256GB Samsung SSD Heading for MacBook Air?

Yesterday was Memorial Day in the US, a Bank Holiday in the UK, and apparently big honkin' solid-state drive (SSD) day in South Korea.

Samsung, which provides the 64GB SSD drive that is available in a pricey configure-to-order version of the MacBook Air, announced a 256GB 2.5-inch SSD drive. While the 64GB model in the MacBook Air has been criticized for having leisurely performance, the new MLC (Multi-Level Cell) flash SATA II drive boasts 200MBps read and 160MBps sequential write speeds. Those are double the speeds of the 64GB drive.

The new model features power consumption that is slightly less than that of the 64GB drive (.9 watt in active mode, compared to 1.0 watt), as well as sophisticated data encryption.

There's no word on whether or not the new drive will show up in future MacBook Air models. The monster SSD will be widely available in September, with a 1.8-inch version expected in the 4th quarter of 2008. Does a faster, bigger, and hopefully cheaper SSD-based MacBook Air sound like something we can expect to hear Steve mention as "one more thing" at Macworld Expo 2009?

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Source: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080525005021/en

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Hardware One More Thing MacBook Air

Yesterday was Memorial Day in the US, a Bank Holiday in the UK, and apparently big honkin' solid-state drive (SSD) day in South...

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JELyon

I'm envisioning this in an iPhone form factor. Think iPhone + Time Machine Backup Drive...

Or a bluetooth Keyboard + Mirrorshades video interface for the iPhone, and we have a portable computer small enough to rival anything previously seen in a late 20th century Gibsonian dystopia.

Heck, small enough to make a Mac Pro look like a full on Difference Engine...

May 28 2008 at 10:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Keskidi

"There's no word on whether or not the new drive will show up in future MacBook Air models. "

The Samsung is a 2.5-inch drive, the MacBook Air comes with a 1.8-inch drive. And to use these, Apple must transition the MacBook Air from a PATA-ZIF interface to SATA.

They could use the Mtron 1.8" 128GB solid state drive with a ZIF-type interface (see link), if its height is below 5mm.

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/18/128gb-solid-state-drive-suitable-for-macbook-air/

May 28 2008 at 12:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

I really don't care if they put these in laptops-- What I want to see is an iPod nano with 40GB or 80GB of storage. THAT would be a great use of solid-state storage.

May 27 2008 at 7:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Phosphor

>>>"The monster SSD will be widely available in September, with a 1.8-inch version expected in the 4th quarter of 2008."

May 27 2008 at 3:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Phosphor's comment

Phosphor

Oops...stupid/bad code interpretation in these blogs...

My comment about that quote was this:

That's going to sound pretty dang funny, and only in about 5 years.

May 27 2008 at 3:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

CaptSaltyJack

Super! I can see it now: new MacBook Air price: US$7,499!

May 27 2008 at 1:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Galley

How about placing one in a (smaller) Apple TV designed for your car?

May 27 2008 at 1:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

peter.drier

Forget the Air, give me one of these for my MBPro.. 200/160MBps read/write speed! Thats 10+x the speeds I get from the hd in my current MBP, and more than double the speed of my raid 0 2x750 FW800 external drive..

May 27 2008 at 1:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to peter.drier's comment

Dan

Thank you (and to you too, Galley). Why on earth are we stopping with MacBook Air?

May 27 2008 at 1:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Sam

I agree. The MacBook Pro is due for a full redesign early next year, and this seems perfect for a 15" model with long battery life. Remember, mass production does cut prices....when the iPhone first came out, a 32GB flash-based media player for under $700 was unthinkable. Same thing will happen with flash-based SSDs.

May 27 2008 at 2:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Luigi193

I don't think they will be cheaper...
Re-read the press release, it clearly says that you must sell a kidney in order to afford one...

May 27 2008 at 12:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply