SSDs

Seagate plans 2TB SSD for next year

Paul Mah — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:21:50 -0400

Seagate will be bringing in the company's first SSD (solid state drive) offering by next year. Not surprisingly, it will be targeted squarely at the enterprise where they can afford the premium of using flash memory as a hard disk. In this article in The Inquirer, CEO Bill Watkins reiterates Seagate's long-term commitment of targeting SSD toward top-tier enterprises eager for both its higher performance and low energy consumption. Yet all the talk about SSD in the enterprise avoids the fact that it remains a technology yet to prove itself in a transaction-intensive environment. Still, with Google also looking at SSD for use in its data centers, there definitely are niche applications out there perfectly suited for SSDs.

For more on Seagate's move toward SSD:
- check out this The Inquirer article

Google looking to shift some servers over to SSD

Paul Mah — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:43:18 -0400

Plans are afoot over at Google to shift some of its servers over to SSD-based storage. The motivation has to do with lower electrical consumption compared with that of traditional Winchester (or spinning) hard drives, say sources at memory makers. The SSDs will first see action at servers in Google's Mountain View, CA headquarters. Intel will be supplying the flash chips, while the server controller chipsets will come from Marvell.

With the sheer number of servers that Google operates, DIGITIMES predicts that a shortage of both 16Gb and 32Gb NAND flash chips could result. According to them, shipments are due to arrive late second quarter.

For more on Google and SSD:
- check out the DIGITIMES article

Intel finally shows off SSDs

Mehan Jayasuriya — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:40:36 -0400

Intel has been talking up solid state hard drives (SSDs) for a while now, so it's somewhat surprising that we still have yet to see Intel-branded SSDs on store shelves. That could all change soon, however: the company finally showed off its SSDs at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai this past week. "I played the part of Guinea Pig and had one of our pre-production solid-state drives installed in my IT laptop...I was unprepared for the powerful instant high it gave my system," Intel R&D fellow Knut Grimsrud said in a blog post. "Then the day came that my SSD was retrieved for data mining...and my original hard-disk was put back into my laptop. There's no way to feel the pain quite as intensely as having to go back." While current evidence seems to suggest that SSDs aren't quite that fast, there's no denying that the drives can reduce I/O bottlenecks. Intel plans to ship 1.8" and 2.5" SSDs ranging from 80GB to 160GB during the second quarter of this year.

For more on Intel's SSD plans:
- see this Crave article

Microsoft to bring SQL Server to the clouds

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:59:55 -0400

Microsoft's chief software architect Ray Ozzie announced plans to bring the company's flagship SQL Server into the clouds at the MIX08 keynote last week. Called SQL Server Data Services (SSDS), it involves an architecture that extends SQL Server into utility computing. Though SSDS appears similar to Amazon's SimpleDB, Microsoft architect Nigel Ellis gave assurances that the design of SSDS has only just started and that, "four months from now, it's going to look very different." SSDS is envisaged as a central data hub and integrates with Microsoft's .NET Sync Framework, synchronizing with data on multiple devices. The service is expected to go into public beta later this year, with a full release expected in the first half of 2009.

For more on Microsoft's SQL Data Services:
- check out this Reg Developer article

Apple announces MacBook Air

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:59:53 -0500

Well folks, it looks like the rumors were true, though we certainly didn't expect it to be quite this thin. Say hello to the MacBook Air: what Steve Jobs is calling "the world's thinnest notebook." In many ways, this thing is a fanboy dream: a mere .16 inches thick at the bottom and .76 inches thick at the top, the laptop can easily fit into a manila folder. It sports an LED-backlit 13.3 display with ambient light sensor, full-size keyboard, a multitouch trackpad, 2GB of RAM, an optional 64GB SSD and 5 hours of battery life.

So, how did they make this thing so darn thin? First off, they removed the optical drive, though there are two options for folks who still need the old CD/DVD drive: a $100 external drive or "Remote Disk," which allows you to "borrow" another Mac or PC's optical drive wirelessly. Speaking of wireless, the MacBook Air is almost totally wireless (hence the name) save for a few ports: a headphone jack, a micro-DVI, 1 USB and a MagSafe power connector. Of course, it's got 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1 on board--sorry rumormongers, no WWAN or WiMAX. Apparently, that didn't get the thing thin enough though, so they used a 1.8" hard drive for the standard model (the same hard drive found in iPods) and had Intel custom make two Core 2 Duos (1.6Ghz and 1.8Ghz) that were 60 percent thinner than existing Core 2 Duos. Apparently the MacBook Air's CPU is the width of a dime, the thickness of a nickel and so thin that Intel CEO Paul Ottellini was heard to remark ""When we started this project, we didn't think it was possible."

So there you have it folks, the latest drool-worthy notebook from Apple. The standard config with 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo and 80GB hard drive goes for $1800, while the 1.8Ghz, 64GB SSD-sporting model will run you a massive $3100. Pre-orders are available now, shipping in two weeks.

For more on the MacBook Air:
- see Apple's website
- and this Ars Technica liveblog

Lenovo IdeaPad gets ultraportable

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:59:57 -0500

Lenovo's ThinkPads might be highly-regarded in IT circles but they're not exactly the most portable laptops around. That isn't going to stop Lenovo from getting into the ultraportable game, however. Here comes the IdeaPad U110--one of the first machines in Lenovo's new IdeaPad line of consumer lappies. Inside this 2.5 pound number you'll find an 11.1" widescreen LCD display, Intel's Santa Rosa chipset, a built-in webcam, touch-sensitive media controls and--taking the ThinkPad's fingerprint scanner a step further--support for biometric logins using face-recognition technology. What's more, you can configure one of these with an SSD, if that's your sort of thing. Sure, Lenovo is aiming this little number squarely at the consumer but that doesn't mean that the mobile businessman can't also get in on the fun. The IdeaPad U110 is set to ship at the end of March for an as-yet unspecified price.

