write speeds in addition to 8.5GB
double layer recording. The unit will be available in Q1 2008.
Netgear www.netgear.com
The ReadyNAS Duo, two-drive Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, was designed
to centralize, backup and share digital media across your home network. Today’s
home includes more than one computer and a home network allows them to
communicate with one another, allowing them to share aninternet connection,
printers, scanners and other peripherals, and data files.
A network-enabled storage device, like ReadyNAS Duo, has its
own Operating System, therefore, it operates independently of the other
machines on the network and allows for simultaneous access to data. You don’t
need to connect the device directly to your computer, nor do you need to take
turns in doing so.
The graphical web browser interface walks you through the
set up in minutes. It is also capacity expandable, allowing you to start with
one disk and add a second later, or you can start with lower capacity drives
and increase the size of those drives once you have more data to store. ReadyNAS
also seamlessly supports both Macintosh and Windows computers, encouraging file
sharing in diverse operating system households. It includes the ability to set automatic power up and
shutdown and has the built-in intelligence needed to monitor its health and the
health of the drives. If any type of problem should arise, it will send you a
warning message indicating the problem and requesting follow-up actions.
Pioneer Electronics www.pioneerelectronics.com
Four new internal writers and one external writer from Pioneer allow users to
maintain complete control of their digital media, along with the ability to
easily organize and archive a sizeable amount of personal media.
When purchased from an authorized retailer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year with Pioneer products and two years with Pioneer Elite products.
Ridata www.ritekusa.com
The new RIDATA 16X dual-layer disc offers excellent compatibility with popular
DVD-based video players, game consoles, as well as DVD+R DL drives. Making use
of the various focuses of a laser beam, the RIDATA 16X DVD+R DL makes double
layers on the same side of the disc. The write
power on the two layers is the same
as is the reflectivity rate. When data is duplicated, it is continuously
recorded from the first to the second layer without interruption. When read,
the data flow is constant through the second layer.
The faster 16X speed greatly shortens the recording time of virtually any
audio, video, or data file. A convenient double-layer configuration allows
users to read, write, or view nearly twice the amount of data than with
single-layer 4.7GB DVD discs without having to flip sides or change discs. The
disc stores up to four hours of DVD-quality video, 16 hours of VHS-quality
video, or over 120 hours of MP3 audio.
Not new but one of my favorites from last year, the RIDATA Yego Drive is now available in 8GB
capacity. A key concern with any flash storage device is security. For privacy
and protection the drive features advanced partition and security functions
that make it possible for users to create password-protected sectors for the
storage of personal or highly confidential material. A tie-style LED indicator
shows usage status, assuring there is never any doubt as to which port is
currently in use. With plug-and-play convenience, it is a true flash drive, and
becomes a USB two-port hub.
Samsung www.samsung.com
Presented it’s Compact Flash card-sized hard disk drives (HDD) for use in
mobile consumer devices. Initially
available in 30GB and 40GB models, Samsung's Spinpoint A1 hard disks offer
significantly higher storage capacity than conventional memory cards, high
shock resistance, and low power consumption. It delivers more than 3 times the
capacity of 1-inch HDDs currently on the market while adding only 23 percent
more volume. The proprietary free-fall sensor instantly detects that a fall is
taking place and parks the head in a protective ramp before the impact in order
to protect itself. The drive also employs Samsung's rotational vibration sensor
to protect the data from heavy vibrations in noisy environments. Currently
shipping with an MSRP of $199.
SanDisk www.sandisk.com
Bring automatic online backup to USB Flash Drives with new the Cruzer Titanium
Plus. With a capacity of four gigabytes
(GB), it is the first flash memory product from SanDisk to offer online backup. Users
get the best of both worlds, with access online and offline: Data is always
available when Cruzer
Titanium Plus is plugged into any computer. Users also
get quick access to their backed-up files through any computer connected to the
Internet, should they forget to bring the drive with them, or if the drive is
lost or stolen.
The drive comes with six months of free online backup service. After opening a
personal password-protected online account, any files copied to the drive - are
automatically backed up online. If the computer isn't online when files are
copied to the drive, the backup will take place automatically the next time there
is an Internet connection. Optional security is available by turning on
password protection - with AES hardware data encryption - for all files stored
on the drive, preventing other people from accessing user data if the drive is
lost or stolen. It also comes with a BoomerangIt sticker to put on the drive;
if the drive is recovered, the owner typically pays shipping costs and provides
a small reward. Expected to be available in the United States in March, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $60. The online
backup service requires Windows 2000 (SP4), Windows XP or Windows Vista.
For fast flash, look at the SanDisk Extreme® Ducati Edition USB Flash Drive.
A tribute to Ducati’s Italian design and engineering, the new drive has the
same glossy red chassis and black trim
as the Ducati Corse team motorcycles. They even include the Ducati Corse logo
on top of the drive and the red tail light that illuminates whenever the drive
is inserted into the USB port of a computer . The drive comes in 4 and 8 gigabytes
(GB) with read and write speeds of 20 megabytes per second -- the fastest of
the SanDisk portfolio of consumer USB drives. The 4GB drive has a
manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $125 in the United States (www.sandisk.com/Ducati.)
