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Penny-Sized Flash Module Holds 16GB

Posted by Zonk on from the okay-now-we're-in-the-future dept.

nerdyH writes "Intel describes its new 2GB to 16GB SSDs (solid state disks) as 'smaller than a penny, and weighing less than a drop of water.' The parts are '400 times smaller in volume than a 1.8-inch hard drive,' Intel boasts, 'and at 0.6 grams, 75 times lighter.' Sampling now, with mass production set for Q1 2008, the Z-P140 is described as an 'optional' part of Intel's Menlow chipset, built in turn as part of Intel's vision for Linux-based Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs)."

11 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Big deal by BrianPan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    All flash memory has been smaller than a penny and weigh less than a drop of water for a long time. Adding a package-on-package controller is an obvious next step. There's no big revolution happening here.

    1. Re:Big deal by BrianPan · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Touche. I probably would have gone with "new flash still smaller than a quarter, still doesn't explode in your system."

      I guess Slashdot submissions also have to be "sold" to the editors to be front page worthy.

    2. Re:Big deal by russ1337 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      we're way way off topic here, but to complement your story:

      A buddy of mine had a job interview for an office job - in the telecoms field, and had previously only ever worked as a precision machinist (CnC type stuff in coveralls) since he left school. He asked my advice on what to wear to the interview (and subsequent job) because I worked in a corporate environment. I helped him chose a suitable suit, tie etc, and gave him some simple dress tips (for the corporate environment - and wasnt entirely sure what his office culture was like, but thought better dress up than down.

      He was the only guy applying for the job that wore a tie - let alone a jacket. He got the job and wore his jacket and tie to work every day, (jacket off during working hours). In 6 weeks they made him the manager.

      I've always reckoned it was that he *looked* like the boss, and it 'looks bad' with him sitting in a cube with the polo-shirts and tee-shirts. The fact he wasn't a complete muppet helped too.

      Next time you think your boss is an idiot and wonder why he's your boss, you'll probably notice that the only difference between him and you, is that he dresses nicer.

      So that is why the article made it to the front page - it was wearing a tie. Articles wearing greasy coveralls and have food stains down the front have no chance.

    3. Re:Big deal by noidentity · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And the smallest sticks are too damn small already. A friend got one of those Micro SD or something and I was surprised he hadn't already lost it in the carpet. Maybe good for having a normal-sized watch with GB of memory, but otherwise too easy to lose.

  2. And next year... by yuri82 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And in 2009 they will have it with 64GB, and the year after 256GB...

    They probably have the technology for 256GB now, but why waste it all on one release?

    --
    Who is this Karma guy and why is he bad ??
  3. Re:I want one by garcia · · Score: 2, Insightful

    But isn't this yesterday's news? Or did I read it on yahoo over breakfast. I long for the days when slashdot was for news I didn't see on Yahoo first. But this is still cool technology. And means I should keep putting off buying a new iPod.

    I long for the days when Yahoo posted something and there was a community of people that responded to the content of the blurb (not the article of course!) and you got responses in the range of trolls all the way through insightful discussion, commentary and links to other pertinent (or not so) information.

    Errr wait, nevermind.

  4. It's three times bigger than microSD by adam1101 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The dimensions of this module are 18x12x1.8mm, which is more than three times the volume of microSD (15x11x0.7mm, which includes a plastic housing). Now some of the other features are nice (IDE controller, high speeds), but the size isn't anything amazing.

  5. Re:Ultramobile devices by wattrlz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You can also forget about ever boarding a commercial airline.

  6. Re:Er, so what? by tangent3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    and most importantly, how much does it cost per GB, compared to Flash?

  7. Not 400 times smaller by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    400 times smaller in volume than a 1.8-inch hard drive

    Why do people say things like this?
    Its size is 1/400 of a 1.8-inch hard drive, not 400*(the smallness of a 1.8-inch hard drive).

    1. Re:Not 400 times smaller by Paul_Hindt · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why don't they instead just say 0.0045 inches?