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Flash memory technology has been around for years; its main advantage over traditional RAM memory is that it's non-volatile, meaning it holds data when the power supply is turned off. That's why it's used in devices such as USB key drives and digital cameras.
But, until recently, high-capacity Flash chips have been too expensive for computer makers to consider using them to replace traditional RAM. Now, as manufacturing capacity grows, prices are dropping drastically. According to research firm Semico, in 2000, a gigabyte of NAND RAM cost around $1,900. Five years later, it's a mere $50. And the firm expects that price to slide to around $9 by 2009.
Consequently, many companies are experimenting with Flash-based RAM. In April, Samsung, in partnership with Microsoft, announced a prototype of a "hybrid drive" that combines a standard hard drive with a sizeable Flash component. The device, which is expected to find its way into consumer PCs in late-2006 (around the time Microsoft's new Vista operating system is scheduled to debut), uses the Flash component for boot-up and many basic PC storage needs.
Besides speeding up processes, the hybrid drive can add an additional 36 minutes to a standard laptop battery's runtime, since the hard drive is less active. And it can shorten startup time, according to Andy Yang, strategic marketing manager for Samsung's semiconductor division. "A 10-to-20 second reduction doesn't seem like much," Yang says, "but when you're trying to access data, it has a significant impact on your user experience."
Some devices might boot up even faster, according to Yang, especially those that do not require a full operating system. "The lag is a noticeable detraction from the PC entertainment experience…If someone had DVD playback capabilities on a flash device, you could play a DVD right away," he says.
In a year or so, then, common complaints about PC startup delays -- by Bill G. or John Q. -- may be heard less often. And consumers may come a bit closer to experiencing the PC as just another appliance: ready to run as soon as it's switched on.
Guest (Exploding pancreas)
Bring it on. Its long overdue. The days of being amazed by the 9600b modem are dead and buried as should excruciatingly slow boot times. The problem is that the first day you fire up a new machine its great. Load a few programs and the smile turns upside down. No amount of defragging and removal of excess programs and files seems to return it anywhere close to its original "blazing boot" time. Lets hope Flash chips can do way with the mechanical hard drives altogether.
Guest (Frederick Beacham)
This is great news. I just wander how long before computers become totally independent of drives all together. That means no DVD drives, or Harddrives. Would this be possible? Would you play music on flash memory or watch your favorite movies? It seems that this was done along time ago, with Atari and Nintendo.
which eventually led to N64. These systems use no movable parts and which meant faster more reliable games. Nintendo was skepticle of cd drives becuase they broke easily and were much slower. You see GameCube, Playstation, and Xbox games malfunctioning all the time due to Cd drives and cd wear and tear.
What would happen if new data technologies with capable of 100 gigs and were only compatible with polymer type materials like CDs. What would happen then. That means a new drive would come out and bye , bye flash drives again.
Guest (Exploding pancreas)
Bring it on. Its long overdue. The days of being amazed by the 9600b modem are dead and buried as should excruciatingly slow boot times. The problem is that the first day you fire up a new machine its great. Load a few programs and the smile turns upside down. No amount of defragging and removal of excess programs and files seems to return it anywhere close to its original "blazing boot" time. Lets hope Flash chips can do way with the mechanical hard drives altogether.
Guest (Frederick Beacham)
This is great news. I just wander how long before computers become totally independent of drives all together. That means no DVD drives, or Harddrives. Would this be possible? Would you play music on flash memory or watch your favorite movies? It seems that this was done along time ago, with Atari and Nintendo.
which eventually led to N64. These systems use no movable parts and which meant faster more reliable games. Nintendo was skepticle of cd drives becuase they broke easily and were much slower. You see GameCube, Playstation, and Xbox games malfunctioning all the time due to Cd drives and cd wear and tear.
What would happen if new data technologies with capable of 100 gigs and were only compatible with polymer type materials like CDs. What would happen then. That means a new drive would come out and bye , bye flash drives again.
Manufacturing in the United States is in trouble. That's bad news not just for the country's economy but for the future of innovation.
This document is part of the “How-To Guide for Most Common Measurements” centralized resource portal. This tutorial provides a detailed guide for measurement and device considerations to take temperature measurements using thermocouples. Get an introduction to thermocouples, which are inexpensive sensing devices widely used with PC-based data acquisition systems. Also review some specific thermocouple examples and learn how thermocouples work and ways to integrate them into a data acquisition measurement system.
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Guest (Exploding pancreas)
No more walkies
Bring it on. Its long overdue. The days of being amazed by the 9600b modem are dead and buried as should excruciatingly slow boot times. The problem is that the first day you fire up a new machine its great. Load a few programs and the smile turns upside down. No amount of defragging and removal of excess programs and files seems to return it anywhere close to its original "blazing boot" time. Lets hope Flash chips can do way with the mechanical hard drives altogether.
Reply