Flash-based MacBooks next year?

Just put the OS on the flash memory and use a regular HD for everything else.

While NAND-based HDD will have a place at the fringe, HDD trend of price reductions per gigabyte has an even steeper trajectory than Flash. 250 to 400GB HDD's are coming, and by the time Apple sells them in systems, they won't cost any more per notebook than 120's.

Flash prices go up and down (they're bouncing up a little right now) but will generally decline over time, but HDD will remain 4 to 10x cheaper per gigabyte (and likely that much higher capacity for a given form factor).

What is interesting is the hybrid drive that Seagate and possibly a few other folks are readying for Vista launch that combine 250Mbyte of Flash along with the usual HDD capacity. The idea is to cooperate with the OS to keep the hot, fast access files in HDD Flash to cut boot times and provide other instant on and performance features. Hopefully Leopard is working on the same integration.

Won't help with reducing battery drain while running Photoshop/Aperature or anything with huge files, but if your working files and critical OS fit in 250Mbyte, maybe the drive won't spin up for very long periods of time. Which is exactly how HDD iPods get their duration on music -- put the next hour's music in Flash and don't spin up unless user changes selections or you finally are close to running out of content in the Flash.

re: The advantages of these drives are far better power usage (meaning: much longer battery lives), faster seek times (meaning: stuff works faster)...

thanks, I have a hard time reading through that heavy geek speak

This, like many thing in technology is about Cost vs. usability. Now, the lifetime of the item, in this case read/writes of NAND factor into cost and the size of the NAND factors into usability.

I'm sure we will we see 3rd-party hybrid NAND/plater drives long before we see Apple make a move. And even then it will be an option at the Apple Store, not a default. My reasoning: Apple really wants to sell you content from the ITS which is better served with a larger and cheaper HDD, not the smaller yet more expensive NAND.

"Is it true that you can't write to a flash drive nearly as many times as a HD before it becomes useless?"

I've heard that it is true, but apparently engineers are looking at ways around that.

I think themole (aka #2) hit the nail on the head. The combo is the only way to move the consumer into the new wave of NAND-Flashiness. The greater space of HDs will keep consumers like WillGonz (aka #9) away until they are introduced to a system with apps and OS's that start "instantaneously" due to being sotred on NAND but with files that take time to load because they come from their HD... only then will consumers' become impatient see speed as a priority (if its to come to pass at all).
Personally, I'd be surprised to see it in an Apple in 2007. The price of the technilogy isn't yet anywhere NEAR accessable for the average consumer, and I doubt Apple is about to let go of their focus on a product that's got a great bang/buck ratio (as established with the Mac Pro and other recent models) so soon... but uncertainty is the only certainty as CcntMnky (aka #8) so eloquently pointed out. By the way... what kind of name is CcntMnky? I'm sketched out, man.

Flash-drives, not in 2007, too pricey for anything but an add on... what I want to know is where are the Kentsfield-based MacBook Pros are... what waht I want to see

Flash-based MacBooks? Jeez, I'm still wondering when we'll get Core2-based MacBooks...

Apple already had a flash memory based notebook... in 1997. It was called the eMate 300.

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/apple_emate_300_blast_from_the_past_review

That said, I'd like to see the improvements to battery life and access times that come with the flash memory approach be a part of their lineup again.

I would rather have size over speed. If I can get a HD with 400Gigs on it or a NAND-Flash with 100Gigs. I'll go for the HD. Some how unless NAND-Flash really takes off. I see HD's always being bigger.