There are also Ducati CompactFlash and
SD cards.
The SanDisk® Vaulter™ Disk is a flash-based PCI Express (PCIe) module tucked away
inside a consumer laptop, represents a new system approach to 
high performance and
high capacity data
storage. Enabled by predefined SanDisk software scripts it controls the
distribution of storage data between itself and a high-capacity hard disk drive
(HDD). All personal data and program files are stored on the HDD, while in
parallel the Windows operating system (OS) is stored on Vaulter Disk. flash-based
PCI Express module, both laptop and desktop computer manufacturers are able to harness
the speed of embedded flash memory for frequently accessed files while
continuing to use a spinning hard drive for bulk storage of less frequently accessed
data. The Vaulter Disk requires only enough memory to host the computer’s
operating system and selected optional user data that is benefited by the
faster access time using flash memory. The hard drive stores files,
user-generated content and applications that do not require or benefit from
faster seek times. The two drives operate in parallel, thereby increasing the
overall speed and performance of the PC. It will be offered to original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) early next year in capacities of from 8 gigabytes (GB) to 16GB.
Seagate www.seagate.com
The Seagate® Momentus® 5400 PSD Hybrid Drive combines a hard drive and flash
memory into a single device. Duplicating the most commonly used hard drive data
onto the non-volatile cache for instant access provides faster boot-up and
performance. Hybrid drives offer many of the benefits of solid-state drives at
a fraction of the cost. It extends battery life, increase the longevity of your
storage and improve productivity with almost instant boot up and data access.
Best fitted for laptops. Key Advantages: 
Key Attributes:
Seagate Momentus 5400 FDE.2 drives are hardware-based, full disk
encryption products that keep personal and company data protected from
unauthorized access. Full disk encryption (FDE) moves the task of data
encryption directly to the hard drive. With no noticeable performance impacts,
FDE encrypts data as it is being written and decrypts data as it is being read.
Inside the drive is a complete computing system, including a CPU used for data
encryption and decryption. FDE is transparent to the user and independent of
the operating system; users don’t need to turn the encryption feature on and
cannot turn it off. 
FreeAgent™ Desktop Drive comes with up to 500 glorious gigabytes. Simply plug in the power and the USB
2.0 cable and you’re ready to go. Includes a five-year limited warranty. FreeAgent Model # Price
Maxtor (owned by Seagate) OneTouch 4 Mini is a portable hard drive weight less
than 6 ounces, with a simple user interface that makes automated backup
scheduling, file restoration, and security easy. You can also automatically
sync data on multiple 
computers so you always have your latest files handy. They
include Maxtor SafteyDrill™ for complete recovery of your hard drive contents
in case of a system crash or virus/spyware attack. It also comes with two
levels of security – both data encryption and Maxtor DrivePass. Available in
80GB, 120, GB, and 160GB.
Maxtor Shared Storage II 1TB is for easy network sharing of files and backups.
Provides at a glance views of back up and storage status of all users. You can
do drag and drop to organize your files. You can also set privacy levels on
shared folders from limited access to full public access.
Verbatim www.verbatim.com
Leveraging the resources gained with the purchase of SmartDisk® Corporation’s
external hard drive (HD) assets, Verbatim launched a whole new
line of
2.5” Portable Hard Drives (HDs). The palm-sized external drives will be
available for both Windows and Mac users later this month with retail prices
starting at US $99.00. IDC predicts more than 6 million external hard drives
will be shipped in 2008, up 58 percent.
They now offer a choice of a USB interface or a Combo USB/FireWire interface.
With the Combo USB/FireWire interface, the device also becomes interoperable
and files can be transferred between a Mac and a PC. The USB powered, 5400 RPM
drives deliver transfer speeds of up to 480MB per second (MB/sec.) when
connected with USB 2.0 and up to 400MB/sec. for FireWire connections without
requiring an AC power adapter.
Verbatim 2.5” SmartDisk Portable HDs support the “Time Machine” backup feature
in Mac OS X Leopard. Included in the USB-only models is the CMS BounceBack Express
backup software, an easy-to-use backup utility that incorporates scheduling,
backup sets, automatic launch options and a quick restore feature.
Verbatim also announced it has extended its support for Blu-ray Disc (BD)
technology and will feature its expanded line of Blu-ray media. They
showed six
new BD products scheduled to begin shipping in the first half of 2008. The new
products include 4x BD-R discs, Single-sided Double-layer (DL) 2x BD-R and
BD-RE discs, Mini BD-R and BD-RE discs and 1-2x BD-R LTH TYPE discs. With the
4x BD-R media, users can record an entire disc (25GB) in approximately 23 min.
To meet the capacity requirements of true, high-definition video recording,
Verbatim will launch its 2x BD-R DL media in Q2 2008. The 4x BD-R DL media will
be launched later in 2008. With it users can enjoy recording up to 50GB without
having to flip or change the disc.
