Thanks for the (flash) memory (disks)

Remember IT Blogwatch: in which Samsung announces better, faster, cheaper "disks" made from flash memory. Not to mention ridiculous math nerds...

While we were asleep, Rew Joon-Young reported:

Samsung Electronics ... today held the fifth annual Samsung Mobile Solution Forum at the Westin Taipei Hotel, highlighting the theme of Content Convergence and Live Connection ... Samsung’s advanced high-performance mobile solutions are specially geared toward small-form-factor, high-capacity, low-power, and content intensive mobile applications that transcend regional usage boundaries. Samsung’s newest MLC-based SSD, the world’s fastest, 2.5-inch, 256GB MLC-based SSD using a SATA II interface, represents a bold step in the shift to notebooks with significantly improved performance and larger storage capacities. more

Matt Buchanan adds:

This is the solid-state drive that we've been waiting for: a full 256GB, which Samsung says is "the world's fastest and largest capacity 2.5-inch, MLC-based SSD with SATA II Interface." Sick sequential read and sequential write speeds of 200 and 160 MBps, respectively, put it in the same speed range of more nimble single-level cell SSDs (single vs. multi-level explained). Available in Sept. with mass production starting by "year end" (yay cheaperness), and Sammy says we'll see a 1.8-inch version by then too. more

MLC? Aidan Malley explains:

The real advancement, Samsung says, is in the manufacturing process. Past drives, including the 128GB model, have depended on flash memory using a technique known as single-level cell storage. While quick and reliable, the inability to store more than one bit of data in each cell results in a high cost per drive. The prices of single-level cell drives have often been a hurdle to notebooks, with options for the MacBook Air and other systems frequently costing $1,000 or more to switch to the faster technology. The 256GB drive changes this by switching to a new approach to multi-level cell storage that allegedly solves the problems of the format. The technology allows data to be much more densely packed, but has traditionally been slow and short-lived. However, a new drive controller not only gives it the same speed as single-level storage but gives it the same kind of longevity, at roughly one million hours before a failure occurs. more

Ryan Block's knees buckle:

Uh oh, Samsung's just announced their first 256GB SSD. Not that you needed to know anything more than that to trigger salivation, but the MLC-flash SATA II drive has speeds of 200MBps read and 160MBps sequential write. Not like we'll be able to afford it or anything, but they'll be available come September, with a 1.8-inch version due in Q4. more

James Robertson's, too:

Sure, it'll be expensive at first, but it will come down - and the size - my MacBook Pro has a 250 GB drive, but just imagine the battery life (and near silence) of one with a 256 GB flash drive. more

Mariella Moon's not so happy:

Sometimes you have to wonder why companies keep releasing products only the more affluent could afford ... with Samsung touting is as a world first in a couple of arenas, you can be sure that it’ll burn a hole in your pocket. First, this Samsung 2.5-inch 256GB SSD is introduced as the world’s fastest drive offering a sequential read speed of 200MB/s and write speed of 160MB/s. Not only is it the world’s fastest though, Samsung also claims that it’s the world’s thinnest to offer such capacity. Think you can afford it? You have to wait until the end of 2008. more

And finally...

• I will derive [Oh dear -Ed.]
  

Buffer overflow:

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Richi Jennings is an independent analyst/adviser/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and spam. A 21 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. You can follow him on Twitter, pretend to be Richi's friend on Facebook, or just use boring old email: blogwatch@richi.co.uk.

Previously in IT Blogwatch:

• Apple iCal fix MIA: you're SOL
• Microsoft opens itself to ODF and PDF and XPS and even OASIS
• Movie watching with Netflix Roku player