Flash memory marches on mobile computers

Flash memory to outship hard drives by 2013, analyst predicts.

Flash based computing devices will outship hard drive based models by 2013, predicts analyst firm In-Stat.

A notebook computer that uses flash memory to store data consumes considerably less power than a hard drive equipped model. The lack of moving parts in flash memory also should boost reliability.

The rise of so-called solid state drives (SSDs) is enabled by the continuing drop in memory prices. In-Stat analyst Frank Diskson projects that first flash drive based notebooks will become a viable option by 2010.

"The HDD industry has done a phenomenal job of driving areal densities; however, it is clear that there are user segments for which drive capacities far exceed the user's need," Dickson said.

"When one examines the declining cost trends for Flash, the user's need for storage and the premium that consumers place on the benefits provided by SSDs, it is easy to see that there will be a clear demand for SSDs."

The One Laptop Per Child Project plans to rely solely on flash memory for its notebook computers that are designed for children in developing nations.

The Linux powered devices will feature 512Mb of flash memory to store the operating system, applications and user data. The first models are expected to ship in 2007 and will cost about $140.