The new three inches (8cm) in diameter, 7.5GB Mini BD-R/RW discs combined with
a BD-compatible camcorder to provide approximately one hour of continuous video
capture time on a single side when high-definition (1920x1080i) is used. The
Mini BD-R/RW discs will be available in Q1 2008. To provide added protection
from scratches, fingerprints and dust particles which can cause recording and
playback errors, all Verbatim BD media will feature a proprietary,
super-hardcoat finish.
XIAS www.xiasonline.com
XIAS (pronounced: kí-as) announces a new series of USB Pen Drives. The XIAS™ drives come in 2GB to 8GB capacity, feature a
two-year warranty and will be offered in multiple color options. By this Spring
the drives will be available in pearl white, indigo blue, petal pink, and
metallic graphite. A power-saving mode reduces power consumption. The
XIAS™PDX/2GB/4GB/8GB Pen Drives will be available for shipping in Q1 2008.
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A data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data. An SSD emulates a conventional hard disk drive, thus easily replacing it in any application. Incorporating NAND flash technology, SSDs provide enhanced storage drive performance levels including faster boot and application start-up times, easily surpassing rotating hard disk drives. Free from moving parts, SSDs are noiseless, produce minimum heat and are less susceptible to shock and vibrations that can be challenging to traditional drives. SSDs also improve battery life up to 20 percent in notebook PCs.
BiTMICRO www.bitmicro.com
Expected to begin shipping in volume by Q3 2008 in capacities ranging from 32GB
to 832GB. BiTMICRO Networks announced its plan to launch an 832GB version of
the E-Disk® Altima™ SATA flash SSD in 2.5-inch form factor. The E-Disk® Altima
E2A3GM flash SSD will utilize the multi-level cell (MLC) type of NAND flash,
which doubles the number of bits stored per memory cell compared to the
single-level cell (SLC) NAND, effectively increasing data density at low price
points. The drive offers SATA 3.0 GBps support and "hot pluggable"
capabilities to personal computing and enterprise applications requiring high
capacity and high performance yet affordable solid state storage.
Crucial (Lexar Media) www.crucial.com/ssd
Available the 1Q of 2008 in capacities of 32GB and 64GB feature an industry
standard 2.5-inch drive enclosure with a native SATA 3.0GB/s interface.
Ridata www.ritekusa.com
Available now the Ridata 2.5” SATA SSD drives are based on NAND flash
technology. NAND technology also provides the drive’s fast data transfer rates
of up to 170MB per second for maximum sequential read. Its reliability is
proven by more than 4,000,000 hours Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF). With
SMART features and write endurance cycle
(P/E) of more than 2,000,000 times. It is among the lightest-weight storage
drives available. It is excellent for performance-driven and rugged
environments, such as laptops, gaming, industrial, professional, and military
applications.
The drive requires only a five-volt power supply. Because of its low-power
consumption, user time on a laptop or other mobile computing application is
dramatically extended. The use of NAND flash enables consistent performance
throughout the life of the product, can handle operating temperature up to
158°F, and have extremely low power consumption in comparison to a traditional
hard drive. Available now in 16, 32, and
64 capacities the 128 GB SSD’s will be available end of Q1 2008.
Samsung www.samsung.com
They will produce a multi-level cell (MLC) flash-based 128 Gigabyte (GB) solid
state drive (SSD) in 1.8-inch and 2.5-inch versions for notebook and desktop
PCs, as well as other mobile applications. The new drive offers a data writing
speed of 70 megabytes per second (MB/s).
It reads data at 100MB/s.
Featuring a 3.0 gigabit-per-second SATA II interface, the new 128GB SSD uses
native command queuing and spread-spectrum clocking to add to its higher
performance levels. It also features device/host-initiated power management for
an exceptionally low power consumption level of 0.5W in active mode. The rate
the mean time between failures (MTBF) of one million hours. They have a 32GB
PATA SSD and 64GB available now. The 128GB SSD is expected in the first half of
2008.
SanDisk www.sandisk.com
Joining SanDisk’s growing portfolio of solid-state drives (SSDs) for portable
computers is a slimmed-down 1.8-inch Serial ATA (SATA II) model that is aimed
at a new generation of ultralight notebooks. Designed to be a drop-in
replacement for hard disk drives, the new SATA drive is just 5mm thick and
weighs 40 grams – about 30 percent less than a same-size hard disk drive. It
uses a SATA II interface and an industry standard micro SATA connector, and
consumes only .85 watts in read/write mode and .2W when idle. Availability is
planned for the second quarter of 2008 in capacities of up to 72 gigabytes
(GB). PC manufacturers are expected to launch the new thin and light laptops
for the corporate market later this year.
Toshiba www.toshiba.com
Toshiba’s first solid state drive delivers 128GB density in a 1.8-inch form
factor, using multilevel-cell (MLC) NAND flash memories. By
integrating an original MLC controller, the new line-up of SSD achieve
performance levels comparable to those of single-level NAND flash SSD; for
instance, maximum read and write speeds of 100MB a second and 40MB a second,
respectively.
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