For more on the IdeaPad U110:
- see this PC World article

What will MacWorld 2008 bring?

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

With the MacWorld Expo taking place in mid-January, MacWorld predictions have become something of a new year's tradition. So what's on tap for this year? For the safe bet, I'll take new MacPros and updated cinema displays. Both have essentially remained stagnant since August 2006 and are sorely in need of an update, if Apple has any interest in staying competitive in the high-end segment of the market. Expect the new MacPro to top off with a 3.2Ghz Penryn and the new displays to sport higher resolutions, contrast ratios and more connectivity options.

For the risky bet, I'll take the ultraportable MacBook Pro. Sure, I got this one wrong last year but the second time's the charm...right? Fact is, we've been hearing way too much chatter on this one for it to be a complete fabrication and given that Apple hasn't had a true ultraportable in its notebook lineup for more than a year, the time seems ripe. We're expecting a machine with a 12" or 13" display, a SSD in lieu of a mechanical hard drive and an external optical drive, if any.

Finally, for my outlandish prediction, I'll take the 3G iPhone. While there hasn't been that much talk about the next iteration of the iPhone, we do know that it's coming at some point this year and what better time to announce it than on the one year anniversary of version 1.0's unveiling? Expect 3G, GPS and 16GB of storage at that familiar $599 pricepoint...if I were a betting man I'd say it'll land on store shelves in late July.

Intel at CES: tiny SSD, WiMAX

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:59:57 -0500

It's CES time again and hoping to cut through the noise, Intel has decided to jump the gun with a pre-show press conference. Let's cut to the chase, shall we?

In January, the company will release what they're calling "the smallest SSD in the industry." Intel's Z-P140 PATA SSD holds either 2GB or 4GB on a chip that's about the same size as a penny. Holy cow!
Intel's WiFi/WiMAX chip, code-named "Echo Park," will be available in devices sometime next year.
The company will launch "Skulltrail," a new dual-processor platform next year, making it easier to produce 8-core machines based on quad-core Core 2 Extreme CPUs.
The Centrino platform will get a much-needed boost with "Santa Rosa Refresh," which will feature a new 45nm CPU and better integrated graphics. There will also be a Refresh for desktops, though details on that remain sketchy.

For more on Intel's CES announcements:
- see this fact sheet (PDF link)

ALSO NOTED: Jonathan Ive set to succeed Steve Jobs at Apple's helm?; Peter Chou, elusive CEO of HTC, speaks out;

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> Save 25 percent on Lenovo laptops, now through the holidays. Article
> Engadget interviews Peter Chou, elusive CEO of HTC. Interview
> OLPC ships out XO units to North American buyers today. Article
> Analyst: Apple TV is not a hit. Article
> Eee PC: now memory upgrade friendly. Article
> Toshiba preps 128GB SSD. Article
> Verizon sued over GPL code in FiOS routers. Article
> Jonathan Ive set to succeed Steve Jobs at Apple's helm? Article

And Finally... How to: Make an iPhone/iPod Touch stand from a $100 bill. Video

Rumor: $1500 ultraportable Mac, 3G iPhone

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:59:54 -0500

Okay folks, now we're really cooking. While MacWorld rumors--most notably rumors about an ultraportable MacBook Pro--have been trickling in over the last month or so, we haven't had anything really juicy to discuss...until now. CNBC is reporting that January's MacWorld Stevenote will bring both an ultraportable MacBook Pro and a 3G iPhone. According to CNBC's sources, the laptop will be half an inch thick, will sport a SSD in lieu of a mechanical hard drive and will retail for--get this--$1500. An ultraportable, SSD-sporting Mac laptop for $1500? Pinch me, I'm dreaming.

On the iPhone tip, they're claiming that Steve will announce the 3G iPhone at MacWorld but that it won't be released until late May or early June. As you'll recall, that's pretty much exactly what they did at this year's MacWorld, to avoid an outing of the phone by the FCC. A May/June launch would also make a lot of sense because it would be almost a year after the release of the original device.

Admittedly, CNBC isn't the foremost source on Mac rumors but both of these yarns seem to make a lot of sense. The ultraportable MacBook Pro is pretty much a given at this point and we already know that a 3G iPhone is going to appear sometime next year. I'm not sure about that $1500 price point, though...Apple isn't known for low prices and they'll have to be willing to roll with some pretty slim margins if they want to sell an ultraportable machine with a Core 2 Duo and a SSD for less than $2000.

So, where's the love for the desktop crowd? Good question. Did Apple somehow forget that they haven't updated the majority of the MacPro lineup in more than a year? Hopefully not. According to French rumor site MacBidouille, Apple is still planning to launch a new lineup of MacPros, topping off with that 8-core, 3.2Ghz Penryn-sporting model we've been waiting for. Additionally, the machines are said to rock optional Blu-ray burners and NVIDIA QuadroFX graphics. Finally, MacBidouille states that Apple will deliver OS X 10.5.2 during MacWorld and that it will be "the largest and most important intermediate system update ever released by Apple." I'm not sure about the whole Blu-ray thing but the rest of those predictions sound spot-on to me. Apple has been hurting for some new Pro-level boxes and an announcement at MacWorld makes a lot of sense--especially if the new machines sport a complete redesign like we've been hearing. Plus, waiting until January will ensure that there will be a large enough yield of top-bin Penryns from Intel, because there's certainly going to be a lot of pent-up demand for these machines.

For more on the rumors:
- see CNBC's predictions
- and MacBidouille's rumor write-up